The Dermott news. (Dermott, Ark.) 1910-1977, 1917-10-11


went ahead to open up the path. Rod
ney followed after.
Their progress was slow of neces-
sity. They had to handle Meade with
great care. Winters and Rodney, after
The brief inspection they had made,
could not see chance on earth for
him. Neither could Helen Illlngworth.
They went along without conversation.
naturally, except for an outburst Of ad
mration from Winters.
4 tell you" he said. at was n mag
nitieent thing for him to do. He rislled
his life hundred times in that mad
rush with the dynamite in his hands
and the dctonators in his pocket. Yet
il he had only stayed back he would
have been sufe.'
1T was his anxiety for the dam and
the people that brought him down"
said Helen Illingworth. "He can't die"
She murmured. God surely will not
let him die l love him SO. And yet If
he does and have lost him, innocent
or guilty, he has redeemed his fame
"He saved Others" quoted Rodney
under his breath, himself he could
not save"
1t was work of great difficulty To
get the wounded engineer into the car,
but they finally managed II. BY the
woman's direction they laid him on her
bed in her own private stateroom.
"One of us must go for a doctor Mt
once" said Rodney. and that will be
my Job"
ITS twenty miles to the town"
said the conductor. who had helped To
receive them. "If one OF You could
telegraph we could tnp a wire"
None OF them could.
ITS all down-g grade and there's a
good roadbcd and was some sprinter
In my college days" said Rodney.
And there was never greater need
Of haste than now" said Winters. II
wish I had horse here"
Don't give up, Miss IllIngworth."
continued Rodney. as he started to-
ward the door. Hes alive yet"
Just then. OPPORTUNITY enough.
rounding the last curve before the arch
bridge, they saw the end OF the other
chr rapidly approaching them. Had
they not been so excited they could
have heard the furious putting of the
engine as II drove the car at great
speed up the heavy grade.
WHIT" said the conductor. 1--WE can
send the engine down for the doctor.
Thatll be the coloners car"
In few minutes the car stopped on
the siding. Out OF. II came Colonel
lllingworth, Doctor Severance. Curtlss,
and some OF the officials of the Bridge
company in town. They were all great
~ excited. The colonel did not stop To
put on his hat. He ran TO the other
eur and climbed aboard.
The dams going" he shouted. The
bridge and the town will be flooded.
We got word IN hour ago by messen-
ger galloping down. The telephone
wires are down. l ran the car up here
as the quickest way to get over to the
reservoir and the dam. Some of you
who know the way come with me.
BY this time the observation room
of the eur was filled with men.
You need not worry about the dam"
said Rodney.
what do you meanf'
~ man blow up the hog-back, made
n spill-way, the water rushed out
through II into the ravine, you can
see il below there, relieving the pres
sure on the dam at once. Since II has
held up till now II will hold for good.
Thank God !" cried the colonel. sink
ing down into n chair and wiping the
sweat off his brow. THE bridge Will
be safe then. BY George" he gasped.
the Martlet company could hardly
have stood another loss like that.
Who's the man who blew II up?"
His name is Meade" said Rodney
quietly.
"Not-?"
YES"
There was long pause. Every
man there knew of the failure OF the
International and in what estimation
the old colonel held the name of Meade
because OF that.
"Well. 1t was IA fine thing" said the
colonel; at makes up for his blunder-
ing work on the bridge"
BEG pardon, sir" suid ShurtlifY. who
had stood wide-eyed and white and SUI
ferlng In silence ever since the ensi-
neer had been brought TO the car, 1T
was not his blunder."
"Why. you said SO yourself" cried
the colonel.
Il lied" admitted the secretary.
Quick as flash Rodney had his
notebook out. Here was the proof ut
last.
"Whyf"
ITO save the reputation OF the man
loved"
And how do know you are not
lying for this man nowf" asked the
colonel harshly.
These will prove II" said Shurtliff
extending some papers he drew out OF
his pocket. where he had placed them
that morning half intending to tell
lIelan Illfuvworth tho truth nj Inst