Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1932-09-02

trouble, Harboard, is goin the whole
hog, or none. He damn near killed
himself when he learned to read, ex-
pected he could start right in an
find out everythin' there was. He was
afraid there was not enough TO: him
to learn" Pug looked at John, smil-
ing. He liked a fighter and John was
certainly that. IF the women ever
get hold of him-Gawd help him,
an them"
John blushed furiously. Malone
and Harboard looked at each other.
Both glanced at Josephine's picture
on the chifonier; nothing had been
said about it.
At last, in the spring, John gradu-
sted.
c. E. Civil Engineer! John Breen,
C. E. John wrote his name again and
again, always adding the significant
letters for which he had struggled
during four years that once. seemed SO
long and then lay behind him like a
sudden dream. 1t had been a fight, it
was always a fight in the greater city.
He kept looking at his sheepskin,
an elaborate parchment quantity stat
ing that he was entitled to "aH THE
rights privileges and immnmities
tberemnto a~bbertaining." He went to
Greenbough carrying the precious
screed clutched in his fist. Here was
something to show to Pug, to prove
that his studies had not been entirely
in vain. Behind him the last days of
the commencement kept recurring,
brilliant flashes, intermingled with his
dreams of what was to come, with
thoughts of Josephine and comforta-
bic interesting problems he would
discuss with Gilbert Van Horn.
Never had the campus been SO afre
with the spirit of youth.
Gilbert Van Horn returned to
town and spent a week with John
and Pug at Greenbough. He had
kept away from the commencement.
"Not feeling any too ft," was his
excuse. In fact Gilbert was getting
very close to the point where he
would have to make a clean breast of
things and take his chances with John
always hoping against hope
chat something would earn I'm
a natural way" He kept his thoughts
to himself and devoted a large part
of his time to watching Josephine.
Gerrit Rantoul, so he began to realize
was making remarkable progress with
his ward. Rantoul was a romatic
figure, a man with a past shrouded in
the glamour of adventure, of South
American and African enterprises, a
man CLOSED with the polish of an in
ternational experience.
But Rantoul was a good chap, as
Gilbert had to admit. He secured an
appointment for John Breen as AS
sistant Engineer on the great Catskill
Aqueduct. Subject, of course, to
confirming examination"
Mighty decent of him, john"
Van Horn remarked. He felt a bit
piqued that Rantuol should have done
it. If he had thought, he could have
managed it himself; but is was a
compliment to John, and any one
who helped John, helped him.
80 sends her congratulations,
John. You'll be seeing her soon.
Then this winter, when you get
started on your work, we'll all be in
the city together. Think of it, you
might have gone west, or to Brazil,
on that railroad, or up to Alaska on
hat survey.
"No Gil, I'm set on the city. Big
gest engineering problem in the
world. l expect to be here all my
life"
"Well, the Van Horns have al
ways stuck to New York" Gilbert
looked at the boy, closely, as he said
it. John Breen was thinking of other
things, no of the Van Horns.
John came down to the city on a
Friday. Reported at Division Head
quarters, saw huge Offices filled with
men working at drafting boards, or
engaged in calculations. Other men,
rough, with mud-splattered boots,
some carrying tunnel lamps, came in
from a dented car just hauled up at
the curb. These were executive en-
| g~ineers, members of the field force.
The walls were covered with pro-
files, with progress markings. A con-
tagious air of intense activity held
sway. 1t seemed to John hat he was
on the edge Of a great field of battle,
of life and sudden death, of vast con-
structions. John knew what thirst
was, knew the sticky trickle of the
Iukewarm Croton water. running