Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (June 19, 1917)
THE SEMLWEEKLY TRIBUNE, NORTH PLATTE, NEBRA8KA. WEB OF By CYRUS TOWNSEND BRADY and CYRUS TOWNSEND BRADY. Jr Author and Clertfyman civil Entflnccr CHAPTER XVII Continued. 11 "IIo wouldn't bo a common work man, would ho?" nBkcd tho girl, tnoro disappointed thnn sho could express. "Certainly not He'd bo keeping track of material, or running n transit, or acting ns a gang foreman. Most of tho workmen aro foreigners, although tho hrldgo erectors arc Americans." "You're suro that ho's not hero?" "Absolutely." "There's thi flam," said Winters. "We'll try that in the morning." "What good Is it going te do us, Dick!" asked Rodney n little irrltubly. "Evcu If wo do And him, wo can't mako him speak." "I don't know," answered tho woman lowly. "But If I could Just sco him onco again, Mr. Rodney" sho spoko wouldn't Do a Common Work man, Would Ho?" Asked tho Girl. .without hesitation or resorvo, and both aen felt deeply for her "If I could just speak to him, if ho would only" "I bcllovo you can porouado him," aid Winters. "Yes, perhaps, but I want Shurtllft to speak first, then wo can approach ear rriena himself, with moro confl llenco," said Rodney. 1 i CHAPTER XVIII. Brute Force or Finesse. "What do you want mo to say, Mr. Kounoy?" asked Shurtllff, coming mrougii tno door, having caught Rod- Hey s uso of his namo. "Oh, Shurtllff" began Rodney, omowhnt embarrassed at having boon overheard. "What do you want mo to speak about?" continued tho old luuu sus piciously, not giving tho youngor man tlmo to finish. "And what frlond can you then approach, sir?" "ill tea you what I want," said uounoy. Ho quickly camo to a decision. Standing up and facing tho old man, he staked everything on one bold throw. Grasping tho situation, Holeu tlllngworth hold her breath. Winters aaoved to tako hla own purt in tho game at tho proper tlmo. "What is it, sir?" asked tho secre tary. "Shut the door and como in," was the answer. Rodney Bpoko sharply, and it was a sort of indication, characteristic of the dlfforenco in station between an independent young man and a subsor vient old man. "Horo I am, sir," answered Shurtllff, closing tho door and standing boforo it. Ho shot n quick glanco at tho young woman. Ho observed her teuso posi tion. Ho saw tho emotions Uiat lllled lor soul in hor faco and bearing. All fils old suspicions roso llko n flood. For a moment ho no longer cored for her. Ho almost hated her. Ho looked from her to tho dark-faced, determined Rod noy, to big.npoworful, quiet Winters'. Wns this a trap? Wero thoy going to try to ferco him to speak? no was a bmvo man, old Shurtllff, but his heart beat u Httlo faster as ho faced them, no was qulto master of himself, though, cool, watchful, determined; la their eyes rather admlrablo than otherwise. "Tho tlmo has como for you to tell 28 tho truth," began Rodnoy emphat ically. "You know that tho wholo blame and responsibility for tho fail ure of tho Intornatlonnl hrldgo is loaded on tho wrong man. You know that you permitted, and ovon mado possible, tho sacrlUco of tho reputation f tho son for tho soko of tho fame ef tho father. You know that this flrl horo is breaking her hoart, that Meado's life Is ruined, and you'ro to Blame. Now tho tlmo has como for you to speak. Wo know as well as rou that young Meado is innocent Hero's our evidence." Ho draw r handful of papers from its Inside breast pocket and shook ihem In the face of the old man, who tad shrunk back against tho sldo of ne' -vV m Mwd staring, white-faced, 1 tnin-llppcd, close-mouthed, inexorably resolved still. "Read them," continued Rodnoy. "I'll ndmlt to you that tho wholo thing wouiu not bo worth tho paper It'i written on In n court of lnw, or oven in n newspaper report, but It's con vlnclng to us, and you can mako It convincing to everybody. You'vo got to speaK." "Do you think, sir, that thcro's any power in your strctched-out nrm, or in your ruuo volco or In your threat ening gosturo to mako mo sneak?" "By tho -Lord," cxclnlmod Winters, suddenly whipping out a Colt's A from tho holster at his belt ho wns dressed Just as ho had been when ho rodo away from tho ranch "out West wo vo got wnyB for persuading men to Bpcaic, ana tills Is ono of them." Winters was n bigger man than Rod noy. UIs II fo had been wild and roiiL'h and his manner when ho wanted was according, no would fain add physical compulsion under threat of death to liouneys montal Insistence. -Ann uo you think, sir, that I'm afraid of any lethal weapon you can produco or even uso, any moro than I nm of Mr. Rodney's words?" Tho old man's eyes flashed, and his knnon biiook, out no una all tho spirit of n soldier as ho looked Into Winters' stern face, full of threat and menace liiB tnin volco took on a certain oual Ity of courage. It oven rang a little, iais courago was mainly moral, but tnoro was some accompanying physical naroinooa, uiat was undoubted. "You can beat mo, you can ovon kill me, If you wish, but you can't mako mo say n word I don't want to say of my own ireo win," no cried out at last, his voice strangoiy rising. "Gentlemen ; gentlemen." said Helen Rllngworth, rising and swiftly Inter posing Dotwcon tho secrotary and tho two angry men. Sho realized that tho affair had gono far enough and that sno must Intervene. They had certain ly failed lamentably, almost ludicrous ly. "You nro wrong to threaton Mr. Shurtllff. Ho is old enough to bo tho iatncr of cither of you. Drop your arm, Mr. Rodnoy. Put up Uiat pistol, Mr. Winters. Mr. Shurtllff," Bald tho gin quickly, "as I am In a certain senso your hostess, and as you aro in a cer tnln senso ray guest hero, I npologlzo to you for tho Improper and lmpulslvo conduct of theso young men. They lovo Bertram Meado dearlyltas I do. Lot that bo their oxcuso. Meanwhile thoy will apologlzo to you hero and now, 1 nm suro." Thcro wns a moment of silence. Rod' noy and Winters stared at each other. and both looked at tho girl, confront ing them so confidently in her superb and beautiful way. Winters smiled a Httlo shamefacedly bb ho shoved his gun back Into Its holster, nis had In- deed been tho greater olTonsc. "Mr. Winters, Mr. Roduoy," Bald Uio gin insistently. "Oh, I apologize. I supposo It was wrong to thrcuton him," said Rodnoy disgustedly. "Ilnng it," said Winters, now utterly forgotful of conventions, "It wasn't tho thing to do to draw a gun on a Httlo old man, and I'm Borry I did It." "And now that wo'vo apologized you'll toll us tho truth, won't you?" asked Rodnoy swiftly, with no nppro- cmcio cnango of manuer. "Yes, wo beg it now, humbly," chimod in Winters, with anything but un humblo air or voice. "I won't have Mr. Shurtllff oven ap pealed to now," said Miss Rllngworth. "You liavo threatened him and you huvo apologized. Whether ho forgives you or not Is for hlra to decide, but ho shall not bo worried, or questioned, or Insulted any moro." "Thank you, Miss rllngworth. I camo for that book on tho desk; your father wants it," said Shurtllff grimly, bowing slightly to hor. no stepped n Httlo tremblingly tho sccno had been unnerving past tho young men, picked up tho book, bowed ngam rormally and unmistakably to Miss Rllngworth nlono. and went out of tho car. Tho honors of tho encoun- tor wero certainly his. "Woll, Miss Rllngworth," said Win- tors, "I don't know whether you mado n mistake or not. I think I could havo scared It out of him with this Httlo persuader of mine" Ho tannod tho butt of tho pistol. "You couldn't havo dono It if vou had killed him," said tho woman, who had read tho old secretary correctly. "Ho isn't what I call a daring man, but ho has courago that would tako him to tho stako rather than mako him glvo way, tho courago of ondur anco rather than of action. When ho BpcakB, if ho over does, It will bo of Ills own fveo will." "Or because you may persuade him." Bald Rodnoy. "By Jove, when I think it over, it was tho finest thing you ovor did." "Bert Meade's a lucky fellow." said Winters. "You'ro the kind of n girl that ought to marry out West, whoro wo try to breed men that will match up." Helen Rllngworth laughed n Httlo. although sho felt no inclination to merriment "That's a flno compliment" Bho Bald. "Well, this has rather Bhaken mo, and STE I'm going to ask you gentlemen to ex cuse me." "We'll sco if ho is working on tho dam tomorrow." "You will stay all night, Mr. Win- -xour iatncr invited mo to tnko a bunk In his car, and, to bo perfectly frank with you, I'd sleep out in tho open rnln rather than miss a chance of being In on tho end of a gamo llko this." Tho girl bowed nnd left them. "Dick," said Rodney slowly nt last ns tho two sat smoking together In tho sllcnco of completo understanding nnd good comradeship, which requires no expression In talk, "you'ro not tho only mnn who thlnkB that girl would bo n good wife to a man." "Ah," sold Winters, "sits tho wind in that quarter, Rod?" "Yes," answered tho other, 'but I'm lighting this thing through for Mendc." "Well, by George," said tho tl ranchman, "you'ro as good a man nd Meado any day, flno fellow as ho Is. I wish I had somo chanco to trot- in this gamo and mako myself worthy of tho two of you, let alono tho lady." it was n rare confidence that Rodney had vouchsafed to his friend, nnd Hho every other Anglo-Saxon, having said his say, ho did not wish to discuss it further. "Do you know," ho began, chancing tho subject abruptly, "I think thlpgn havo turned out pretty well in spltn of our foolishness a while ago. I be- Hovo If there's a spark of human grati tude In Shurtllff's heart tho girl's In- terposltlon when you and I wero threat ening him. nnd her refusal to allow him" to bo questioned later, will fan It into flame. And Z havo nn Idea that when ho thinks it over ho'll bo nbout ready to tell." "Aro you suro ho has anything to ten?" "Certain.!' "Well, I guess you'ro rlcht It sort of consoles mo for having drawn my gun, without using It, too. And If he tolls In tho morning nnd wo And Meade, everything will bo lovely." "For everybody but me," said Rod ney. "I'll toll you what old man. when this tiling's over, you'ro coming out to Bpcnd tho rest of the winter with mo on tho ranch. It'H tho greatest placo on earth for a man to buck up. There's no womnn within fifty miles." Rodnoy laughed a Httlo grimly. "I'U go you," ho said. CHAPTER XIX. Tho Battlo From Above. Tho rain hnd stopped by moraine. to tho great reliof of Colonel Rllng worth, Sovcrenco nnd Curtlss, nnd tho satisfaction of Helen. Thero was Httlo sun to dry tho big. red sandstone mesa. Its sides seamed Into fantastic shapes, which roso grandly between tho val- loy of tho JMckot WIro and tho ravine of tho Kicking Horse, nnd which tho young woman intended to cross In hrr walk toward tho dam with Rodney and winters. Tho siding near tho steel- arch brldgo was clone to tho rock wall of tho ravine, which hero hnd been so scoured out of tho rocky sldo of tho mesa by torrents of other days that It could fairly bo called a gorgo. Con sequently tho bank of clouds above tho horizon to tho northwest was hid bo hind tho big butto from tho occupants of tho two private cars. Although tho day did not promlso to bo fair, thoy "Out West We've Got Ways for Per- euadlnn Men to Speak." had no Idea of tho further threat of storm prosuged by tho black masses to tho northwest In sandy, porous soils, such as hero provallcd, tho rain Is absorbed quickly. Thoy could travorso tho trails carpet ed with tho needles of conturlea that ran through tho dripping pines, with out getting muddy, nnd with nothing moro to fear than a wotting. Colonel Rllngworth, Sovorenco and Curtlss an nounced their Intention of going back to tho town to contlnuo their consulta tions and observations concerning tho This Is a Thrilling Story of American Life as Strong, Courageous Men Live It Copyrltfht by Fleming II. Revell Co. progress of work on tho bridge. Shurt llff, who went about his business grave ly reserved, frigidly cold and self-con tninea, una work to do nt his desk, Tho woman and tho two young men wero ror tuo dam. After nn nnrlr hrnnlrfnof Hinmfn.n , - - m) - t.. V. liWt W, tho second car was uncoupled, nnd tho englno backed It down around the mesa toward tho viaduct twenty miles below. Rodney and Winters prepared to go wim aubs iinngworth across tho wood' crj Island, with Its cresting of stone, bo to speak, that lay between tho rn vino nnu tuo valley. The conductor of tho train, a local employco of the frllroad, told them, that tho shortest way was directly over tho mesa. The sandstone of which this hugo mound wis mainly composed had been broken am disintegrated on all sides by cen turlcs of erosion nnd weathering, and tbero wero practicable ascents and de nrents at both ends. Tho nearest ascent wus nt the sldo of tho big tableland dl mia41 i ntujr ui'i'uaiiu wuicu uio car wns placed. Tho trails through tho pines which Covered tho hill up to tho very font oC tho big bUttO Wero unfromipntn,! uad In bad repair, but practicable if tro traveler was prepared for a wet tlag. Tho shortest and on tho whnio tho easiest way to tho dam would bo to mako their way to tho foot of tho nesa, cilinb It through tho blc rnvlno and cross it to tho lower end, less than two miles nwny, whoro thcro was nn ensy descent to tho dam. "And if you get caught in the rnln." oniu uio conductor, "which ain't likely, for It's already rained moro in tho Inst 11 . sTveniy-iour nours than In tho Inot vyrenty-rour years, It seems to me, Zero's a hut, half stono and half tim ber, up on ,tho mesa that campers nometlmcs mako uso of when they want jo sco tno sun riso, which is n mighty flno sight from there. It was in pretty wur auupo wnen i visited It last year, And you can And shelter there. It's nt tho highest point on tho mesa. You ?an seo n long way up tho gulch there, nnd a longer way down nnd up tho Picket Wire valley. Above tho dam it iscu to show a level, fertllo stretch werween tno mils, but it's nil a Inko now." anuruiir, or course, decUned Miss Hlllngworth's lnvitutlon to nccompauy uiu puny on pica or urgent duties and Important papers to prepare. Ho had rpoucn no words to Rodnoy or Winters, ouu muso gentlemen mado no effort to engage mm In conversation. They vcre. In truth, n Httlo nshumed of thotr Actions of tho night before. They wero iixceddlngly anxious as to whether their theories as to tho possible effect nt Miss Illlngworth's nctlon would bo Jus- unea, so tney carefully avoided tho Jiecretary, letting tho leaven work if it would. To their disappointment. It Kavo no sign or life or nctlon. Of tho four most interested In Meado. Winters wna tho only ono who had slept soundly that night Rodney was too much In lovo with tho woman ever to sleep soundly again, ho thought certainly not until her future hnd been ecttled and her relations to Meado finally determined. Shurtllff's feelings wero painful in tho extreme. Torn be tween tho old habit of affection for tho dead, his new habit of affection for tho womnn, his oft-recurring com punction of conscience, his Immediate resentment of tho treatment of tho two men, his acknowledgment of tho splen did action of tho womnn, his suspi cions, his uncertainty, as to how tho younger Meado would tako It if ho told tho truth, he slept not nt nil. Into Helen Rllngworth's mind nlso had come, although, to her credit bo It said, not until sho had retired and hnd thought over hor action In tho light of tho hints given, that perhaps her gen erous Interposition In behalf of Shurt llff might movo his grntltudo nnd that ho might nt last vouchsafe her tho help which sho felt moro certain than ever ho alono could give. Sho was glad when tho thought camo to her that sho could look herself squarely In the faco and dcclaro to her conscience that It had not been back of her action, which had been purely spontaneous. Tho possibility, nlthough a fnlnt one, that Meado might bo working on tho dam and that sho might sco him on tho morrow would havo sufficed to glvo her n wakeful night Rodnoy wus a moro careful observer than Winters, but even tho cattleman notlcc'd that sho looked worn and strained aslho helped her out of tho car for their tramp across the mesa to tho dam. "You know," ho said, with rough-and-ready sympathy, "wo haven't tho least assuranco that Meado is there. It8.only n chance, and probably a long one." "I Bhall never rest until It is decided absolutely ono way or tho other," said tho woman. "Well, Tm not much of a wnlfccr," said tho cattleman. "I gcnernlly pre fer to get ovor tho ground nstrldo of n broncho, but I guess I can keep up with tho party for two miles, If that's tho distance" It was dark nnd damp and wet under tho pines. Although the two men cleared tho way for her, holding branches back nnd slinking tho wnter o2 the drooping boughs, It was well 2 Helen wns protected from tho wet She had tramped hills and mountains many n time, camp and forest wero fn miliar to her. She woro a short skirted dress, stout hoots nnd leg' glngs, and a yellow western slicker. The exertion of tho upward climb, stumbling over broken branches nnd uprooted logs nnd floundering through boggy places on the trail, brought touch of color to her face, and though damp, tho air sweet and fragrant clean nnd pure, refreshed nnd pleased her greatly: tho men, too. It wns u hard pull, and sho was out of breath when sho reached tho broken coulee, or ravine, which led to the top of tho big red sandstono plateau. 'Tm terribly out of practice," she said to tho two men, "but I don't be lieve Tm in any worso stnto than you nro, Mr. Winters." "I told you I wasn't any good on foot," said Winters, who was blowing llko a grampus. Rodney laughed at tho two of them. "Look nt me," ho said. "I'm as fresh as when I began." "Well, you'ro used to walking," re turned Winters. "It's this plugging niong this broken trail that has knocked us out The rich, they ride on bronchos, you know." "When wo get on top of tho mesa wo will And it easier going," said Rod ney encouragingly. "Let us start" said tho girl, sud denly serious, ns sho thought what might bo at tho end of tho Journey. .oeroro wo go nny farther," said Winters, staring up tho ravlno at the sky which showed nbout It "Just take a look at that" Ho pointed to tho black clouds rar idly rising, npparently ngalnst tho wind, which swayed rather violently tho tops of the tallest pines, nlthough they wero protected nnd in compara tive quiet where they stood in tho ra vine. "It looks as If thero were moro rain there," said Rodney. "It's Incredible." answered Wintora. "after what we've had." "But it certainly is coming down ngnin, and If I'm nny Judge, it will bo another cloudburst" "Perhaps wo'd better go back." sug gested Winters to Miss Rllngworth. "Uo back!" exclaimed tho cirl. "When Tm as near as this?" "But It's only a possibility, von know." "Possibility or not, It would tako deluge in my path to stOD me. Come." It was an entirely practicable climb. but rather a hard ono on the wet, crumbling rocks. It did not take the three young people long to surmount tho difficulties, however, nnd after a few minutes they stood on top of tho mesa. Near at hand was tho hut of whioii tho conductor had spoken. It stood upon n Httlo riso nbove tho general lovel, and from it ono could see far in every direction. Between the hills nnd over tho lower crest of Ttn!riint knob they could even see dimly the far-off plains, n Httlo sickly yellow light still lingering thero hpfnm ndvanco of the storm. Tho hut was mado of stono nmi They had nof any moro than reached It before tho storm began. Claps of thunder, flashes of llehtnlnf i,n,i. which tho army on tho dam were fight ing, wero heard nnd seen with tenfold clearness by tho Httlo hugo upland. It wns n sight to nwo the of humnnlty. Miles nnd miles down tho mountain side nnd nmong the hills tho whirling battalions of clouds rolio.1 nnd tumbled nnd tossed and clashed llko aerial armies. Tho llchtnlnf while it was not in sheets, was prac tically continuous, flash succeeding flash In uncountable and bllndlnir suc cession. Again they noticed the strange coruscating, bursting effect as bolt after bolt apparently struck somo sran Ito ledge and wns then thrown back In splinters of Arc. Tho heavy, awful roll or tho thunder was continuous and ter rifle. They stood staring through door nnd windows In silence, Meado and their quest forgot in tho nppnlllng tem pest by all except tho woman. It was ho who recalled them. "Let us hasten on." sho said, nnd sho had almost to scream to mako herself heard In tho wild tumult "It's mag nificent, wonderful, but" As a matter of fact all tho mani festations of nnturo nt its crandest ould not have sufficed to turn her head away from her lover's faco If she could havo seen him. "You enn't go now," said Winters decisively, "tho rain's bad enough as It Is, and that cJoud will burst In n minute. Old Noah's flood won't bo a circurastnnco to It" "I'm protected from tho rain," sho answered. Winters shook his head. Tho weight of It would almost beat you down, Miss Rllngworth." "I haven't hnd any experience with It, but I think Winters Is right," said Rodney. "I'll go on nlone, then." said tho cirl passionately, stepping out of the house. R3HM ; u you genuemen aonx care to como." IttM ' Tho next moment, with rt culminat ing scream llko tho shriek of all tho lot souls of creation heard above the furious detonating roar of tho thunder, tho wind added Its quota to tho dera omitrntlon of natural force, nnd now tho rain fairly dropped upon them In apparently solid sheets. Of course clouds do not burst. Such n thing Is scientifically and meteorologically Im possible, but nnyono who has ever ex perienced tho suddenness nnd fury nnd weight of a western deluge In n nor mally dry land will understand the term. Tho wind swept over tho pla teau, whoro It had free courso like a hurricane; tho rain came down In masses npparently. Until their eyes beenmo nccustomed to it, the falling wnter blotted out the landscnpo. Tho woman wns hurled ngalns$ the sldo of tho house by tho sudden nnd violent nssault of tho hurricane. Th two men half dragged, half carried hei around to the lee Bldo of the cabla The roof of tho hut had given way hero and there, nnd within It wns soon flooded. Where they stood, however, by chance happened to be the solldest part of tho overhang of the roof, nnd thoy were in somo degree protected, that Is, from tho direct violence of th downpour. Thoy were, of courso, .drenched in n few minutes In spite oi tholr raincoats. With ono man on ei ther sldo of her to glvo her as much protection ns possible, the woman leaned ngalnst tho stone wall and stared through tho rain down the val ley, seeking to see tho dnm, perhapi a mile and n half away. Of course thi maximum of the downpour could nol last any more than tho maximum of tht gale, but the deluge wns succeeded bj n heavy, driving rnln still swept on bj n strong wind. , -yj Below ihe mesa tho lnko wai whipped into foam by tho beat of th rnln nnd rolled Into wnves by tho as sault of the wind. All three of them knew what this deluge portended. The downpour would raise the lovel of the lake so that It would overflow tho dam, which would bo swept away, th valley would bo Inundated by n flood, llko n tidal wave, tho Incompleted vln duct would bo ruined, the town would be ovenvhelmed, tho loss of life nnd property would bo nppalllng. "The spillway ought to take it" shouted Winters, knowing what wa Staring Down at tho Dam Helen II. llnaworth Took the Glass From Rod. ney. In tho minds of tho other two by what was in his own. "It's not finished," roared Rodney, i Winters threw up his hnnds. ! "Will the dam hold it?" cried thd woman, understanding. "Until tho water rises nbovo It Just as soon ns it begins to wash over, It will go, nnd the quicker for these? waves," answered Rodney nt tho top of his voice. "And the bridge and screamed the woman. the town," "They, too." "And father?" "no'll bo all right; they've had warn Ing. The engineers on tho dam must know tho danger now. They're work ing llko mad." Ho had brought n small rIt- fleldglass with hlra and ho was strain ing his eyes through it. Tho violence of rnln nnd wind hnd sensibly abated, although It was still coming down In torrents. With his knowledge of what would probably be attempted, Rodney wns able to sco through his glass some-' thing of whnt was being done, even at that distance. "They're building palisades on top of the dam, and backing It with an earth mound. See, thoy nro dropping sandbags over," he stated, handing tho glnss to tho other man. "By heaven," shouted Winters, they're making n magnificent fight." In his excitement ho left tho shelter of tho hut nnd stalked through tho rain toward tho edge of tho mesa whore he could hnvo a better and near er vlow. In spite of Rodney'B remon strnnces, even though backed by his outstretched arm, tho woman followed Presently all three, Indifferent to the beat of tho rain nnd tho assault of tho wind, stood watching the battle on tho dam. It was abating still more, fortu nately, or else they could scarcely havo sustained tho nttnek of that Wind nnil ruin, nor could they have seen at all even with that glass. Staring down nt tho dam after ment, Helen Rllngworth took tho glass from Rodney. Sho focused it rnpldly and looked Btendlly throueh it. Kh knew what sho wns seeking as she stood steadying herself with splendid nerve and resolution nnd length of tho dam back and forth. . M UH4U1UnUI