The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-12-15
IL
SHORT STORY
Two And a Bridge
az ANDERSON MILLER

case thought hoUeEL OWSn 6AVVHS;AA'
as he regarded the moist lump that
represented what had been, rev
hours ago, q fresh and spotless
handkerchief. The train was NOV
ing leIsurely through n district in
western Pennsylvania where there
4 was not tree, as far as he could
see through the griny windows,
4 that was more than ten feet high.
The sun beat down on tho Coun-
try and from the gray-Green eartn
Ietlcoting heat waves leaped back
uuiyering and distorting the view.
owen, though clad as lightly as
possible, was literally swe!terinS.
He thought regrctfully OF the cool
quiet OF the club lounge which he
had left twenty hours before; the
shaded veranda, the icy shower
baths, the invigOrating chill OF the
swimming pool.
And he had to let the chief talk
him into making this trip OH the
OFF chance of getting the contract
for putting up bridge over some
forsaken river or other IN the ~ilds
of. the state, Off the main line.
He grogned as he though that ne
would probably be InaroOncd ~
there for the better part Of a week
interviewing county commissioners
and highway experts in little box
like offices that smell Of dust ana
were ahomlnably hot.
He mopped his brow again, more
from force of habit than with any
expectation of mitigating his dis
comfort, and glanced out OF the
window at the station which the
train was at that moment languid-
Is leaving. "PhilipsviIle," said the
Gilt letters Only two more Stops
70 Spring Valley--that, at least,
was q comfort.
He would see the head OF the
state highway department that ar
ternoon and try 10 be comfortable
during the night, at least. lie Won
dered what Spring Valley was like.
For the twentieth time that day he
4 drew the letter from the ShiShway
department from his pocket anu
cad 1t, from the courteous opening
no the Yours truly, J. Harrison,
kGom'r."
1t was nice letter and y. Har-
bison" had a nice signature--that
1t least was something. Harrison
wasn't a smoky old fogy-he was
sure OF that. Spring Val
ley!" ronred the conductor. and
owen leaped to his feet and hur-
ried from the train, clutching his
rolls Of blue2rints and his suitcase.
Spring Valley was not prepos-
sesslng TO the eye. At the station
were three dIlapIdated looking We
htcles drawn by somnolent horses
ana manned by dusky Jchns who
oabbled increasingly the merits o!
FEhe hotels they represented.
owen took tile least objection
ll,le OF these and was transported
n due time to the Mansion House
His first opinion of the Mansion
House was that Il wasn't. Tho us
ial desk and clerk; the usual Ian
slld belIboy; the usual crawling
Elevator; the usual room with the
Usual golden oak furniture, and the
usual prospect OF the usual trav-
ssty Of meal at O'clock He In
l,lired the way TO the state high
way commissioner office and de-
parted.
His inquiry for Mr.. HARRISON was
fSreetcd with a grin by the boy who
:ook his card, and presently he WAS
Shown into room that belied his
preconcelved ideas. 1t was spot
iessly clean and had the air OF hay
ing but recently heen gone over
IN air conspicously lacingk in most
Ok the offices owen had visited in
5this TING. A girl was secuted at
iesk writing busily. She glanced
1 up as he entered
''Mr. owen?"
l4.Sl'Yes---to see MIR. HARRISON about
ihSS, bridge" HARRISON had taste in
SECRETARIES, he though. But her
next words took him off his feet.
81 am Miss HARRISON" the younG
lady replied calmly. won't you sit
down?"
'The-the highway commission
er7'' owen could only stare.
AOf course" With a little laugh
NJ was elected last fall. You want
sH6s-see me about the Bell river
bridge. What is 1t exactly you
+Want?"
owen recovered from his aston.
ishment and told her. But there
we're many details TO so into, and
it was half-past five before he
LOOK here" said Miss HARRISON,
directly, 1--WE have a lot to talk
about. Suppose you come up to the
mouse after dinner and we'll get on
With the work. live at is Cherry
street-it's easy to find. About
eight--gocd afternoon.
Owen repaired to is Cherry
..eet at the time suggested. 1t
was a cool-looking house with a
gGool-Ioolcing vernnda and lot Of
cOoI-looking chairs; and Miss Har-
bison was there to meet him in II
cool Hooking frock; and he met her
mother, who was n nice old lady,
evidently very proud Of her daugh,
ter: and for many hours the two OF
them set up and discussed esti-
mates and time clauses and bo-
muses. and penalties and such
things: and at IL O'clock Owen
went back to the hotel, tired but
( AZ! peace with the world. He was
sure that he would be able to put
the contract through in fine style
and he had lost his fear OF the
8 conferences in the hot, smoky Of
Eices. Spring Valley didn't seem
such bad place after all.
For the rest of the week he was
..vSv ND1,oNy T,11tf{nW tho P{0pI def ailR