Evening star., 1923-03-11

I.~'fs SAAS 0&~VN ASAD ~s sAA~ ~~~~sA ~
which she was at work. Then, very
deliberately, she took q huge bundle
| at sketches from her locker and
made her way along tho hall to the
door marked private" She raped
smastly .at the door, and when. Mr.
Elkins called, Come inf' shs' entered
without apology. =. :,
Good morning, Mr.. Elkins." she
sid. won't you please ask Mr.. Far
row to come IN? have something
want to say to both Of YOU"
The boss astonishment shons in his
face. u beg your pardon?' he said.
Jean nodded. II know 1t looks
queer. but can't 60 over Mr.. Far
rows head. and he refused to hand
my suggestions on to you. so I'm
going to see you both together" :.
Tho boss fumbled for the push-but.
ton.
Jim Farew's lower jaw saxged as
he can1e in and saw jean spreading
her sketches on tho desk.
Miss Atwood has something to say
which she will say only to tho two of
ua Farrow," said Mr.. Elkins. I'VE
are quite ready, Miss Atwood"
Jean cleared her throat. Her cheeks
were q richer rose than usual; her
eyes were deep and clear.
We all know out in the other room
that things aren't going well with
our business, that We lose more bids
than We win. They say that you, Mr..
Elkins, arc a feld engineer, a con-
struction executive and not q bridge
designer. And as for Mr.. Farrow,
while he's q flrst-class craftsman, he
couldn't create a culvert for q coun-
try road. And he's determined that
no woman shall make designs for
Elkins & Co. The chief engineer Is
old-fashioned. He was clever when
your father was hero to supply the
idea, but he's no good now"
Jean moistened her lips while the
two men stared at each other. Elk
ms face was expressionless, but Jim
Farrow's was flushed anyrily.
Now. look here, Miss Atwood
he began.
wait 4 minute. Jim said the boss.
What is your suggestion, Miss At
wood"
This replied Jean, laying. her
hand on one OF the sketches Here
is an idea tor tho new bridge. which
I sketched at home. You see, you
aren't bold enough. There's no reason
why you should do all the expensive
grading indicated in the chief engi-
neers and Mr.. Farrow's design. Why
not full steel construction from
hill 81 to hill 20, like this combina-
tion Suspension? Then you cut down
sthe expense of your substructure.
T<HE two men GAzed in silence at
i the sketches. Bold, indeed, and
graceful, but OF obvious strength and
SIMPLICITY swung the great spider
web across the canyon.
"It will demand unusual care and
resourcefulness by the feid engineer
OF course" said Jean a little breath
lessly, but they say out in the draft
ing room that you have no equal in
America as a field executive. There's
that marvellous concrete arch At Ell
Muerto and tho cantilever at Deep
River and the three-mile suspension
trestle at Twin Peaks. You and your
father must have made a great team,
Mr.. Elkins."
She was speaking as though she
and the boss were alone in the room.
Jim Farrow looked like a man of
stone. Bill Elkins' thin face was
deeply flushed. He turned from the
sketches TO stare out OF the window.
After q moment he said Eruf1y:
"Jirn. you 60 out and get the chief
II you'll leave the sketches here. Mis-.
Atwood. Til call you again in the
course OF m hour"
desk and sat for . long time. making
4 careful sketch Of nothing in par
ticular. At tho end OF that time she
was summoned by the stony-faced d
Farrow.
The chief engineer rose rs she en-
tered tho room. my hat is of to
you. Miss Atwood. It's . real idea
You've no objections to some changes
In detail. have you:"
THAT depends" replied Jean care
fully.
The boss smiled. sit down, Miss At
wood. There are Q number Of things
to 70 over. TArrov. tell Howard not
to start for Ariyona today and tell
those chaps In the other room therell
be night work for the next week.
Now. then. Howard"
Tho session lasted until midafter-
noon. When 1t was finished Jeans
bridge, unchanged in its essentials,
was the bridge on which Elkins 4
Co. was to make It's bid. She
vas glad that the rush into which the
decision plunged all hands was SO
any particular comment on her share
In the shift Of plans. She felt that In
taking her contribution for granted
they were paying her the final COM
pliment that q woman may receive in
i the business world.
During tho week that followed, no.
body slept much. but the drawings,
strain-shsets and specifications for
the bid were finished on time Friday
night The boss ordered the ONCE
closed all day Saturday. ana Jean
Joined . party for q weekend at At
lantic City.
Sunday afternoon they all adjourned
to tho pool. Jean did not 90 in at
hrst She was sitting with her feet
dangling in the water. watching her
friends splash about, when 4 familiar
quiet voice said:
still afraid to so in. Miss Enxi-
neer?"
Jean looked up at the boss with
startled eyes. where did you come
from?" she exclaimed.
'T heard you tell young Archer OF