The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1917-02-02
Fall and Revelation.
CIVIL ENGINEER
CHAPTER III.


magnificent. You can see up and down
the river for miles and the night boat
viii be along in few minutes"
isn't that itT' asked the woman,
up the river TO where a clus-
ter of lights rounded huge bend not
far away, and swung out in midstream.
"Yes," said the man. 'if we listen I
think we can hear her"
They both stopped and, sure enough.
family across the water came the
noise of clanking paddles Of the big
river steamer. With that sound also
mingled the song of the night wind,
for wonder comparatively gentle,
making strange, weird harmonies as 1t
sifted through the taut and rigid bars
of steel. She listened enchanted with
the sound.
The big floor beams extended from
one side to the other Of the bridge.
between the trusses at intervals Of
fifty feet. At right angles to them and
six feet apart, the stringers ran length
WAYS parallel to the trusses. Here and
there pieces of timber falsework had
been thrown across the stringers for
the convenience of the workmen, but
as these two slowly moved toward mid
stream at last these pieces became
fewer, and finally there was nothing
to be seen but the heavy floor beams
and the lighter stringers.
After they passed the top of the pier
and got beyond the small space OF
river bank on which the pier was set,
there was nothing between them and
the water, now moonlit and quiyering,
except these cross-girders of steel on
either hand beyond the planking in the
tracks.
'Have you a clear headf" asked the
man. II mean does 1t affect you to
be on high elevations? Do you get
dizzy?"
81 never have" was the answer
''but-"
81 think I'll hold you" was the reply
He grasped her firmly by the arm
The loose wrap she was wearing ovei
her shoulders did not cover her arms
and it was a-bare arm that he took II
his hand.
Il beg your pardon" he said quick
ly, but -.------
at doesn't matter. ! understand
You would better hold me, | mign'
Slip" There was something electric
and compelling in the pressure OF MI
strong hand upon the firm Mesh OF hel
round arm. She shrank closer to him
again unthinkngly, by a natural I'm
pulse.
The moon was now well clear OF TN
brow Of the highest hill. Its yellow
was turning to silver and in its coli
and beautiful illumination the who'll
river flowed bright beneath them. Ev
cry inch of the bridge was now clearly
revealed in the white, passionless iigh'
Fifty feet away 1t ended In the all
They were now almost directly DC
meath the traveller, near the end OF tn
suspended span. Its huge legs sprawle
out like those of a gigantic animal o
the extreme edges of the bridge on e
Their side above their heads. The wooC
en- platform on the track ran out hal
the distance to the bridge end. Slow
thettwo walked along 1t until but
few feet were left between them an
the naked floor beams and the strlnt
ers carrying the ties to which the ran
were bolted and the planks laid.
BY the side Of the track on the to
of the stringers had been placed Pill
of material surmounted by a large fif
plate Of steel, which lay level upon
1t was triangular in shape, the blur
point inward. The base which wa
about six feet wide paralleled U
course Of the river. The plate on II
top of the pile was raised about thrt
feet above the level of the track. The
stopped abreast Of 1t.
"Can't we go any further% aske
the girl in low tones, still close to Il
young man, who still lightly claspt
her arm.
'Tm afraid it wouldn't be safe
go any farther" he said.
81 want to see the steamer. 1t WI
pass directly under the bridge"
"They have no business to pass u
der the bridge" said Meade. "They''
been warned hundreds Of times and
ders have been issued. There is
ways danger that something mig
fall"
"why can't / stand up therer
"On that gusset platter
els that what you call lit"
"Yes, it bears the same relation
structural steel that gusset does
woman's dress"
exactly. But can't stand on it
"Wait," he answered.
He climbed to the center of 1t, lift
himself mp and down on his feet to te
1t, and found 1t solid apparently.
81 think so, but / shall have to
you up" he said at last as he lift
her up and set her down on her feet
the middle Of the plate Of steel.
"Oh, there comes the steamer" S
cried. II can see 1t beautifully FRI
here"
an .oe,,l yon mnsf not mo-