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About The Red Cloud chief. (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923 | View Entire Issue (June 7, 1917)
RED OLOUD, NEBRASKA, CHIEF h. WEB CYRUS TOWNSEND BRADY and CYRUS TOWNSEND BRADY, Jr. Author and Clergyman Civil Engineer Copjrlitit brlFIemlnf H. Reretl Co. CHAPTER XXI. 13 The Testimony of the Dead. Just ns Helen Illlngworth and Win tern reached tlio lower level nt tho foot of tho tuesn, they wcro Joined by Rod ney. "What has happened ?" cried tho en gineer. Winters answered ns tho thrco hur ried nlong without stopping: "Mcado blew up tho hogback." "Was that he?" Yes." "I thought thcro was something fa miliar about him, but I did not dare " "I recognized him Instantly," said Helen Illlngworth. ' "That atones for tho International," continued Rodney. "What does?" naked his friend. "Tho dam Is Bufe; tho water has stopped rising. I bcllevo It's beginning to fall a little. I saw someone jump up on tho pallsado and wave his hand, and then I saw them all gather around, evidently cheering." "I should think tho water would be lowered," said Winters; "It's pouring out of a holo In tho hogback as big as a church." "It was a fine thing In Meado. Let's harry and tell him bo," answered Rod ney. "I'm afraid It's too late," said Win ters. "Oh, don't Bay that," cried tho girl. "Why, what's huppencd?" "Tho second blast wus slow In going off," said Winters; "ho went back to look at It, and got knocked over. It looked pretty bad from tho top of tho mesa." Rodney would not have been human If ho had not felt a leap in his breast at thp possibility, but ho was too loyal a friend and too genuinely fond of Meado for inoro than a passing emo tion, for which ho was mora than a llttlo ashamed. "Let us press on," ho urged. In a fow moments they stopped by tho threo men. Meado was still un conscious. Tho big Irishman sat on tho grass with tho engineer's head on his knee. Tho deft-lingered llttlo Ital ian was trying to wash the blood away from tho unconscious man's forehead with a sodden, ragged plcco of cloth. Mcado was unconscious, ho was breath ing heavily. There was a catch In his respiration. His breath came at Irreg ular intervals and was labored as If painful. A huge rock had struck him In tho breast Tho two men had torn open bis shirt and undershirt. Tho engi neer's chest wns bruised and bloody. Evidently bones had been broken, and probably serious Internal Injuries had rosultcd. Every breath was an appar ent agony, and that tho exquisite pain did not arouse him to consciousness was evidence of tho terrible naturo of tho Injury. A smaller, sharper rock bad cut him across tho forehead and chock, Just missing his right eye, and thoy found out afterward that ho had been struck by sovcral other pieces dislodged by tho explosion, and that his body was covered with bruises. But there wus nothing, not even In the cut on the forehead, to cause any great alarm had It not been for the A Huge Rock Had Struck Him In the Breast crushed chest Winters and Rodney were both men of action, accustomed to quick thinking and prompt decision in emergencies; while Helen Rllng worth could only stand with clenched hands staring In mental anguish that paralleled tho physical suffering of the man alio loved, tho engineer nnd the rancher Immediately mado prep arations to get tho wounded man to tho car. Murphy wore In his belt a short woodman's nr. With It thoy cut down two young saplings, trimmed them and thrusting thorn through the Blooves of their raincoats they mado a fairly prac ticable litter. Using tho utmost care, they laid the unconscious man upon It and Winters and Murphy, tho two big gest men, took the handles at either OF STEEL :By end. Helen Illlngworth, praying as she hud never prayed before, sought to support tho unconscious man's head. Tho Italian gathered up tho tools and went ahead to open up tho path. Rod ney followed ufter. Their progress was slow of neces sity. Thoy had to handlo Meado with great caro. Winters und Rodney, nfter the brief inspection they had made, could not seo u chanco on earth for him. Neither could Helen Illlngworth. They went along without conversation, naturally, except for an outburst of ad miration from Winters. "I tell you," ho said, "It was a mag nificent thing for 1)1 in to do. He risked his life a hundred times in that mad rush with the dynamite In his hands und the detonators in his pocket. Yet If he hud only stayed back ho would havo been safe." "It was his anxiety for tho dam and the people that brought "him down," said Helen Illlngworth. "Ho can't die," alio murmured. "Clod surely will not let him die. I lovo him so. And yet If ho does and I havo lost him, Innocent or guilty, ho has redeemed his fame." "He saved others," quoted Rodney under bis breath, "himself ho could not save." It was a work of great difficulty to get tho wounded engineer Into tho car, but they finally managed it. By the woman's direction they laid him on her bed In her own private stateroom. "Ono of us must go for a doctor at once," said Rodcoy, "and that will be 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." None of them could. "It's nil down-grade and there's a good roadbed and I was some sprinter in my college days," said Rodney. "And there was never greater need of haste than now," said Winters. "I wish I hud a horse here." "Don't glvo up, Miss Rllngworth," continued Rodney, as he started to ward the door. "He's alive yet." Just then, opportunely enough, rounding the last curve beforo tho arch bridge, they saw tho end of tho other car 'rnpldly approaching them. Had thoy not been so excited they could havo heard tho furious puffing of tho engine as It drovo tho car at great Bpccd up tho heavy grade. "Walt," said tho conductor, "wo can send the engine down for tho doctor. That'll be the colonel's car." In a few minutes tho cur stopped on tho aiding. Out of It came Colonel Illlngworth, Doctor Severance, Curtlss, and some of tho ofllclals of tho Bridge company In town. They were all great ly excited. The colonel did not stop to put on his hat He ran to the other car and climbed aboard. "Tho dam's going," he shouted. "Tho bridge and tho town will bo flooded. Wo got word an hour ngo by a messen ger galloping down. Tho telephone wires are down. I ran tho car up hero as tho quickest way to get over to the reservoir and the dam. Somo of you who know the way come with me." By this time tho observation room of the car was filled with men. "You need not worry about the dam," said Rodney. "What do you mean?" "A man blew up the hog-back, mado a spill-way, the water rushed out through It Into the ravine, you can seo It below there, relieving the pres sure on the dam at 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 off his brow. "The brldgo will bo safe then. By George," ho gasped, "tho Martlet company could hardly havo stood another loss Uko that. Who's tho man who blew It up?" "His name Is Meade," said Rodney quietly. "Not?" "Yes." Thcro was a long pause. Every man there knew of tho failure of tho International and In what estimation tho old colonel held tho name of Meado because of that "Well, It was a flno thing," Bald tho colonel ; "It makes up for his blunder ing work on tho bridge." "Beg pardon, sir," said Shurtllff, who had stood wide-eyed and whlto and suf fering In silence ever since the engi neer bad been brought to tho car, "It was not his blunder." "Why, you said so yourself," cried the colonel. "I lied," admitted tho secretary. Quick as a flash Rodney bad his notebook out Here was tho proof at last. "Why?" "To savo tho reputation of tho man I loved." "And how do I know you aro not lying for this man now?" asked tho colonel harshly. Theso will prove It," said Shurtllff, extending some papers he drew out of his pocket whero he had placed them that morning half Intending to tell Helen Rllngworth the truth at last "What aro these?" the colonel asked, staring at Shurtllff, who stood erect be fore them, sustained more by bis will than anything else, for his knees were shaking and his body quivering; yet ho was glad after nil, mora happy than lie had thought ho could be, In making the revelation, in vindicating tho Innocent, In giving that satisfaction to Helen Illlngworth, tardy, even too lnte, though It might be. "Letters, sir. You will And there a blueprint of tho design of tho compres sion members," answered Shurtllff monotonously as If he had forced his mind to a certain action nnd It was working automatically. "With it is a letter from Bertram Meade to his fa ther suggesting that the lacings were too light and calling attention to the empiric formula of Schmidt-Chemnitz in proof of his argument. On the bnck of that letter Mr. Bertram Meade, Sr., mado an Indorsement you know his handwriting and enn Identify It 'Hold until bridge Is finished nnd then glvo back to the boy. We'll show him that even Schmtdt-Chctnnltz doesn't know everything." Colonel Illlngworth turned the paper over. Thero was tho Indorsement "Well, by heaven 1" ho began. "There's another paper In an envel opo addressed to the editor of tho New York Gazette. Will you read It aloud, Blr?" Almost as If he had been hypnotized Colonel Illlngworth took from tho en velope the brief note. Ho read It : I alone am responsible for the error In the doslgn of the International bridge, which has resulted In this terrible disas ter. I know that my son, In an effort to shield me, will assume the responsibility. As a matter of fact, he had previously pointed out what ho bolleved to be struc tural weakness, but I refused to heed his representations and overbore his objec tions. The fault is entirely chargeable to me. There is no possible expiation for my blunder. The least I can do is to assume all tho responsibility. The blame is mine. BERTRAM MEADE. He laid It down with tho other pa pers. "Tho demonstration Is complete and absolute," he began spontaneously, umld a breathless silence. "The proofs are adequate. They would establish young Meade's Innocence lu any court In the land. Where Is he? I have done him an Injustice. I am ready to make amends," continued the colonel. "And while you are talking" satd Helen Illlngworth, who nnd been stand ing in the doorway too absorbed by the dramutlc recital to Interrupt It, "ho's dying." "Dying I Where?" "no was battered to pieces by the last dynamlto explosion. We brought him here." "Wcro you thero?" "Wo saw It from the top of tho mesa. Oh, don't talk any longer." "Soverence," Bald Rllngworth, with prompt decision, "you haven't forgot ten all your old medical skill. This Is your Job. Ono of you Jump on the en glno and bring a physician up nnd " "I'm going," said Rodney. "Who's tho best doctor In town?" "Doctor Fraser. He's a young man, but very skillful," answered ono of the local bridge men. "Bring our own Doctor Bailey up here from our hospital with him, and tell that engine driver to get down to tho town and back Just as quickly ns ho can go. Cheer up, Helen," said tho colonel. "I know that a man Is not going to rehabilitate himself by such an action and have the evldenco of his Innocence brought out at such a moment Just to die." "Will you glvo mo those papers, colo nel?" said Rodney. "You'll want this written up und " "Take them," said tho colonel. "Will you come along with me, Mr. Shurtllff? After I see the doctors I'll want your affidavit" "Yes, sir, anything," said Shurtllff. "It was flno of you," said Winters, "to try to shield your employer and the mun you loved, but thank God, you spoko out beforo It was too lute. I'm sorry I pulled that gun on you ; you're a mnn, all right, even If you don't look it," ho added to himself as Shurtllff bowed and followed Rodney. Winters stood at the door of tho pas sageway leading to tho stateroom whllo Helen Illlngworth and Severence, who had been educated as a physician, and tho old colonel, who knew a great deal about wounds and accidents from his war experience, entered tho stateroom. A now spirit bad come into the rela tions between father and daughter and both wcro glad. There was no ques tion now abouK-tho 'future. There should bo no opposition from Colonel Illlngworth. Within an hour the pa pers would have the story of how one man had saved a great dam, tho via duct, tho town, and Its people, and they would havo at tho same time tho story of who was responsible for tho fall of tho International bridge. Thoy would have tho story of tho attempted solf-sacrlflco of tho son to save tho father. Thoy would havo tho story of tho old man's splendid and magnanim ous avowal of responsibility before be died. Tho United States, tho world, would ring with tho dramatic tale. It was as much to tell that story In bis own way as to summon medical aid that Rodney bad gone for the doc tor. And so the father held the daugh ter clasped to bis side while both bent QYr the still unconscious man, who Doctor Soverence quickly nnd careful 1 and with wonderful skill, consider ing his long withdrawal from practice, examined. "What is It?" asked the colonel ns tho vice president looked up presently. "My daughter Is engaged to he married to him" and ho wns rewarded by tho thrill atid quiver that shot through his daughter's being which ho felt ns he pressed her to his side; "wo can't let him die now." "He's in God's hnnds," answered Soverence gravely. "He's been terribly pounded everywhere. His breastbone Is shattered, somo of his ribs are brok en. I don't know." "That awful cut on his forehead?" "That's nothing." "And tho other bruises?" "They count but little, but tho blow on tho chest" ho shook his gray heud audly, ominously. "Do you think anything has pene trated his lungs?" asked Helen Illlng worth, as sho pointed to her lover's lips, to a llttlo bloody froth that came therefrom. The old mnn nooded. "Perhaps," ho said. "Oh, ho can't die, ho can't, ho can't 1" walled tho woman, sinking down on her knees by tho bed. "Not If nny power on earth can keep him from It, my dear child," said the colonel tenderly, bending over her. "Send mo the porter of tho car," said Severance, "and take Miss Illlng worth awny. I want to get him un dressed and " "You will call mo back tho minute I can come?" "Certainly, my dear girl," said the vlco president, who had known the young woman from childhood. CHAPTER XXII. At Last to the Stars. All tho men except Curtlss and Win ters had discreetly withdrawn from tho car and had gone over to the mesa to look at the lake and the outlet In deed the water was roaring down be neath the steel arch bridge, filling for tho first time In generations tho chan nel of tho Kicking Horse. Fortunate ly It could flow that way without dan ger to the town or tho viaduct below. Tho colonel led his daughter to a chair and then turned to Winters. "You were there?" ho began. "Tell mo about It" Graphically the big cattle rancher told tho story of Meade's mad rush over the rocks with his two compan- "Certainly, My Dear Girl," Vice President 8ald the Ions, of the desperate assault on the bog-back, of tho success that had met their efforts to open tho Improvised spillway, and then tho final disaster. The recital lost nothing In his graphic relation. "It was fine. It was magnificent," said the colonel, patting bis daughter's shoulder. "Where are the two who went with him?" "They're outsldo there," said Win ters. Tho old colonel went to the door of tho car and called the two men Into the car. "In the bank down In Coronado there's a thousand dollars of mine for each of you," he said promptly. "We didn't do It for money, sor," said the big Irishman, "although 'twill bo welcome enough, but how Is Mr. Roberts?" "You mean that man who blew up tho hog-back?" "SI, slgnore, a greata man ho ecs," said tho llttlo Italian. "I wish I could say ho was all right, but there's a doctor with him and wo have sent for tho best physician in town. He's horribly hurt" "But plalse God, he may pull through, sor. Tho Holy Virgin an' tho Saints preserve him," said the Irishman, mak ing the sign of the cross. And In his own language little Fun aro breathed a similar prayer and with his grimy, toll-stained hand he made the samo gesture. "Murphy," shouted a voice from tho pines on tho side of tho hill between tho car and tho mesa. "That'll bo Mr. Vandeventer, the resident engineer," said Murphy. Colonel Rllngworth turned to the door again. "Wliero's Roberts?" cried Vandeven ter, stumbling down the hill. Ho was haggard and worn and weary to the point of exhaustion, but as soon as he had been assured of the safety of the dam and before be left the water was visibly receding be had started out to seek the engineer whom be had, in bis mind In the excitement of the moment, accused of desertion. "He's bare in say. car, sir," said Colo ns, Illlngworth. , ,,. ,. "And who are you, may I nsic?" snld Vandeventer, crossing tho track and swinging himself upon tho platform of tho car. "I am Colonel Rllngworth, president of the Mnrtlct Brldgo company." "But Roberts?" "Ills naino is not Roberts. It's Monde." "What? The International man?" "Yes." "I knew ho wns an engineer. Well, lie's tnndo up for his fulluro there." "He did not full there uuy moro thun he fulled here," said tho colonel. "Whero Is he?" "It's a long story." "It can wait," said Vandeventer brusquely. "I want to thank him for saving the dum und tho lives of tho men on It, nnd the town, nnd tho rail road, nnd the bridge." "I don't know whether you can thank him or not," Bald the colonel. "You don't mean" "He wns terribly hurt by the Inst ex plosion nnd they brought him here." "Cun I see him?" For answer Colonel Illlngworth pointed to the door. "This Is my duughtcr. Your nurao Is Vandeventer, Is It not? Helen, this Is tho engineer who Is building tho dam. He bus come to nsk after his man." "I'vo dono everything I can for him," said Severence, coming out of the stateroom, followed by tho porter, as Vandeventer shook hands with the girl. "He's still unconscious, but seems to breathe a little easier." Into the llttlo room the woman and tho four men crowded. Vandeventer, nccompanlcd by Murphy und Funaro, followed tho colonel. Neither of the workmen would bo left out There Iny tho engineer, his face ns white as tho linen of the pillow or the bandage which had been deftly tied around his head. One bund, still grimy and mud stained, lay on tho sheet Helen Il llngworth knelt down nnd kissed It and laid her head on the bed. "no Is to be my husband If ho lives," sho said simply. "A man and un engineer he Is," whis pered Vandeventer. "I misjudged you, Meade," said the colonel softly, speaking as If the un conscious man could hear. "I con demned you. I wish to heaven you could hear me make amends now." "Begob," whispered Murphy, "you'd ought to seen him run wld the dlnna mite." The volco of tho Italian murmured words which they knew were prayers and though they came from humble lips they brought relief to all. They entered deeply Into Helen IUIngworth's heart and mingled with her own peti tions, frantic, fervent, Imperative, al though she offered them to Almighty God as from a woman broken. Pres ently they all filed out of the room, leaving Helen Illlngworth nlone with what was left of life In tho crushed body of tho man she had never loved so much before. In tho observation room Vandeventer told them of tho fight for tho dam and how they had reached their maximum power of resistance and more, nnd that the relief came In the very nick of time. Meanwhllo the englno driver had burned up tho track going and com ing and In less than an hour he was back with two surgeons and a trained nurse. Was It their skill and caro and watchfulness thnt finally brought Meade back to consciousness, or was It tho passionate, consuming Intensity of will and purpose of the woman who loved him, who could scarcely be driv en from his side? Well, whatever the reason, nfter many days he passed from death Into life and came back again. Ho was conscious of Helen's pres ence nnd lay quietly enveloped in her love before ho could talk coherently or question. Indeed, with Rodney and Winters, and old Shurtllff, who swore to himself that ho would never forglvo himself If Meade did not recover, and the colonel, and Vandeventer, and all the men of the force, who used to stroll over after hours and Just sit on the sldo of tho track and stnro at tho car where the man who had saved them was fighting for his llfo as desperately ns they had fought to save tho dam, Meade was surrounded by such an at mosphere of admiration nnd devotion as might havo stayed tho hand of death Itself. Thero came a duy 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 shall look up to you all tho rest of my life," said tho man, as the woman knelt, as was her wont, by tho side of tho bed. Sho kissed his hand, thin, wasted, but white and clean now. "No, I to you," sho murmured, as sho pressed bcr lips to his fingers. "Look up a little higher, then," whis pered Meado with some of the old hu mor. "You mean?" Tho voiceless movement of his lips told her the story. She raised herself and kissed them lightly. "I haven't dared to ask that before," said the man, closing his eyes. "I wasn't strong enough to stand that." "But you'ro going to get strong; you must I'd llko to kiss you forovcr," said the woman with pitying tender ness and great Joy. "It's heavenly now, but I shall havo to go away again when I am able and" "Wo aro nover going to bo parted again." "I cannot let you marry a discredited man, a failure." "Don't you know," said the woman, rising, "that the whole United States rings with your exploit, that the splen did saving of the dam has caught the fancy of the people as It deserves and you are a hero everywhere and to ev tybody.1" . y r "But tho International bridge ,nd tu failure?" Unbeknown to tho two the colonel had stood In the doorwuy. "Wo know tho truth now, my ooy," snld the old mnn, coming Into the room. "It was your father's fault, not yours." It was characteristic of Meade's tem per nnd temperament that his white lips closed In n straight line nt this. "Where's Shurtlllt?" he nsked, nfter u silent communing with himself. Tho old man had come In und out of the room llko n ghost during his Blow "l Saw You," Helen Whispered, recovery. Colonel Illlngworth turned away und summoned tho secretary. Rodney nnd Winters came, too. "Shurtllff," said Meade faintly but firmly, "tell them uguln who Is ro sponslblo for tho failure of the Inter national." "Forglvo me, Mr. Meade," said Shurt llff, "but It was your bravo old father's fault." "You see," said the colonel. "We knew It all tho time," said Rod ney. "But Mr. Shurtllff bravely gave us tho flnnl proof," said Winters. "Those papers?" said Meade. Shurtllff nodded. "And your father's own letter that he wrote tho papers before his heart broke," said Rodney; 'TU read It to you presently." "Why did you do it, Shurtllff?" "To right a great wrong, sir. I saw that we were mistaken to try to spare the dead at the expense of the living, to wreck your life nnd the future, nnd the happiness of Miss Rllngworth. God bless her for her kindness to a lonely old mnn. And so when you were brought hero dend I told them the truth nnd gave them the papers." "Gentlemen," said Meade, making a last try, "it Is useless to deny it now, but for tho sake of my father's famo you won't let nnyono know?" "Old man," said Rodney, "it wns on the wires an hour afterward nnd tho whole United States knows It now. Your father mado the mistake; his,, letter admitted It bravely. Tho world honors him, It honors you." "Rodney," said Meade, "I wish you hadn't dono it." "It wus for Miss IUIngworth's happi ness nnd yours that I did It," said Rod ney. "And how much that cost me,"' ho added, tho confession being wrung from him, "no ono can ever know." He turned nnd left the room. Winters followed him full of sympathy and comprehension. "Let mo go out alone, old man," said Rodney. "I'll bo back presently. This Is the last fight I've got to make." Winters watched him from the steps of tho car as ho disappeared In tho pine trees en route to the mesa to fight It out under the open sky alone. Tho others left the room also, last of all Shurtllff. "You forglvo mo, Meade. Fve been through hell Itself," said tho old .nan. ''In these last six months." "Freely," said Meude. And Shurtllff went away with a lighter heart than he had borne for many a long day. The two lovers wero alono again. "You see," said Helen, "there's noth ing can keep us apurt now." "Nothing, thunk God," whispered tho man. "But I am sorry that It all came out this way. I'm sorry not only because of your suffering, but for other reasons Rodney for one. He It's too bad I It was not necessary for you to get yourself almost killed to win mo, I mean, for wherever and whenever I found you I was resolved to marry you, wllly-nllly." "And Is It truo that poor old Bod had grown to care?" bo asked, putting by tho academic discussion. Tho woman nodded. "I'm very sorry. I can't help It We wero always together, talking about you," sho said. "And ho couldn't help It, cither," said Meade. "Somehow I bellevo he wa the better man for you to havo taken." But ho looked at her wistfully and anxiously as he spoke. "I won't argue with you," said the girl, bending close to him. "I'll only say that I know I bavo tho best man In all tho world, but If ho wero the worst, I would rojolco to havo him Just the 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 makln' some o' those perfeesors bustle to keep wp wlthhliB." 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