Honoré Willsie

“ The swimming master looked Jean over. She had the keen, lean appearance of the athlete, unmistakable to the trained eye.
“I can teach you,” he said, “if you'll come to the pool.”
“Why, of course, I'll come to the pool!” exclaimed Jean.
“Not 'of course' at all,” retorted the swimming master. “You can't swim, probably, because you're afraid of water. Even if you agree to take lessons, you'll probably think up excuses not to come—just because you're afraid!” ”

“ Colleges teach one anything rather than weaknesses of character. It remains for business or marriage to spring these tiny leaks that sink the great ship of one's life.
So Jean finished college, and in July of the same summer betook herself East. She went thither because the dean of the School of Engineering had unbounded faith in a great future for the girl. His enthusiasm landed her in New York. She brought with her one hundred dollars and a letter from the dean to William Elkins of the firm of Elkins and Company, bridge-builders. ”

“ The two men gazed in silence at the sketches. Bold indeed, and graceful, but of obvious strength and simplicity swung the great spider web across the cañon.
“It will demand unusual care and resourcefulness of the field engineer, of course,” said Jean a little breathlessly, “but they say, out in the drafting-room, that you have no equal in America as a field executive. There's the marvelous concrete single arch at El Muerto and the cantilever at Deep River and the the mile suspension trestle at Twin Peaks. You and your father must have made a great team, Mr. Elkins.” ”

“ It's not fair,” she went on vehemently. “It's not fair to consider me as a woman when I apply for this job. I'm an engineer, and a good one. Your own ability hasn't any sex: nor has mine. Dean Haskins says I have real talent. Don't you need that in your concern?”
“The Lord, He knows we do!” exclaimed Elkins. “We seem to have everything here but talent.”
He read the dean's letter again and tossed it into the filing basket: then he said slowly: “Well, I'll try you on that draftsman's job. It's up to you to get ahead, though, without any help from me. You understand that, don't you?”
Jean nodded. ”

“ Jean moistened her lips while the two men stared at each other. Elkins' face was expressionless, but Jim Farrow's was flushed angrily.
“Now, look here, Miss Atwood—” he began.
“Wait a minute, Jim,” said the boss. “What is your suggestion, Miss Atwood?”
“This,” replied Jean, laying her hand on one of the sketches. “Here is an idea for the new bridge which I sketched at home. You see, you aren't bold enough. You stick too closely to tradition! There's no reason why you should do all the expensive grading indicated in the chief engineer's and Mr. Farrow's design. ”

“ Jean cleared her throat. Her cheeks were a richer hue than usual; her eyes were deep and clear.
“We all know out in the other room that things aren't going well with our business, that we lose more bids than we win. They say that you, Mr. Elkins, are a field engineer, a construction executive and not a bridge-designer. And as for Mr. Farrow, while he's a first-class draftsman, he couldn't create a culvert for a country road. And he's determined that no woman shall make designs for Elkins and Company. The chief engineer is old-fashioned. ”

“ A man will bluff himself about himself. A woman, particularly a beautiful woman, will not even try to deceive herself about that secret chamber of self where even God may not intrude. Jean, unsophisticated. with so little self-confidence, knew that she was destined to love Bill Elkins.
Illustration: He was a brilliant field engineer, and some of his achievements, when a mere boy fresh from college, were classics.
She followed him down a long hall to the drafting-room. ”