Commerce High School - Ledger Yearbook (Portland, OR)

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THE LEDGER [Thirteen WHEN YOUTH REIGNED Elmer Lixcolx (First Prize Story) Lon wanted to be a civil engineer. This desire had become obsessive. The only reason why he was not in college at this particular time in pursuance of his choice was the lack of sufficient funds. He knew the one and only remedy was to get to work and earn them. That is why he arrived at Camp 6 on the Jasen Grade where Old Man Madison had his headquarters. Lon first questioned the section boss for -ork, but was laughed at. Why you couldn ' t keep your balance on those twelve-inch beams, let alone work ! Say ! How do you get that way? Nope. No chance, sonny. Go away and play, I ' m busy. The brusque foreman turned to resume his interrupted supervision. Lon smiled to himself a trifle grimly. We ' ll see! he announced to the world in gen- eral; and with a certain individual in mind, he therewith headed for the main tent. What do you want? snapped the Old I Lan who, without turning his head, thus acknowledged the entrance of Lon. I ' d like work, sir. Lon stated his object firmly. As the Old Man did not answer immediatelv, he studied the bent figure before him. He presented a striking picture as he slowly shook his shaggy head over the blue print in front of him. He was of medium height and his thin shoulders made his clothes fit him poorly. His slight legs .were en- twined about those of his stool. One foot nervously beat a steady tat-tat-tat on the side of his tall desk. All together Lon ' s first impression of him was not over-satisfactory. He shifted his eyes for a minute to glance at an immense map at his left. When he turned them back to the Old Man, he found him- self being given the once over. A pair of frosty blue eyes were regarding him with open hostility. ou work? queried the possessor. Yes, sir, when I get it. Lon advanced a half step. I want a chance to show you what I can do. Of course I am also considering the rudimentary principles this kind of work involves. I want to be an engineer. Humph! I guess you don ' t understand all you do know about it, returned the Old Man. He was about to turn to his study of the print, thus dis- missing Lon, but he caught the eager longing in the boy ' s eyes and mentally noted that here was a live wire. Well, you are too light to slave out on the con- struction, but I can use you here around the office ■ — to run errands and carry orders, he offered at length, ' ou report to me here every morning at six-thirty, sharp. Today you go down and look things over. Your quarters will be with the men. Johnson will assign you properly. Go and see him first. He is that man standing by the handcar. Lon swallowed his pride. This was a kid ' s job but — . The next morning and for many mornings after that, he reported to the Old Man and found him agreeable in a rough, unemotional way. It was just two months later that Lon overheard a sub-engineer remark to another: I never saw a bridge built like this before, yet I like it. The only fault I can see so far is that, if the foundations were in any way weakened, the whole structure would collapse like an egg shell. No, it wouldn ' t, contradicted his companion. See that sixteen-inch cable up there? Well, that alone can hold the construction on its feet. That big hook there is merely slipped under the key beam, and your bridge won ' t need a foundation. I really don ' t see why a suspensioner wouldn ' t work here better, but the Old Man is paid to watch his busi- ness. I ' m not. Lon pondered over this bit of information all day. That night he crawled up the frame work and studied out the whole arrangement. Pretty clever, he muttered. But if that hook should ever come loose — He slid down to the ground and sought the Old Man. You ought to have that hook bolted on, he concluded, after stating the situation. ' Out of the mouths of babes and fools comes the words of infinite wisdom ' , the Old Man qvioted ironically, ' oung man, how many bridges have you set up? None yet, but common sense tells me you ought to have that fixed to avoid any possible trouble, reiterated Lon stubbornly. The Old IVLan stared at him thoughtfullv as he mentally reviewed some of the hundred comple.x and complicated problems that he had vet to work out. They angered him ; he settled the question at once by a curt, I have put together about a dozen of ' em in each state and I guess this one will be com- petent as it stands. I won ' t have anyone like you telling me m ' business. Tomorrow morning you get your time and get out! The next day an Italian was crossing the trestle with a box of special explosives. Midway over he stumbled and the box fell through the frame work. The resulting explosion shook the bridge and also tore out foundation 2. This left the cable the main support of the bridge.