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Show jTroroicoioiccoioroioioroioicoioicoicoxoxoioiorcccccccoioxccccoxccoicororoicoioroxoroxoioroxororoTCot 8 8 AIKEN When the Colorado Burst Its Banks and Flooded the Imperial Valley of California . Copyright, Bobbo - Merrill Company HOW WILL HARDIN AND HIS WIFE RECEIVE HIM? RICKARD IS NOT LEFT LONG IN DOUBT. Synopsis. K. C. Rickard, an engineer of the Overland Pacific railroad, Is called to the office of President Marshall In Tuscon, Arlz. While waiting Rickard reads a report on the ravages of the Colorado river, despite the efforts of Thomas Hardin, hend of the Desert Reclamation company. Hardin had been a student under Rickard in on eastern college and hnd married Gerty Holmes, with whom Rickard had fancied he was in love. Marshall tells Rickard the Overland Pacific must step In to save the Imperial valley and wishes to send Rickard to take charge. Rickard declines because he foresees embarrassment in supplanting Hardin, but is won over. Rickard goes to Calexico and, on the way. learns much about Ilardla and his work. CHAPTER IV Continued. s, e lowed, "I may get you another room tomorrow," called the proprietor after him as he climbed the dusty stairs. The signals - of - a new town --were waving In the dining room. The majority of the citizens displayed their shirt sleeves nnd unblushing suspenders. One large table was surrounded by inen In khnki; the desert soldiers, engineers. The full blown waitresses, eluborntely pornpadoured, were pushing through the swing-doorcarrying heavy trays. Coquetry appeared to be their' occupation rather, thnn the diners accepting both verier ( s, meal-servin- g, ties of attention with appreciation. The supremacy of those superior maidens was menaced only by two other women who sat at .a table nenr the door. Rickard dtdndt see them at first. The room was as masculine as a restaurant in a new mining town. Rickard left ills Indoor view to look windows opening through the Ffench a a side street ' He noticed a slender but, regular procession. All the men passing fell In the same direction. "Cocktail route," explained one. of his neighbors, his mouth full of boiled beef. - , "Oyster cocktail?" smiled the as It soared yesterday? Rick ard was finding that Gertys more ma ture charms did not accelerate his heart-beatbut they were certainly flattering to his early Judgment Am he had expected her to be a shock I He was staring Into his plate at I chilled soup. Calf-lovFor he hac loved her, or at least he had loved her chin, her pretty childish way of lifting it She was prettier than he had pictured her. Queer that a man like Hardin could draw such women for sister nnd wife the blood tie was the most amazing. For when women come to marry, they make often a queer choice. It occurred to him that that might have been Hardin he hnd not wantei to stare at them. ' That was not Hardins face. It belt strength afid power. The outline was shurp and dlatjhct, showing the strong lines, the determined mouth of the pioneer, There was something else, something which stood for distinction no, It couldnt be Hardin. And then, bwau.se an outthrust Up chnnged the entire look of the man, Rickard asked his table companions. who was the man with the two ladles, near the door. . "That, suh," his neighbor from Ala fly today "Bath right across the hall. Only room loft In the house." The proprietor awarded him the valley stare. "Going to be here long?" He passed the lust key on the rack to the darky staggering under a motley of bags and suit cases. Rickard recognized his, and fol- .. ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft : EDNAH new- comer. "The real IhlngJ Calexicos dry, like the whole valley, that Is, the. county. Sec that ditch? That la Mexico, on the other side. Those sheds you can see are in Mexicali, Calexicos twin sister. That painted adobe Is the custom house. Mexlculi's not dry, even In summer! You can bet your life on that. You can get all the bad whisky and stale beer you've the money to buy. We work In Calexico, nnd drink In Mexicali, The'tempernnce pledge is kept better In this town than any other town In the valley. But you can see this procession every night." The Amazon with a handkerchief apron brought Rickard hii'aoupT'lIe was raising his first spoonful to his mouth when he saw the face, carefully . ham a beentno Immediately oratorical, "that Is a big man, suh, If the Ira perl nl valley ever becomes a reality, i flxunh. lt will be because of that one man, suh. Reclamation Is like a seed thrown on a rock. WUl It stick? Will ft take root? Will K grow? That Is what we all want to know. Rickard thought that he had wanted to know something quite different, unt remludtHl the gentleman from Alabama that he had not told him the name, The father of this valley, of the reclamation of this desert, Thomas Hardin, suh." Rickard tried to reset, without at trseting their attention, the group of his Impressions of the man whose personality had been so obnoxious to him In the old Lawrence days. The Ilardin he had known had also large features, but of the flaccid Irritating order. He summoned n picture of Hardin as he had shuffled Into his own classroom, or up to the long table where Gerty had always queened It among her mothers boarders, lie could see the rough unpolished boots that had always offend ed him as a betrayal of the mans Inner coarseness; the badly fitting coat, the long awkward, arms, and the satismouth. These feafied, tures were-mAdefinite. Could time bring these changes? Had he changed, like that? Had they seen him? Would Gerty, would Hardin remember him? Wasnt It his place to make himself known; w;ave the flag of old friendship - loml-spenkl- re over an awkward situation? He found himself standing In front of their table encountering Jlrst, the eyes of Hardins sister. There was no surprise, no welcome there for him. He felt at once the hostility of the camp. Ills face was uncomfortably warm. Then the childish profile turned on him. A look of bewilderment, flushing Into greeting the years had been kind to Gerty Holmes ! "Do you remember merSflckard? If Ilardin recognized a difficult situation, he did not betray It. It was a man Rickard did not know who shook him warmly by the hand,' and said that Indeed he had not forgotten him.- .. swwzzpr - "Ive been expecting you. He Saw the Face, Carefully Averted. averted, of the girl he had mot at the Marshalls- - table, Innes Hardin, His eyes Jumped to her companions, the man a stranger, arid then, Gerty Holmes. At least, Mrs. Ilardin! Somehow, It surprised him to find her pretty. Slio had achieved a. variety of distinction, preserving, moreover, the cleurcut babyish chin which had made Its early appeal to him. - There w as the same fluffy hairy Its ringlets a bit artificial' to his more sophisticated eyes, nose. He had the same been wondering about this meeting; he found that he bad been expecting some sort of shock who said tluit the love of today is the Jest of tomorrow? The discovery that Gerty was not a Jest brought the surprised gratification which we award a letter or composition written in our youth.' Were we as clever as that, so complete at eighteen Could we, now, with or twenty-one- ? all our experience, do any better, o- - Indeed as well? That particular cen-pwell-turne- d w logv flordd vra make it My wife, Mr. Rickard, and my sister." Why, what are you thinking of. Tom? To introduce Mr. Rickard! I Introduced you to each other, years ago! Gertys cheeks were red, ner bright eyes were darting from one to the other. You knew he was coming, and did not tell me?" You were at the Improvement club whin the telegram came, put In Innes Ilardin, without looking nt Rickard. No trace of the Tucson cordiality In that prbud little face! No acknowledgment that they had met at the Marshalls! "Oh, you telegraphed to us?" The blond arch smile had not aged.' "That was friendly and 11100." ' ; Rickard had not been for many a year. He did not kaow what to say. He turned from her upturned face to the others. Innes Ilardin was staring out of the window, over the heads of several crowded tables; Hardin was gazing at his plate. Rickard decided that he would get out of this before Gerty discovered that it was neither "fwndly nor nice. "If I had that you were here. I would have insisted on your dining! with ns. la our tent. For its terrible. self-conscio- krn here, Isnt It?" She flashed at him the look he remembered so vividly, the childish coquettish appeal. "We dine at home, till It becomes tiresome, and then we cone foraging for variety. But you must come to us, sayThursday. that right for you? We should love if Still those two averted faces. Rick ard said Thursday, as he was bidden, and got back to his table, wondering why In thunder he had let Marshall persuade him to take this Job. Hardin waited a scant minute to protest ; "What possessed you to ask him to dinner?" "Why shouldnt II Me Is an: old friend." Gerty caught a glance of appeal, from sister to brother. "Jealous? she pouted charmingly at her lord. "Jealous, do !" bluffed Hardin, ne thought then that she knew, tha' Innes had told her. The Lawrence epl sode held no sting to him. Once, hnd enchanted him that he had carrlet off the boarding-housbelle, whom even that bookman had found desirable-book- man A superior dude I He hac those grand airs. As If it bad always were not more to a mans credit to struggle for his education, even If he were older than his class, or his teach cr, than to accept It off silver plates, handed by lackeys? Rickard had al ways acted as If it had been something to be ashamed of. It made him trick. "They've done it this time. Its 8 8 By p? ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft knew the date himself. He expected the answer would trail wisps of other Information. He nad a very active curiosity about Hardin. The mans failures ha4 been spectacular. Th'e young fellow was thinking aloud. The dam went November 20th. Ilardin was given a decent interval to resign. Of course he . was He refired. ' It was an outrage membered that he was speaking to a stranger and broke off suddenly. Rickard did not question him. He made another note. Why was it an outrage or why did It appear so? In perspective. from the Mexican barranca, where he had been at the time, the failure of that dam had been another the. patch of purple blooming alfalfa that stood for a lawn. Morning-glorie- s clambered over the supports of the veranda, and on over the roof. Rickard's deductions led him to the Harding. What school of experience had so changed the awkward country fellow? He had resented bis rivalry, not that he was a rival, but that be was a boor. His kisses still warm on her Ups, and she had turned to welcome, to coquet with Tom Hardin I The woman who was to be his wife must be steadier than that! It had cooled his fever. Not for him the aspen who could shake and bend her pretty boughs to each rough breeze that blew! Men tossed into a desert, fighting to keep a foothold, do not garland their bar sinister against Hardin. T see that you are from the University of California? Rickard said, and nodded at the pin of gold and blue enameL "Out for a year," glowed the lad. "Dad. wanted me to get some real stuff tn jny bead. He said the Colorado would give me more lessons more real knowledge in a year than Id get in six at college. I kicked up an awful row I must" eral manager, "He's the general manager!" Tm to take orders from him." Gertys silence was of the stunned variety. The nardlns watched her crumbling bread -- on -t- he- tablecloth, thinking, fearfully, Jhat she was going to cry. Didnt I tell you?" Her voice, repressed, carried the threat of tears. "DHlnt I tell you how it would be? Didn't I say that youd be sorry if you called the railroad InF Must we go over this again?" asked her husband. Why didnt you tell me? Why did you let me make a goose of myself?" She was remembering that there hnd icon no protest, no surprise from Innes. She knew! A family secret! She shrugged. Tin glad, on the whole, that you planned It as a surprise. For I carried It off as if we'd not been Insulted, disgraced. "Gerty 1" expostulated Ilardin. Gerty I" Implored Innes. And we are in for a nice friendly dinner 1" Are you quite finished?" nardin "Ill Taka You Around." di-r- oay p ... whlte-corpu-,-cl- row. You did not tell me your name, MacLean,' George MacLean," said the young man rather consciously. It was agood deal to lDe up to. He always felt the appraisement which fol lowed that admission. George elder, was known among the railroad circles to be a man of Iron, cne of the strongest of the heads of the Overland Pacific system. He was not the sort of man a son could speak lightly of disobeying. "Of course everyone calls me Junior." "I guess youll go back If he wants yQU to," smiled Rickard. Oh. but what a rotten trick it would be! exclaimed the son of the man of Iron. To throw me out of college I was daffy to finish with my class, and to get me here, to get me In terested and then after Ive lost my ' place to pull me back, Why, there are things happening every day that are a liberal education. They are only Just beginning to understand what they are bucking up against. The Colorados anunknown quantity; even old engl neers are right up against It There are-neproblems coming up, every day. The Indians call her a yellow dragon, but ehes a tricky woman, shes an eel; shes giving us sums to break our teeth on. "Wh6 has the next room?" "Used to be the general managers. ' Ogilvle uses it now." And who did you say'was Ogilvle? They turned back- into the Mac-Lea- fool choice." Again, that look of pleading from In nes. Gerty had a shiver of Intuition. "Fool choice? Iler voice was oml notisly calm, , Hardin shook off Innes eyes. Better be done with It! "He's the new gen- Ogilvies was too sudden; the flabby facial muscles betrayed him. ' , Tm Rickard." The new general manager took the swivel chair behind desk. "Sit down. Td likJ the flat-toto have a talk with you." If you will excuse me," Ogilvle' h bluff waS as aneiic as his crushed appearance. ."I I am busy this morning. Might I trouble you for u few minutes? My papers are In this desk." Rickard now knew his man to the shallow depths of his souL If I wont be In your way ril bang around here. Tve the day to kilt" was suggested.' 1 geles office. "It Is true. "now do you know?" The older man smiled. Of course. His sarcasm was lost In transit. Yon dont want to go back now" Ogilvle said that Mrr Rickard would The boy made a wry face. "He ex- not be in his way. He would move into the next room tomorpects me to go back In August Says his papers ' : e might say. adjusted as it now la. than . it did before. I heard that they had sent a from the Tucson office to Mr. Marshall." "Did you hear his mered Ogilvle. "Rickard." The auditor recovered himself. ? would have heard of it were it tm-- I am in cpse touch with the Los An n, . The engineer moved to the French windows that opened on the alfalfa lawn. A vigorous growth of willows marked . the course of New river. Which had cut bo perilously hear the towns. A letter "b," picked out in quick river vegetation, told the story of the flood. .The old channel then It was, the curved arm of the "b, one could tell that by the, tall willows had been too tortuous, too slow for tho sweeping waters. The flow had divided, cutting the stem of the letter, carrying the flood waters swifter down grade. The flow had divided-li- ra! divided perhaps the danger too An Idea In that! ne would see that better from the water tower hed spied at Atering. Another flood, and' a gamble whether Mexfcall or Calexico would get the worst of It, Unless one was. ready. A levee west of the American town I "Excuse me, sir do you need me?" ne turned back Into the room. lie could see that MacLean was aching to get out of the room. Ogilvle had visibly withered. A blight seemed to fail finon him as his white, gers made a bluff among his papers. "Thank .you." Rickard nodded at MacLean, who burst into the outer -- blue-veine- d of-fle- I Was It offices with morning-glorie- s Its the new general manager from the gracious quiet Influence of a wife, Tucson Rickards bis name." Ills Gerty Hardin? The festive buildran around the walls of the whisper unexwas as ing he approaching was where other arrivals were tiltroom, Rickard as Brandon! pected Captain "The new general their .chairs.' ing walked on, smiling. woozled for nothOgilvle manager! He was fairly blown Into the outer You seen his face should have ing. him. room, the door banging behind know that ,he was com"Did anyone looked one Interat the Every noisy up room. the tanned giant, spoke. ruption. There were several men In You can go in. Hes not here; He ing?" Silent, Marshall alt over," sold Thats the long room. Among them two alert, is the new auditor, an expert accountbright-eye- d and wiry, reWooster, clean-face- d youths, college graduates, ant from Los Angeles, Put In y the or students out on furlough, the kind O. P. when It assumed control last moving his pipe. "He likes to move in of stuff In his class at Lawrence. Three year. He used to come down once a mysterious way his wonders to perform. (Used to sing that when I was of the seasoned, type month. After Hardin went out he a kid!) No announcement Simply, were leaning their chairs against the came down to stay." Enter Rickard." ' cool thick walls. One was puffing at " "Whose More like this, said Silent Exit cigar. The other, a big, shy giant, "I dont know. The accounts were, Hardin. Enter Ogilvle. Enter Rickwas drawing clouds of comfort from a rotten, no office secret. The thata ard." , pipe. There was a telegraph operator world knows that' Hardin is blamed "And exit Oglltle," cried MacLean. at work in one end of the room, her for It It Isnt fair. Look at SatbWs got up. out d "Its nstrument In an oprapidly clicking. As the three passed out of the dining stone palace In Los Angeles. Look at Wooster.a No d shame, burst he one him what asked room, Rickard caught their several ex- posite corner was a telephone ex Hardins tent, his shabby clothes." A with a band metal change. girl : Hardins stiff, Indifferent; pressions Td like to meet Ogilvie,' observed Gerty's brilliant but hard, as she around her forehead was punching the general manager. " flashed a finished. braveUlttle smile In connections between the valley towns. jOh, hes not much tomeetApale, his direction.' The sisters bow was RIckardTostthe feeIIngof'havIng vegetarian, a theoso-ph- i gone Into a remote and isolated redistinctly haughty. Youve seen em. Los Angeles st In the hall, Gertys laugh rippled gion. The twin towns were on the Is full of em. He was here when Hardin was fired. You could see him see out It was the laugh Rickard remem- map. One of the older men returned his his bered, the light frivolous cadence opportunity. His chest swelled which recalled the flamboyant pattern nod. The young men returned their up. He looked as If he had tasted of the Holmes parlor carpet the long, hastily withdrawn attention to their meat , for the first time. He thought crowded dining tnble where Gerty had game of checkers. The other smoker that he could woozle Into the empty absorp- place! He went back to Los reigned. It told him that she was In- was watching with cross-eye- d Angeles, different to his coming,- as she meant tion the rings his cigar was sending convinced them that - the auditor it should. And It turned him back to into the air. Rickard might not have should be here, protect the companys been there. dark corner In the honeysuckle-drapeInterests. It sounded mysterious, One of the checker players looked sleuthlike, as If he porch where he hnd spent so had discovered many evenings with her, where once up. something, so they let him bring the can do for you? Do you books down here. He is Anything he had held her hand, where he told supposed to !ier that he. loved her. Forhehad want to see anyone in particular? be ferreting. But he's VoozUng,, He "No,wlt was admitted.' "No" one in used to be tn the outer office.' Said loved her. or at least he thought he ! had And had run away from her ex- particular. I was Just looking round." the noise made his head ache, so he Its the show place of Calexico. Til moved lnhere, All the committee pectant eyes. A cad, was he, because tie had brought that waiting look Into take you around. It Is the only place meetings are held here, and occasionIn town that Is comfortable when Its her eyes, and had run from It? ally the directors meetings. Water Should aman ask a woman to give lot, or when the wind blows, and companies, too. TOgllvles taking notes her life Into his keeping until he ts thats the program all summer. Take wants to be the next general manaquite sure that he wants it? He was my place. Fete. ger; It sticks out all. over him." Fete, the young giant, with the face revamping his worn defense. Should "Whats the derivation of woozle?" he live up to a minute of surrender, of ofhls Infancy enlarged rather than this with deep gravity, tenderness; If the next Instant brings matured, slipped Into the vacant chair. till Waif see Ogilvle ! laughed you sanity, and disillusionment? He could He had been the first to discover the his entertainer. Then as an afterOgilvies Dismay Was Too Sudden. He stranger, but he had evaded the re- thought. "This Is all iury now forever public gossip. meant Every man In the room was could laugh at his own vanity. Gerty sponsibility. The game Immediately Hes fair game." absorbed him. , of Hardin, whose shadow this to was Iardin, it see, had forgoteasy The door behind them, and thinking "It's nice here, repeated the young Rickard sawopenedman reclamation work was. ten what he had 'whispered to Gerty the whose descripHolmes. They met as sober old fellow, leading the way. They were tion had been so Whats Rickard doing? asked the knocked off. deftly followed a few idle by friends. That ghost was laid. infantile Hercules at the checkerboard. glances. . He recognized the type seen so Rickard looked with approval at the m southern California towns, The force called him Pete, which was tan slim figure which was assuming the a short cut, to Frederick Augustus CHAPTER V. exile whose chance the courtesy of the towns. The fine of pale, damaged Bodefddt is conditioned by stern handsome face was almost too girlish, rulesreprieve A Game of Checkers. Taking Ogilvies measure this of diet and sobriety. It was the from MacLean. The uneasy mood of the desert, the the muscles of the mouth too sensitive temperament which must perforce "Then sand, drove people Indoors yet for manly beauty, but he liked the translate a personal doing something else by into a this time.- hes necessity the next morning. Rickard was served type. Lithe as a Young desert-reareThat wouldnt take him five religious dogma. hl manner minutes unless hes a rull," snapped and carriage told substantial, indifferently cooked Indian, This breakfast la the dining room of the of a careful home and rigid school dis- looking gentlemans just Is Just Wooster, who hated Ogilvle as a' rat around," stammered MacLean, does a snake. " Desert hotel, whose limitations were cipline. confused. blundering, ' as. conspicuous to the .newcomer, as lie, was ushered .into. larpe-eed The vegetarian" nodded,' taking off they were nonexistent to the other room. The furnishings he Inventoried : his felt sombrero and putting It on a few stiff chairs, a long table and a chair with men. They were finding It a soft conRickard moves to save the . care. , In trast to to life closed the typewriter desk, tents, valley In what teems to him the for the SabBy this time. It was apparent that bath. open.' . only possible way. Htaviewado no one save not coincide with those of Har "The " stenographers room," an- ing. He wasIlardin knew of his comhe wandered through the ahead of letMarsIiaUX of nounced din. The next installment tends the lad superfluously. group staring Idlers In the office, ters. He did not like the flavor of his to "Whose the soda and stand the past popular justify the forebodings with stenographer" entrance. chalr-tilte- "General which on the . Rickard undertook hit sidewalk, gonow. fey, property Everyone What Is belng made" tzt great task. Do not fail to read it. ing nt, as If without purpose, to the tias a right to use her time. She nsed the new provision general manager? railroad sheds, and then on. down to to be Hardins, the general managers. The question, aimed carelessly, hit the offices of the Desert Reclamation She Is his still. In a way. But Ogilvle (TO BE CONTINUED.) the auditor. company, ne discovered It to be the keeps her busy most of the time." ; t TlieyVe not talking of filling the one engaging spot In the hastily Spoiled Rickard had not heard of Ogilvle. Position Just he r jet." were a bird." "Realsara Jack down. There were 3e made a mental you responded. register. There Is no need at present The ly," she exclaimed, delighted. "Yes, a leandcrs, rose and w hlte. blooming in "When did ' nadia jje work la going along nicely, better. I gj oof parrot" Boston Transcript 1 - road-coache- d, say-so?- . -- white-livere- d - - - d I -- 7 self-reproac- , tie-quent- lv wind-blow- n - d . -- -- " . sand-blow- n - Iter . rs It thrown-togethe- r |