The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922, July 03, 1917, Image 6
THE 8EMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE, NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA. w CYRUS TOWNSEND BRADY and CYRUS TOWNSEND BRADY, Jr. Author and Clergyman Civil Engineer Copyright bylFIcmlna fl. Reretl Co. CHAPTER XXI. 13 The Testimony of the Dead. Just no Helen Illlngworth mid Win ters rcnclied tlio lower level nt tlio foot of the mesa, thoy were joined by Rod ney. "What has happened?" cried the en gineer. Winters answered 'ns tho thrco hur ried along without stopping: "Meado blow up tho hogback." Was that ho?" "Yes." "I thought thcro was something fa miliar about him, hut I did not dare " "I recognized him Instantly," said Helen Illlngworth. "That atones for tho International," continued Rodney. "What docs?" asked his friend. "Tho dam Is safe; tho water has stopped rising. I bcllovo it's beginning to fall a little. X saw somcono jump up on tho pallsado and wavo his hand, and then I saw them all gather around, evidently cheering." "I should think tho water would bs loworcd," said Winters; "it's pouring out of a nolo In tho hogback as big as a church." "It was a flno thing in Meade. Let's hurry and tell him do," answered Rod noy. "I'm afraid it's too late," said Win ters. "Oh, don't say that," cried tho girl. "Why, what's happened?" "Tho second blast was slow in going off," said Winters; "ho wont back to look at It, and got knocked over. It looked pretty bad from tho top of tho xnesa." Rodney would not havo been human if ho had not felt a leap in his breast at tho possibility, but ho was too loyal a friend and too genuinely fond of Meado for moro than a passing emo tion, for which ho was moro than a little ashamed. "Let us press on," ho urged. Ia a fow moments they stopped by tho thrco men. Meado was still un conscious, Tho big Irishman sat on tho grnsB with tho engineer's hoad on his knee. Tho deft-flngcred Httlo Ital ian was trying to wash tho blood away from tho unconscious man's forehead with a sodden, rugged plcco of cloth. Meado was unconscious, ho was breath ing heavily. Thcro wns a cntch in his respiration. His breath camo at Irreg ular Intervals and was labored as If painful. A hugo rock had struck him In tho breast Tho two men had torn open his shirt and undershirt. Tho. engi neer's chest wns bruised and bloody. Evidently bones had been broken, and (probably serious internal Injuries had resulted, iflvory breath was an appar HI t ent agony, nnd that tho oxqulslto pain Id not arouso him to consciousness Gas ovldcnco of tho terrlblo naturo of 10 Injury. A smaller, shnrpor rock had cut him across tho forehead and check, just missing his right eye, and .thoy found out afterward that ho had been struck by several othor pieces dislodged by tho explosion, and that bis body was covered with bru(ses. I But thcro was nothing, not oven In tho cut on tho forehead, to causa any Wreat alarm had it not been for tho A Huge Rock Had Struck Him In the Breast. crushed chest Winters and Rodney ,wcro both men of action, accustomed to quick thinking and prompt decision In (emergencies; whllo Helen Rung' worth could only stand with clenched hands staring In mental anguish that paralleled ttio physical suffering of the man buo loved, tho engineer nnd tho rancher immediately inado prep arations to get the wounded man to tho ear. Murphy woro In his bolt a short woodman's ax. With It thoy cut down two young saplings, trimmed them and rusting them through tho sleoves of heir raincoats thoy inado a fairly prac- ible litter. Using tho utmost care, ey laid tho unconscious man upon it had Winters and Murphy, tho two big gest men, took tho handles at either OF :By end. Helen Illlngworth, praying as she had never prayod before, sought to support the unconscious man's head. Tlio Italian gathered up the tools and went ahead to open up tho path. Rod ney followed after. Their progress was slow of neces sity. Thoy had to handlo Meado with great care. Winters und Rodney, after tho brief Inspection they had made, could not seo a chanco on earth for him. Neither could Helen Illlngworth. They went along without conversation, naturally, except for an outburst of nd nilratlon from Winters. "I tell you," ho said, "It wad n mag nificent thing for him to do. Ho risked his llfo a hundred times In that mad rush with tho dynamite In his hands and tho detonators In his pocket, Yet if ho had only stayed back ho would hovo been safe." 'It wus his anxiety for tho dam and tho peoplo that brought him down," said Helen Illlngworth. "Ho can't die," sho murmured. "God surely will not let him die. I lovo him so. And yet If ho docs and I huvo lost him, Innocent or guilty, he hus redeemed his fame." "Ho saved others," quoted Rodney under his breath, "himself ho could not savo." It was a work of great dllllculty to got tho wounded engineer Into tho car, but they Anally managed it By tho woman's direction they laid htm on her bed In her own private stateroom. "Ono of us must go for a doctor at once," said Rodney, "and that will bo my Job." "It's twenty miles to tho town," said tho conductor, who had helped to receive them. "If ono of you could telegraph wo could tap a wire." Nono of them could. "It's all down-grado and there's a good roadbed and" I was some sprinter in my col lego days," said Rodney. "And thoro wna.novcr greater need of hasto than now," Bald Winters. "I wish I hod a horso here." "Don't glvo up, Miss Rllngworth," continued Rodney, as ho started to ward tho door. "Ho's allvo yet" Just then, opportunely enough, rounding tho last curvo beforo tho arch bridge, thoy saw tho end of tho other car rapidly approaching them. Had thoy not been so excited they could havo heard tho furious pulling of tho cngtno as It drovo tho car at great speed up tho heavy grade. "Walt," said tlio conductor, "wo can send tho cnglno down for the doctor. That'll bo tho colonel's car." In a fow minutes tho car stoppod on tho siding. Out of it camo Colonel Illlngworth, Doctor Scvercnce, Gurflss, and somo of tho ofllclals of tho Brldgo company In town. Thoy woro ull great ly excited. Tho colonel did not stop to put on his hat no ran to tho othor car and climbed aboard. "Tho dam's colnir." ho shouted. "Tho brldgo and tho town will bo Hooded. Wo got word nn hour ago by a racssen- gor galloping down. Tho telephone wires aro down. I ran tho car up hero oh tlio quickest way to get oyer to tho reservoir and tho dam. Somo of you who know tho way como with me." By tills tlmo tlio observation room of tho car was filled with men. "You need not worry about tho dam," said Rodnoy. "What do you mean?" "A mun blow up tho hog-back, rondo a eplll-wny, tho wutor rushed out through It Into tho ravine, you can see It below thoro, rollovlng tho pres sure qn tlio dam ut once. Since It has held up till now It will hold for good." "Thank God I" cried tho colonel, sink ing down into a chair and wiping tho sweat oft his brow. "Tho brldgo will bo safo then. By George," ho gasped, "tho Martlet company could hardly hnvo stood auothcr loss llko that. Who's tho man who blow It up?" "His uumo Is Meado," said Rodnoy quietly. "Not?" "Yes." Thcro was a long pause. Every man thero knew of tho falluro of tho International nnd In what estimation tho old colonel held tho namo of Meado becauso of that. "Well, It was a flno thing," said tho colonel ; "It makes up for his blunder ing work on tho brldgo." "Beg pardon, sir," said Shurtllff, who had stood wldo-oycd and whlto and suf fering In sllcnco over sinco tho cngl noor had been brought to tho car, "It was not Ills blunder." "Why, you said so yourself," cried the colonel. "I lied," admitted tlio secretary. Quick as a flash Rodney had his notebook out Hero was' tho proof at lust "Why?" "To savo tho reputation of tlio man I loved." "And how do I know you aro not lying for this man now?" asked tho colonel harshly? "Theso will provo it" said Shurtltff, extending somojpnpcrs ho drew out of his pocket where ho had placed them that morning hulf intending to tell Helen Rllngworth tho truth at last. "What are these?" tlio colonel asked, staring nt Shurtltff, who stood erect be foro them, sustained moro by his will Lthan anything else, for his knees wero STEEL' shaking and his body quivering; yet he was glad after all, moro happy than he had thought he could be, in making tho revelation, In vindicating tho Innocent in giving that satisfaction to Helen Illlngworth, tardy, oven too late, though It might be. "Letters, sir. You will find thero a blueprint of the design of tho compres. filon members," nnswered Shurtllff monotonously as If ho had forced hi a mind to a certain action and It wn working automatically. "With It Is o letter from Bertram Meado to his fa ther suggesting that tho hidings were too light and calling attention to tho empiric formula of Schmldt-Chcmnlt? In proof of his argument. On the. back of thut letter Mr. Bertram Meado, Sr., mado an Indorsement you know his hundwrltlng und can Identify It 'Hold until bridge Is finished and then glvo back to tho boy. We'll show him that oven Sclinildt-Chcmnltz doesn't know everything." Colonel Illlngworth turned tho paper over. Thcro wns tho Indorsement "Well, by heaven I" ho began. "There's nnothcr paper In nn envel-. opo addressed to tho editor of tho New York Gazette. Will you read It aloud, sir?" Almost as If ho had been hypnotized Colonel Illlngworth took from tho en velope tho brief note. Uorcad.it: I alone am responlblo for tho error In tho design of tho International brldgo, which has resulted In this terrlblo disas ter. I know that my son, In an effort to shield me, will assume the responsibility, As a matter of fact, ho had previously pointed out what ho believed to bo struc tural weakness, but I refused to heed his representations and overbore, his objec tions. Tho fault Is entirely cliargeablo to mo. Thoro la no posuIUe expiation for my blundor. Tho loast I can do Is to assume all tho responsibility. The blamo Is mine. BERTRAM MEADE. Ho laid It down with tho other pa pers. "Tho demonstration is complete and nbsolute," ho began spontaneously, amid a breathless silence. "Tho proofs aro adequate. Thoy would establish young Meade's innocenco in any court In Iho land. Whero is he? I havo done him an injustice. I am ready to make amends," continued tho colonel. "And whllo you aro talking" said Helen Illlngworth, who had been stand ing, tho doorwuy too absorbed by the uramauc recuai to interrupt it, "no's dying." ' "Dying 1 Whero?" "no wns battered to pieces by tho last .dynnralto explosion. Wo brought mm here." "Wero you thero?" "Wo saw it from tho ton of tho mesa. Oh, don't talk any longer." "Soverence," Bald Illlngworth, 'with prompt decision, "you haven't forgot ten all your old medical skill. This Is your Job. Ono of you Jump on tho cn glno nnd bring n physician up and" "I'm going," said Rodney. "Who's tho best doctor In town?" "Doctor Frasor. Ho's a young man, but very skillful," answered ono of tlio local brldgo men. "Bring our own Doctor Bailey up hero from our hospital with him, nnd tell that englno driver Ho get down to tho town and back Just as quickly ns ho enn go. Cheer up, Helen," snld tho colonel. "I know that a man Is not going to rchnbllitato himself by such an action nnd havo tho ovldcnco of his Innocenco brought out at bucIi u moment just to die." "Will you glvo mo thoso papers, colo nol?" Bald Rodney. "You'll want this written up nud " "Take them," said tho colonel. "Will you como along with mo, Mr. Shurtlllt? After I seo tho doctors I'll wunt your ullldavlt." "Yes, sir, anything," said Shurtllff. "It was flno of you," said Wlutcrs, "to try to shlold your employer and tlio man you loved, but thank God, you spoko out beforo It was too late. I'm sorry I pulled that gun on you; you're a mnn, all right, oven If you don't look It," ho added to himself as Shurtllff bowed and followed Rodney. Winters stood at tho door of tho pas sageway lending to tho stateroom whllo Helen llllugworth nud Soverence, who had been educated ns u physician, and tho old colonel, who know a great deal about wounds und accidents from his war experience, entered tho stateroom. A now spirit had como Into tho rela tions between fnthor and daughter and both wero glad. Thoro was no ques tion now about tho future Thero should bo no opposition from Colonel llllugworth. Within nn hour tho pa pers would havo tho -story of how ono man had saved a great dam, tho via duct, tho town, nnd its people, and they would havo nt tho same tlmo tho story of who was responsible for tho full of tho International bridge. They would hnvo tho story of tho attempted self-sacrlflco of tho son to savo tlio i father. They would havo tlio story of tho old man's splendid and magnanlm ous avowal of responsibility beforo ho died. Tho United Stntes, tho world, would ring with tho dramatic tale. It was as much to tell that story in his own way as to summon medical aid that Rodnoy had gono for tho doc tor. And so tho futhcr held tho daugh ter clasped to his side whllo both bent Qvor tho still unconscious mun, whom Doctor Soverence quickly nnd careful ly and with wonderful skill, consider ing his long withdrawal from practice, examined. "What is it?" asked tho colonel ns tho vice president looked up presently. "My daughter Is engaged to bo married to him" and ho was rewarded by the thrill and quiver thut shot through his daughter's being which he felt as ho presged her to his side "wo can't lot him die now." "He's In God's hands," answered Sevcrenco gravely. "Ho's been terribly pounded everywhere. His brenstbono is shattered, somo of his ribs aro brok en. I don't know." "That awful cut on his forehend?" "Thnt's nothing." "And the other bruises?" "They count but little, but the blow on tho chest" ho shook his gray head Kiully, ominously. "Do you think anything has pene trated his lungs?" asked Heien Illlng worth, ns sho pointed to her lover's lips, to n Httlo bloody froth thnt enmo therefrom. Tho old man nooded. "Perhaps," ho said. "Oh, ho can't die, ho enn't, ho can't I" wniled the woman, sinking down on her kn&s by tho bed. "Not if any power on enrth enn keep him from it, my dear child," said tho colonel tenderly, bending over her. "Send me tho porter of tho car," said Severance, "nnd tnkc Miss Rllng worth nwny. I want to get him un dressed nnd " "You will cnll mo bnck tlio ralnuto I can come?" "Certainly, my dear girl," said the vico president, who had known tho young woman from childhood. CHAPTER XXII. At Last to tho Stars. All tho men except Curtlss and Win ters had discreetly withdrawn from tho enr nnd had gone over to tho mesa to look nt tho lnkc nnd the outlet. In deed tho wntcr wns ronring down be neath tho steel nrch brldgo, filling for tho first tlmo In generations tho chan nel of tho Kicking Horse. Fortunate ly It could flow that way without dan ger to tho town or tho viaduct below. Tho colonel led his daughter to a chair and then turned to Winters. "You wero thcro?" he began. "Tell mo about It" Graphically tho big cattlo rancher told tho story of Meade's mad rush over tho rocks with his two compan- "Certainly, My Dear Girl," Said the Vico President ions, of tho despcrato assnult on tho hog-back, of tho success that had met their efforts to open tho improvised spillway, and then tho final disaster. Tho recital lost nothing in his graphic relation. "It wns flno, It wns magnificent," said tho colonel, patting his daughter's shoulder. "Whero aro tho two who went with him?" "They'ro outsldo thcro," said Win ters. Tho old colonel went to tho door of tho car nnd called tho two men into tho car. "In tho bank down In Coronado thero's a thousand dollars of mlno for each of you," ho said promptly. "Wo didn't do It for money, sor," said tho big Irishman, "although 'twill bo welcomo enough, but how is Mr. Roberts?" "You mean that man who blow up tho hog-back?" "SI, slgnore, a greata man lib ecs," said tho Httlo Italian. "I wish I could say ho was all right, but there's a doctor with him und wo havo sent for tho best physician In town. Ho's horribly hurt" "But plnlso God, ho may pull through, sor. Tho Holy Virgin nn' tho Saints prcsurvo him," said tho Irishman, mak ing tlio sign of tlio cross. And in his own langungo Httlo Fun nro brenthed u similar prayer and with his grimy, toll-stained hand ho mado tho sumo gesture. "Murphy," shouted a voice from tho pines on tho side of tho hill between tho car nnd tho mesa. "That'll bo Mr. Vandoventcr, tho resident engineer," said Murphy. Colonel Rllngworth turnod to the door again. "Whcro's Roberta?" cried Vandevcn tor, stumbling down tho hill. Ho was haggard nnd worn nnd wenry to tho point of exhaustion, but as soon as ho had been assured of tho snfety of the dnm and beforo ho left tho wnter wus visibly receding ho had stnrted out to seek tho engineer whom ho had, in his mind in tlio excitement of tho moment, accused of desertion. ' "Ho's hero in my car, sir," snld Colo nel Illlngworth. "And who nro you, may I ask?" said Vnndoventer, crossing tho track und swinging himself upon tho plntform of tho cnr. "I um Colonel Illlngworth, president of the Martlet Brldgo company." "But Roberts?" "His namo Is not Roberts. It's Meade." "What? The International man?" "Yes." "I know he was an engineer. .Well, he's mado up for his falluro there." "He did not fall thero any moro than ho failed here," said tlio colonel. "Whero Is he?" "It's a. long story." "It can wait," snld Vnndoventer brusquely. "I wnnt to thnnk him for saving the dam and tho lives of tho men on it, and the town, and the rail road, and the bridge." "I don't know whether you can thank him or not," snld the colonel. "You don't menn " "Ho was terribly hurt by tho last ex plosion and they brought him here." "Can I see him?" For nnswer Colonel illlngworth pointed to tho door. "This is my daughter. Your namo Is Vnndeventor, Is It not? Helen, this Is tho engineer who Is building tho dam. Ho has como to nsk after his man." "I'vo dono everything I can for him," said Soverence, coming out of tho stateroom, followed by tho porter, as Vundovcntcr shook hands with tho girl. "He's still unconscious, but seems to breathe n Httlo easier." Into the Httlo room tho woman and tho four men crowded. Vandeventer, accompnnled by Murphy and Funaro, followed tho colonel. Neither of tho workmen would bo left out Thero lny the engineer, his face as whlto as tho linen of the pillow or tho bandago which had been deftly tied around his head. Ono hand, still grimy nnd mud stained, lay on the sheet. Helen Il llngworth knelt down and kissed It and laid her head on the bed. "Ho Is to bo my husband if ho lives," sno saia simply. "A mnn and nn engineer ho Is," whls pered Vnndoventer. "I misjudged you, Mende," snld tho colonel softly, spenklng ns If tho un conscious mnn couia nenr. "I con demned you. I wish to henven you could hear mo mako amends now." "Begob," whispered Murphy, "you'd ought to seen him run wid tho dlnna- mlte." Tljo volco of tho Italian murmured words which they know wero prayers and though they camo from humble lips they brought relief to all. They entered .deeply into Helen Rllngworth's heart nnd mingled with her own peti tions, frantic, fervent, Imperative, al though sho offered them to Almighty God as from n woman broken. Pres ently they all filed out of tho room, leaving Helen Rllngworth alone with what was left of life In tho crushed body of tho man sho had never loved so much before. In tho observation room Vandeventer told them of tho flght for the dam and how they hnd renched their mnxlmum power of resistance and more, nnd that tho relief camo In tho very nick of time. Mennwhllo tho engine driver had burned up tho track going and com ing and In less than an hour ho was bnck with two surgeons nnd n trained nurse. Was it their skill nnd enro nnd wntchfulness thnt flnnlly brought Meado back to consciousness, or was It tho passionate, consuming intensity of will and purpose of tho woman who loved him, who could scarcely bo driv en from his side? Well, whatever tho reason, after many days he passed from death Into llfo and camo back again. no wns conscious of Helen's pres enco nnd lny quietly enveloped In her lovo beforo ho could talk coherently or question. Indeed, with Rodney and Winters, nnd old Shurtllff, who sworo to himself that ho would never forglvo himself If Meado did not recover, and tho colonel, and Vandeventer, and all tho men of tho force, who used to stroll over after hours and just sit on tho sldo of tho track and stnro at tho car whero tho man who had saved them was fighting for his life as desperately as they had fought to savo tho dam, Meado was surrounded by such an at mosphere of admiration and devotion ns might havo stayed tho hand of death itself. Thero camo n day when tho physician said ho could talk a little. "I saw you," Helen whispered. "I was standing on tho high hill watch ing, looking down upon you just be fore" "But I shnll look up to you all tho rest of my life," said tho man, ns tho woman knelt, ns was her wont, by tho side of the bed. Sho kissed his hand, thin, wasted, but whlto and clean now. "No, I to you," sho murmured, as sho pressed her Hps to his fingers. "Look up n Httlo higher, then,'' whis pered Mcndo with soma of tho old hu mor. "You menn?" Tho voiceless movement of his Hps told her tho story. Sho raised herself and kissed them lightly. "I haven't dared to ask that before," said tho mnn, closing his eyes. "I wnsn't strong enough to stnnd that." "But you'ro going to get strong ; you must I'd llko to kiss you forever," snld tho womnn with pitying tender ness nnd grent Joy. "It's henvenly now, but I shall hnvo to go nwny again when I am able and " "Wo nro never going to bo parted again." "I cannot let you mnrry a discredited man, n failure." "Don't you know," snld. tho womnn, rising, "that tlio wholo United States rings with your exploit, that the splen did saving of tho dnm has caught the fancy of tho people as it deserves and you are a horo- everywhere nnd to everybody?" "But tho Iuternntlonal bridge and Its falluro?" Unbeknown to the two tho colonel hnd stood In tho doorway. "Wo know tlio truth now, my Doy," snld tho old man, coming Into tho room. "It was your father's fault, not yours. orlstlc nf Monde's tem per and temperament that llls white Hps closed In n straight line nt tms. "Where's Shurtllff?" he nskeu, niter a silent communing with himself. Tho old man had come In nnd out of tho room llko u ghost during his slow "I Saw You," Helen Whispered. recovery. Colonel Illlngworth turned away and summoned tho secretary, Rodnoy and Winters came, too. "Shurtllff," said Meade faintly but firmly, "tell them again who is re sponsible for tho failure of tho Inter national." "Forglvo me, Mr. Meade," said Shurt llff, "but It was your brave old father1!! fault." "You see," said tho colonel. "Wo knew It all tho time," said Rod. ney. "But Mr. Shurtljfl bravely gave ns the final proof," s&io. Winters. "Thoso pnpers?" sold Mendo. Shurtllff nodded. "And your fnther's own letter that ho wrote tho pnpers beforo his heart broke," snld Rodney; 'Til rend It to you presently." a "Why did you do it, Shurtllff?" "To right a great wrong, sir. I saw thnt wo wero mlstnken to try to spurs tho dend nt the expense of the living, to wreck your life nnd tho future, nnd the hnpplness of Miss Rllngworth. God bless her for her kindness to n lonely old man. And so when you were brought here dead I told them the truth and gave them tho papers." "Gentlomen," snld Mende, mnklng a Inst try, "it Is useless to deny it now, but for the snko of my fnther's fnme you won't let anyone know?" "Old mnn," snld Rodney, "It wns on tho wires nn hour afterward and tho whole United States knows it now. Your father made the mistake; his letter admitted It bravely. The world honors him, It honors you." "Rodney," snld Mende, "I wish you hndn't done It" "It wns for Miss Rllngworth's hnppl ness nnd yours thnt I did It," said Rod ney. "And how much thnt cost me, he added, the confession being wrung from him, "no one can ever know." He turned and left tho room. Winters followed lilm full of sympathy and comprehension. v "Let mo go out alone, old man," snld Rodney. "I'll bo bnck presently. This Is the Inst flght I'vo got to mnke." Winters wntched him from tho steps of the car ns he disappeared In tho plno trees en route to the mcsn to flght it out under the open sky alone. Tho others left the room also, last of all Shurtllff. "You forglvo me, Mende. Tva been through hell Itself," snld tho old mnn, "In these Inst six months." "Freely," snld Mende. And Shurtllff went away with a lighter heart than ho had borno for many a long day. Tho two lovers wero alono again. "You see," snld Helen, "thero's noth ing cun keep us npart now." "Nothing, thank God," whispered tho man. "But I nm sorry thnt It nil camo out this way. I'm sorry not only becauso of your suffering, but for other reasons Rodney for one. He it's too bndl It was not necessary for you to get yourself nlmost killed to win me, I mean, for wherever and whenevor I found you I wns resolved to mnrry you, willy-nilly." "And Is it true thnt poor old Rod hnd grown to enro?" ho nsked, putting by tlio academic discussion. Tho woman nodded. "I'm very sorry. I can't help It Wo wero always together, talking about you," sho snld. "And he couldn't help It, either," snld Mendo. "Somehow I believe he wns tho better man for you to hnvo taken." But ho looked nt hor wistfully and anxiously as ho spoko. "I won't nrguo with, you," snld tho girl, bending closo to him. "Til only eay that I know I hnve thp best mnn In all tlio -world, but If ho wero tho worst, I would rejolco to havo him just tho same." (THE END.) . Attainments. "How's your boy Josh getting on at school?" "I dunno" replied Farmer CorntosseL "But if he Is really as smart as his conversation sounds, he's ronktn' some o thoso perfessora hustle to keep, op wUfaulm." i