The Dolores star. [volume] (Dolores, Montezuma County, Colo.) 1901-current, 1917-10-19

3@s&0b
It might be.
Letters, SIR. You win 0nd there q
blueprint Of the design Of the compress
zion members" answered Shurtlin
monotonously as II he had forced his
mind to q certain action and Il was
working automatically. "with It is a
letter from Bertram Meade to his fa-
Their suggesting that the lacings were
too light and calling attention 10 the
empiric formula Of Schmidt hemnitz
in proof Of his argument. On the
back Of TINT letter Mr.. Bertrim Meade,
ST., made an indorsement-you know
his handwriting and can identify it
Hold until bridge il finished and then
give back to the boy. Well show him
that even Schmidt .hemnitx doesn't
know everything
Colonel nlingworth turned tie paper
over. There was the Endorsement,
"Well. by heaven I" he began.
there's another paper in an ,envel-
ope addressed to che editor Of the New
York Gazette. VIII you read 1t aloud,
sirr' -
Almost as II he had been hypnotized
Colonel Illlngworth took from the en-
velope the brief note. He read It.:
alone am responsible for the error
in the design OF the International bridge,
which has resulted In this terrible disas-
ter. I know that my son. in an effort to
shield me. will assume the responsibility.
As q matter of fact, he had previously
pointed out what he believed to be struc-
tural weakness. but refused to heed his
representations and overbore his objec-
tons. The fault 10 entirely chargeable to
me. There In no possible expiation for my
blunder. The least can do II to assume all
the responsibility. The blame 10 mine.
BERTRAM MEADE.
He laid 1t down with the other pa
pers.
1.-The demonstration 10 complete and
absolute" he begun spontaneously,
umid breathless silence. 1.-THE proofs
are adequate. They would establish
young Meade's innocence in any court
In the lnnd. Where Is he? have done
him an injustice. I am ready to make
amends" continued the colonel.
sand while you are talking said
Helen Illingworth, who had been stand
ing in the doorway too absorbed by the
dramatic recital to interrupt Il, shes
dying"
"Dyingi wherer' ~
'He was battered to pieces by the
Inst dynamite explosion. We brought
him here"
"Were you theref
ave saw It from the top Of the mesa.
oh. don't talk any longer"
Severance" said nlingworth, with
prompt decision. ''you haven't forgot
ten all your old medical skin. This is
your Job. One Of you Jump ON the en-
CINE md bring a physician up and"
I'm going" said Rodney. "Who's
the best doctor in town.
doctor Fraser. He's a young man.
but very skillful," answered one Of the
local bridge men.
Bring our own Doctor Bailey up
here from our hospital with him, and
tell that engine driver to get down
to the town and back just as quickly
as he can go. Cheer up. Helen" said
the colonel. II know that man Is
not going to rehabilitate himself by
such nm action and have the evidence
Of his innocence brought out at such
q moment just to die"
'Will you give me those papers, colo
nel?" said Rodney. you'll want this
written up and"
'Take them" said the colonel.
"Will you come along with me, Mr..
Shurtllff2 After I see the doctors I'll
want your affidavit"
"Yes, sir, anything" said Shurtliff.
at was fine of you," said Winters,
ito try to shield your employer and
the man you loved, but thank God. you
spoke out before it was too late. I'm
sorry pulled that gun on you; you're
a man. all right, even II you don't look
It," he added to himself as Shurtlin
bowed and followed Rodney.
Winters stood at the door Of the pas
sageway leading to the stateroom while
Helen Illingworth and Severance, who
had been educated as physician. and
the. old colonel. who knew a great deal
nbout wounds and accidents from his
war experience, entered the stateroom.
A new spirit had come into the rela-
lions between father and daughtsr and
both were glad. There was NO Ques-
ton now about the future. There
should be no opposition from Colonel
Illingworth. Within an hour the pa
pers would have the story Of how one
man hnd saved a great dam, the via
duct, the town, and its people, and
they would have at the same time the
story of who was responsible for the
fall of the International bridge. They
would have the story of the attempted
self-sacrifice Of the son to save the
father. They would have the story Of
the old mans splendid and magnanim-
Gus avowal Of responsibility before he
died. The United States, the world.
would ring with the dramatic tale.
It was as much to tell that story in
his own way as to summon medical
MD that Rodney had gone for the doc
tor. And 30 the father held the daugh-
ter clasped to his side while both bent