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Show Al 'When the Colorado Burst Its Banks and Flooded the Imperial VaDey of California EDNAHAIKEN (OoprrUht, Bobb-Mni- U Oobpmt) ginning to see what hes op cgrlnst, ran Hardins stormy thoughts. He was on his feet the next minute with a motion to 'complete the Hardin headgate. Violently he declaimed to Bubcock and MacLean his wrongs, the Injustice that had been done him. Mar shall had let that fellow Maitland convince him that the gate was not practicable;, had It not been for him the gate would be in place now; all this time and money saved. And the Maitland dam, built Instead I Where was it? Where was the money, the time, put in that little toy?' Sickening IBs face purpled over the memory. Why was he allowed to begin again with Answer me that Why lEe gate? was I allowed to begin again? Its all Childs play, thats what It is. And when I am in it again up to my neck he pulls me off!" This was the real Hardin, the uncouth, overaged Lawrence student The new manner was Just a veneer. Rickard had been'expecting it to wear thin. that "1 think," Interjected Rickard, we all agree with Mr. Marshall, Mr. llardln, that a wooden headgate on silt foundation could never be more than a makeshift I understood that the first day be visited the river with you he had the Idea to put the ultimate gate, the gate which would control the water supply of the valley, up at the Crossing on rock foundation. Mr. Marshall does not expect to finish that In time to be of first use. He hopes the wooden gate will solve the Immediate problem. It was a case of any port In a storm. He has asked me to report my opinion." "Why doesnt he give me a chance to go ahead then?" growled the de"Instead of letting posed manager. the Intake widen until It will be an Impossibility to confine the river there 1 RICKARDS VIEWS DO NOT COINCIDE WITH THOSE OF HAR: DIN, AND THE INEVITABLE COMES TO PASS. Synopsis. K. C, Rickard, an engineer pf the Overland Pacific railroad, Is called to the office of President Marshall In Tuscon, Arlz. While waiting Rickard rends a report on the ravage of the Colorado river, despite the efforts of Thomas Hardin, head of the Desert Reclamation company. Hardin had been a student under Rickard In an eastern colwhom Rickard had fancied he lege and had married Oerty IIoTmes,-nllwas In love. Marshall tells Rickard the Overland Pacific must step In save the Imperial valley and wishes to send Rickard to take charge. IUckard declines because he foresees embarrassment In supplanting Hardin, but Is won over. Rickard goes to Calexico and, on the way, learns much about Hardin and his work. Rickard meets Mr. and Mrs. Hardin and Innes llardln, the former's half sister. At the company offices he finds the engineers loyal to Hardin and hostile to him. ' . h tr CHAPTER V Continued. The door opened and Rlckafd came Almost simultaneously i the, outer door opened to admit Hqrdtq, Who would introduce the new general roan-lgto the dismissed one? The SiMacLcan flashed from to thought lent, to the telegraph operator. rBode-feldoubled over the checkerboard, pretending not to see them. Confu- slon. embarrassment was on every face. llardln was Nobody spoke. coming closer. , In. er dt Hello, llardln." Hello, Rickard." It appeared friendly enough to the surprised office. Both men were glad that It was over. Nice offices, remarked llardln, his legs outspread, his hands In his pock( ets. Ogllvle Is satisfied with them." The men rather overdid the laugh. Finding the dust pretty tough?" In- quired Hardin, I spent a month In San Francisco was the rejoinder. last summer "This is a haven, though, from tho street Thought I'd loaf for today. Was Hardin gam to do the right thing, introduce him as the nw chief to bis subordinates? Nothing, It developed, was further from his Intention. Hardin, bis legs outstretched, kept before his face the bland. Impenetrable smile of the oriental. It was clearly not Rickard's move. The checker players fidgeted. Rickard's silence was interrogative. Hardin still smiled. . The outer door opened. The newcomer, evidently a favorite, walked Into a noisy welcome, the boys " embarrassment overdoing It lie was of middle height, slender a Mexican with Castilian ancestry written in his high-brefeatures, his grace and hi? straight, dark hair. Good morning. Estrada," said Hardin with the same meaningless smile. Good morning, gentlemen." The Mexican's greeting paused at Rickard. Mr. Estrada, Mr, Rickard Everyone In the office taw Hardin snub his other opportunity. He had betrayed to everyone bis deep hurt. When he had .his raw wound. stepped down, under cover of a resignation, he had saved his face by telling everyone that a rupture with Maltlandv one of the directors of the 1 d reorganized company, had made It Impossible for them to serve together, nd thnt Maitland's wealth and Importance to the company demanded his Two months before own sacrifice. Rickards appearance Maitland bad been discovered dead In his bath In a Los Angeles hotel. Though no one had been Witless enough to speak of their hope to Hardin, he knew that all lus force waj dally expecting bis Rickard's entrance reinstatement wa another stab to their chief. The son of the general?" The new manager held out hta hand. General Estrada, friend of Mexican liberty, founder of steamship companies and father of the Imperialvallej?" "That makes me a brother of the Estradas smile was sensitive valley and sweet Estrada looked at Hardin, hesitated, then passed on to the checker players and addressed MacLean: I saw your father In Los Angeles, ne has been chosen to fill the vacancy made by Maitland's death." MacLeans eyes wavered toward Estradas thoughtful glance rested on the angry face. Was this genuine, or did not Hardin know of the years Rickard had served on the road; of the Job In the barrancas of Mexico, where Marshall had found" him? But he would not try again to persuade Hardin to give up his trip to Los Angeles, It might be better, after all, for the new manager to take charge with his predecessor out of the way, MacLeans coming down tonight," he threw out, still watching Hardin's With Babcock." face, I wont be missed." nardlna mouth was bitter. Estrada, If I had the sense of a goat I'd sell out. sell my stock to MacLoan and quit Whats In all this for me? Does anyone doubt my reason for staying? It would be like leaving a sinking ship, llkejde-sertln- g the passengers and crew one had brought on board. God! Id like to go! But how con I? I've got hold of the tail of the bear and I can't let go!" " EsNo one doubts you began trada. Hardin turned away, with an ugly oath. The Mexican stood watchPoor Haring his stumbling anger. heat-bake- d --- c-- din!" In the office Rickard was speaking to MacLean, whom he had drawn to one side, out of earshot of the checker players. I want you to do something for Ills tone me, not at all agreeable! not was the that boy given Implied What time the chance to beg off. does the train pull out In the morning?" "Six-fifteen.- ". Ill have a letter for of the rakish river. Particularly Interesting to him was the relation of llardln to the company. lie has the had luck, that man!" exclaimed Estrada's soft, musical voice, Everything is In his hands, capital Is promised, and he goes to New Tork to have the papers drawn up. The day he gets there the Maine Is destroyed. Of coarse capital Is shy. Hes had' the devils own luck with men: Gifford, honest but mulish; Sather, mulish and not honest oh, there's a string of them. Once he went to Ilermoslllo to get an option on my fathers lands. They were already covered by an option held by some men In Scotland. Another man would have .waited for the three months to pass. Not llardln. He went to Scotland, thought hed Interest those men with his maps and papers, ne owned all the data then. Hed made the survey." Estrada repeated the story Brandon and Marshall had toldj wlh little discrepancy. A friendly refrain followed the narrative. lie has the bad luck, that man!" "And the Scotched option?" reminded Rickard, smiling at his own poor - - 1 at alir So you do think thought Is his trouble. Its just Infernal luck." Or or procrastination," criticized his listener to himself. He knew now what It was that had so changed nardln. A man cannot travel, even though he be hounding down a quick scent, without meeting strong Influences. He had been thrown with hard men, strong men. It was an inevitable chiseling, not a miracle. I want to hear nlore of this some day. But this map,, I dont understand what you told me of this bypass, Mr. Estrada. Their heads were still bending over Estrada's rough work bench when the Japanese cook announced that dinner was waiting In the adjoining car. MacLean and Bodefeldt and several Isnt laziness. over-astutene- high-spirit- ed 1 occupatlon. He had not seen Estrada, Mexican hailed him. Will you come to mr car? Its on the siding right here. We can have a little lunch and then look over some maps together. I have some pictures of the river and the gnte Theyjmay be new to you." . Rickard spent the afternoon in the ear. The twin towns did not seem so hostile. He thought he mlghtjlke the s Mexican. Estrada was earning his fathers mantle. He was the superintendent of the road which the Overland Pacific was building between the twin E-- . half-bree- , fre-b'- iced. - -u- 1 hog-wil- d Red Tape. , ten o'clock At the next morning Hardin, entering the office, again the gen" eral manager's, found there before him Interests at stake are George MacLean, the new director, and Interests ! cried Tom Hardin. Percy Babcock, the treasurer, who had What do you know of the interest at been put in by the Overland Pacific stake? You or your railroad? Coming when the old company was reorgan- In at the eleventh hoar, what can you ized. They had just come in from Los know? Did yon promise safety to thouAngeles, the trip made in MacLeans sands of families If they made their private car, to attend a directors meet- homes in this valley? Are yon responsible? Did you get up this company. Ining. Rickard entered a few minutes later, duce your friends to put their money Estrada behind him. ' Ogllvle followed In It, promise to see them through? What do yon know of the Interests at Rickard to his desk. Well?" inquired the new manager. stake? You want to put one hundred Ogllvle explained lengthily that he thousand dollars Into a frill. God, do had the' minutes of the last meeting. you know what that means to my Leave them here." Rickard waved company? It means ruin " Estrada him toward Estrada, who held out his pulled him down In his seat. Rickard explained to the directors hand for the papers. k Reluctantly the accountant relin- the necessity tn his opinion of the Rock and in the His the quarry. . great quished paper. retreating coattails looked ludicrously whipped quantities would be oqpded; cars must but no one laughed. Hardin's scowl be rushed In to the break. He urged the Importance of clenching the issue. deepened. he his Showing power." thought If its not won this time. Its a lost If It cuts a cause," he maintained. He's going to call for a new pacs Estrada pushed the mlnotes through deeper gorge, the Imperial Talley Is a with but a few unlmportantlnterrup-tions- . chimera; so Is Laguna dam." lie was sitting at the same desk The other men were draw n Into the with Rickard.' Hardin. Sensitive and argument.' Babcock leaned toward HarMacLean was jusullen, thought he saw the meeting dins conservation. Estrada dicial. between them. upheld Rickard. The managed In his opinion, was essenSeveral times he attempted to bring spur-tractial to success, nardln could see the the tangled affairs of the water before the director. Rickard meeting managed between the newwould hot discuss the water. compa- comer and the Mexican, and his anger Irr. potently raged. His temper made nies. "Because hes not posted! Hsa be Mm Incoherent He could sea Rickard, k. jom-puni- er , . Thats whht I want, smart riwr teal laughed Rickard. i men, not want river history." Theres another man you ought to meet He was with the second Powe1! expedition. Hes written the best book on the river. He knows It, if any nun does. You wanted these maps. i;v trada was gathering them together. Thank you. And you can just strangle that foreboding of yours, Mr. Estrada. For I tell you, were go.ng to govern that river P Estradas pensive smile followed the dancing step of the engineer until it carried him out of sight Perhaps? Because he was the son of his father, he must work as hard as if conviction went with him, as If success awaited at the other end of the long-roaBut it was not going to be. He would never see that river shackled d. track from Hamlins Junction to the nis manner cleared the Heading." of stage supernumeraries; this was the climax. Hardin looked ready to spring. And in connection with that the development of a quarry In the granite hills hack of Hamlins," continued Rickard, not looking at Hardin. Instantly Hardin was on hla feet Is fist thundered on the table, . I shall oppose that" he flared. It Is absolutely unnecessary. We cant afford it Do yon know what that will cost gentlemen V One hundred thousand dollars I Rickard interrupted him. I want an appropriation this morning for that amount It Is, In my opinion, absolutely necessary ifve are to save the valley. We cannot afford not to do It Mr. Hardin I", Hardin glared at the other men for support; he found MacLeans face a blank - wall ; - Estrada - looked ncomfortable. Babcock had pricked up his ears at the sound of the desired appropriation; his head on one side, he looked like an Inquisitive terrier. Hardin spread out his hands in helpless desperation. Youll ruin us, he said. Its your money, the O. P.s, but you're lending It not giving It to ns. Yon are going to swamp the Desert Reclamation company. We cant throw funds away like that" One hundred thousand dollars Why, he could have stopped the river at any time If he had had that sqm; once a paltry thousand would have saVed them I didnt ask the O.'R to come In and ruin us, but to stop the river; not to throw money away In fashion." He was stammering inarticulately. Theres no need of a spur-tracIf you rush my gate through." - If." Rickard nodded. Granted. If we can rush it through. But suppose it falls? Marshall said the railroad would stand for no contingencies. The d, great-gram- mposslbllty to complete the gate as spur-trac- lie was making a sudden dive for his hotel when the g ntle voice of the n. planned?!" too-vit- al Oath. Mac-Lea- that it will be an k CHAPTER VI. Hardin Turned Away With an Ugly d. -- ' r about this river business? Estrada turned his pensive gaze ou the American. Yes, often. I thougi t after fathers death, that that was what It meant But it came again. February? here? coming. I had it while you m re Why not get the machinery de- all talking. Just now. I dont chances of f Whats the use taking speak of this. It sounds chicken-hearten j manded Rickard. in this with all my soul my ra. Im implication. the felt personal Ilaydln He was on his feet In a second. There ther I couldnt do It any other a but" are no chances." He looked at You think we are golpg to fail? The machinerys done. Its no I canf see Jt finished!,"- - was tr use getting it here until were ready. intermournful answer, lie tuna j das There are always chances, are to stare Out of the window. We again his opponent coolly, rupted Who are the river men In $i. Mr. liar want I none. ,. take to going i din, gentlemen, appointed a committee ley? demanded the newcomer, of one to see that the machinery Is de- want to meet them, to talk to them. Cornel, hes an Indian: Hes w onh livered at once, and the dredge rushed. The working force was Informally talking to. He knows its history, its discussed. llardln said they could de- legends. Perhaps some of it Is hispend on hobo labor. Rickard agreed tory that they would find such help, but It "Wheres he to be found? Youll run across him! Whenever would not do to rely on It. The big sewer system of New Orleans was anythings up, he Is on hand, ne senses about completed; he had planned to 1L And then theres Matt Hamlin. HI see him, of course. Has he write there, stating the need. And there was a man In Zacatecas, named been up the river? No, but m tell you two who have Porter Frank Porter? sneered Hardin, Maldonado, a who lu some twenty miles down the that murderer?" m,r IBs brother, Rickard answered from Hamlins. He knows the Gila Jim furnishes the men though he were pure Indian. q pleasantly. for the big mines In Sonora and Sina- Gilas tricky I Maldonados gnu ! loa. Hell send us all the labor we ther, was a trapper, his ther, they say, a priest' The wom.-iwere all Indian. Hes smart. Smurt and bad. Estradas Japanese servant r. ,L back into the car to offer tea, y re-beg- ln tunity io & fciiOM luneiuxnesSa And its nothing. A blank I know then if3 not going to happen. It is terribly final! Its happened, often. Now i wait for that veiL When it falls, i know a hat It means.ty' And yon have had that sens ll I didnt Hardin had run too fast mean that, he stammered. "I mean It will be difficult If we are delayed much longer," Joke. Have you the force to It was Just that A case of llardln work at ouce?" demanded Rickard. luck again. He stopped off In London I had It" evaded Hardin. I had to Interest so'me capital there; follow- everything ready to go on men, maing up a lead developed on thesteam-er- . terial when we stopped the last He was never a man to neglect a time chance. Nothing enme of It, though, "Answer my question, please. and when he reached Glasgow he I should have to assemble them found his man had died two days be- again.", admitted Hardin sulkily. fore or been killed. Ive forgotten I Rickard consulted his notebook. which. Three times nardlns crossed think weve covered Now everything. the ocean trying to corner the oppor- I want to the laying of a spur propose fie he had found. It you at the hotel at six.- Be on time. I want to cntch Hardin before he leaves for Los Angeles. If he's really going. I'll gtve him today to think It over. But he cant disregard an order as he did my Invitation. I didnt want to rub It In before the men." young engineers Joined them. MacLean stared, then said that he It had been outwardly a wasted day. Rickard had lounged, socially and thought he was not likely to I Rickard left the office In time to physically. But before he turned in see llardln shutting the outer gate that night he had learned the names held ml him. Ills exit released a cho- and dispositions of his force, and some of their prejudices. Nothing, he rus of Indignant voices. An outrage!" summed up, cduld be guessed from the d shame I" This from gentleness of the Mexican's manner; A dWoosters antagonism was open and Wooster. Hardin's luck !" snappish. Silent was to be watched, On the other side of the door Rick- and llardln had already shown his ard deliberated. The hotel and Its curi- hand. ous loungers, or his new office,. where - The river, as he thought of it, apOgllvle was making a great Bhow of peared the least formidable of his opponents. He was imaging It as a horse, maddened by the fumbling of its would-b- e captors. Ills task it was to lasso the proud stallion, lead It In bridled to the sterile land. No wonder Hardin was sore; his noose had slipped otf one time too many! Hardin's luck nardln, whose nonchalance had not faltered. Had he not heard, or did he know, already? Id like to have a meeting, a conference, tomorrow morning. Rickard was speaking. Mr. llardln, will you set the hour at your convenience?" Because It was so kindly done, narIt dln showed his first resentment. will not be possible for me to be there. Im going to Los Angeles In the morning. lie turned and left the offiee, Estrada following him. Oh, Mr. llardln, you mustnt take It that way," he expostulated, eoncera In " each sensitive feature, Iil take orders from him, but he gave me none," growled Hardin. Its not what you think. Im not sore. But I dont like him. Hes a fancy dude, lies n.ot the man for this Job." It Then you knew him before? was a surprise to Estrada. ne was my er inAt college, structor. Marshall found him la the tlsuwocta. A theory allngcr;" towns and the Crossing; a director of the Desert Reclamation company, and the head of a small subsidiary company which had been created to protect rights and keep harmonious relation with the sister country. Rickard fonnd him full of meat, and heard, for the first time consecutively, the story cool and Impersonal, adding to won points, and MacLean slowly feet on his side. Hardin, the stronger helplessly was sputtering agaln Babcock, when Rickard called for vote. The appropriation was carried. Hardins face was swollen with rage. Rickard then called for a report dredge being rushed the clam-sheYuma. Where was the machinery? Was it not to have been finished CHAPTER VII. Instantly Hardin Waa on Hla Feet A Garden In a Desert want, the best for our purpose. When Hla it gets theres no one like a Hardin dweBIng leaped Into sight as turned the corner of the street. peon or an Indian. waa but one street running There Youll be Infringing on the Internathe twin towns, flanked by the through tional contract law." suggested ditches of running water. The rest ' No. The camp Is on the Mexican were ditches of running water edged footpaths. Scowling, he passed unside, laughed Casey, rd thought of by der the overhanging bird cages of the that Well have them shipped to the Desert hotel without a greeting for the nearest Mexican point, and then whose chairs were drawn np loungers, to border. Mr. the Estrada bronght the shade of the brick walls. against will help us. The momentum slackened as Hardin The meeting had already adjourned. neared the he called his home. flat-toplace p were They standing around the desk. Estrada Invited them all to An Inner tenderness diluted the sneer lunch with him. In the car on the sid- that disfigured his face. He conld see ing. MacLean said that he had to get Innes as she moved around tn the lit back to Los Angeles. Mr. Babcock tie fenced-i- strip that surrounded her was golng-to-tahim out to Grants desert tent She Insisted on calling it Heading in the machine, ne had nev- a garden, In spite of his raillery. er been there. They had breakfasted Gertys In bM, I suppose," thought late. He looked very much the colonel Tom. He had a sudden vivid picture to Rickard, his full chest and stiff car- of her accusing martyrdom. His mouth riage made more military by his trim hardened again. Innes, stooping over, a rose, passed out of his vision. uniform of cloth. to It came to Hardin suddenly that a I May speak you about your boy, man has made a circle of failure when Mr. MacLean? Hardin caught a slight that was not he dreads going to his office and Intended. He pushed past the group shrinks from tho reproaches at home. A at the door without civility or cereat forty he mused. . Where were all his ships drifting? mony. The steady grave eyes of the big Innes, straightening, waved a gaj frame looked at Rickard Inquiringly. hand. ne wants to stay out another year. Shes raising a goodly crop of barI hope you will let him. Its not disin- rels." Ilia thought m?cked and caterested. I shall have to take a stenog- ressed her. Her garden devotion was rapher to the Heading this summer. a tender Joke with him.' He loved the' There is a girl here; I couldnt take Hardin trait in her, the persistence her, and then, too. Im I which will not be daunted. An occupadont like women- in offices." My posi- tion with a Hardin was a dedication. tion promises to he a peculiar one. Id He would not acknowledge the Innes like to have your son on for blood In her. Like that fancy mother a emergencies stenographer could not of hers? Innes was a Hardin through cover. and through 1 MacLeans grave features relaxed as Its In tho blood," ran his thought he looked down on the engineer, who She cant help It All the Bardins was no small- man himself, and sug- work that way. The Bardins always gested thnt his son was not very well make fools of themselves P up la stenography. Innes, lifting her eyes from a cripThats the least of it" pled rose, saw that the black devils I hope that he will make a good were consuming him again. Will you look at this wreck! she stenographer! Good morning, gentlemen." cried. At table, neither Estrada nor his guest uncovered their active thought which revolved around Hardin and his Innes Hardin feels a bitter rehurt. Instead, Rickard had questions sentment against Rickard beto ask his host on river history. As cause of his supplanting her they talked, it came to him that somebrother, whom she loves devota was amiss thing Estrada was acedly. Gertys emotions are of curate; he had all his facts. Was it different character, but she careenthusiasm, sympathy, he lacked? fully conceals them. .Storms he challenged him with It. hover over tho Hardin houseEstradas eyes dreamed out of the hold. Watch for the next Inwindow, followed the gorge of the New stallment river, as though out there, somewhere, the answer hovered. (TO HE CONTINUED.) Do you mean, do you doubt It?" exclaimed Rickard, watching the melanUnskilled Labor. choly in the beautiful eyes. A man never realizes what the term Itrada shook his head, but without unskilled labor" can mean until a declsjon..,. Nothing youd not laugh at boldly volunteers to repair thftwer I can laugh at It myself, sometimes." faucets an4 take down the screen Rickard waited, not sure that. doors. Wasnlng$on Star. anything more was coming. The Mexicans dark eyes were troubled ; a nuzzle Oldest Known Element brooded in them. a purely nega-fiv- e Is one of the oldest knows Sulphur sense that Tve had, since I was a elements; the and&it Assyrian akhem child. Something falls between me Ists regarded It as the priori pie and a plan. If I said it was a Tell, R combustion and termed It brims? one, would be something! IBs voice tell rteno. merrily red-ho- t, Mac-Lea- n. n ke - khaki-colore- d has-bee- n - to-rel- y - Pre-entl- y 1 |