The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1917-02-16

mat VIII damage the other truss
too much, Abbott" Meade retorted
promptly. III isn't possible"
"Then I'll think up some other
scheme" returned Abbott indifferently,
ms If hum0ring the other. 1--WE can't
wait, we've got to hurry it along.
There's going to be no penalty against
us on account of me. won't stop work
a minute" he explained patronizingly.
"There win be a bigger penalty IL
you don't do what l say, and paid in
another way. in blood. And it will be
your fault"
Now both men were angry and In
their passion they confronted each
other more resolute and fierce than
ever.
Look here" said Abbott, his fiery
temper suddenly breaking from his
control, "whO are you anyway You're
only kid engineer. Your father APP
proved of the plan of this bridge.
guess we can afford to bank on his
reputation rather than yours"
\ swell, he doesn't know of this"
Nobody is on the bridge now, and
nobody is going to be on there until
tomorrow morning. Wire him If you
like. He'll wire Illingworth down at
Martlet and we'll get word what to
! do"
You won't put any men at work on
the bridge until"
"Not until tomorrow morning" said
Abbott decisiyely, IF don't hear from
somebody at Martlet tomorrow morn
ing the work goes on"
"But If my father wires you"
81 take orders from the Martlet COM
/ pany and no one else" was the short
answer with which Abbott turned away
in finality, so that the other realized
the interview was over.
Meade wasted no more pleas on Alb
bolt. As i'll luck would have 1t some
thing had happened TO thev telephone.
and telegraph wires between the city
and the camp. Meade dressed himself.
got handcar, and was hurried to the
nearest town on the railroads main
line. From there he sent telegram
and tried to get connection with New
York hy telephone, but failed. Moved
by a natural impulse, in default of
other means of communication he
jumped on the midnight train for New
York. He would go himself In person
and attend to the grave affair. Moth
ing whatever could be so important.
There had been some friction be-
tween Abbott and Meade before on oc.
casi0ns, not serious, but several times
Meade had yentured to suggest some
thing which to Abbott seemed useless
and unnecessary, and the fact that
subsequent events had more often than
not proved Meade's suggestions to be
worth while, had not put Abbott in al
together the best mood toward his
young colleague Abbott never forgot
that Meade had really no official con-
necti0n with the building of the bridge.
and that he was only there as a special
representative of his father. and al |
though he could not help liking the
younger man, Abbott would have been |
better pleased ii he had been left |
alone. Hf nt lass He
Meade had not gone about II in the /
right way to move a man of Abbott's |
temperament. He realized that as he
lay awake on the sleeper speeding to
New York. Abbott was a man who
could not he driven. He was ire
mendous driver himself and naturally
he could not take his own medicine. II
Meade had received the announcement
more quietly and if he had by some
subtle suggestion put the idea of dan
ger into Abbotts mind all would have
been well, for when ne was not blind
ed by prejudice, or his authority or his
ability questioned, Abbott was SEN
sible man thoroughly to be depended
upon. But the news had come to Meade
with such suddenness, Abbott had only
casually mentioned 1t at the close of
lengthy conversation regarding the
progress of the work MS if it We're
matter of no special moment, that the
sudden shock had thrown Meade off
his balance.
Therefore he could see nothing but
LANCER and the necessity for action.
How he should handle his superior. or
'ather the bridges superior, was the
asst thing in his mind Aside from his ]
natural pride in his father and in the
bridge and his fear that lives would be
ost If it failed, unless he could get
he men withdrawn, there was the
of his engagement to
Helen Illingworth.
Meade could not close his eyes. he
'ould not sleep a moment ON the train. /,
lis mind was in turmoil. Prayers
hat he would get to his father and the
ridge people in time to stop work and
'reveht loss of life, schemes for taking
ID the detection Strengthening the Z