'nmmfWmSLVi w WWTwm i EDNAH AIKEN SYNOPSIS. CHAPTER 1-K C nickard. an enl . near of t lie Overland Pacific, la called to the office of lrcnlilent Marshall In Tnc on, Arlii. "Casey" Is mi enigma to the office fore.! lit wears "dude" clothes, but he bail resigned a chnlr of enKlneer lng In the Best n go on the read as a fireman and his promotion had been spec tacular While watting for Marshall lU.k nrd rends a. report on the ravages of the Colorado, despite the effort of Thomas Hardin of the Desert Reclamation com pany. This Unrdln had been a student under Rlckard nnd had married Oerty Holmes, with whom Rlckard had fancied he was In love. CHAPTER 1I-Marshall tells Rlckard the Overland Paclllc has got to step In to save the Imperial Valley and sends him to the break. Rlckard declines in -cause he does not want to supplant Har din, but Is won over. "Stop the river; damn the expense," aays Marshall. CHAPTER III Rlckard Journey to Calexlco, sees the Irrigated desert and ica.-r.g much about Hardin and his work. CHAPTER IV. The Desert Hotel. He left the dusty car with relief when the twin towns were called. He had expected to see a Mexican town, or at least a Mexican Influence, ns the towns hugged the border, hut It was ns vividly American ns was Im perial or Brawley. There was the yfl-low-polnted station of the Overland Pacific lines, the water tank, the eager American crowd. Railroad sheds an nounced the terminal of the road. Backed toward the station was the In evitable hotel bus of the country town, a pnlnted sign hanging over Its side advertising the Desert hotel. Before he reached the step the vehicle wus crowded. "Walt, gen'lemer., I'm coming back for a second load," called the darky who was holding the reins. "If you wait for the second trip you won't get n room," suggested a friend ly wilce from the seat above. Rlckard throw his bag to the grin ning negro and swung onto the crowd ed steps. Leaving the railroad sheds he ob served n building which he assumed was the hotel. It looked promising, attractive with Its wide encircling ve randa and the pnlch of green which distance gave the dignity of a lawn. But the darky whipped up his stolid horses. Rickard's eyes followed the patch of green. The friendly voice from above told him that thut was the office of the Desert Reclamation company. His next stirviv was more personal. lie saw himself entering the play us the representative of a company that was distrusted if not Indeed actively bated by the valley folk. It amused him that his entrance was so quiet as to be ror- reptitlous. It would have been quieter had Marshall had his way. 4 But he himself had stipulated that Hardin should be told of his coming. He iiU( Been the telegram before it left the Tucson office. He might be assuming an unfamiliar role In this complicated drama of river and desert, but it v.n not to be as an eavesdroppi r. The heavy bus '.'.us plowing slowly through the dust of the street Rlck ard was given ample ii to note the limitations Of the new town. They passed two brick stores of general merchandise, lemons and woolen goods, stockings and crackers disport ing fraternally In their windows. A board sign swinging from the over bunging porch of the most pretentions building announced the post office. From a small adobe hung u brass plate advising the stranger of the Bunk of Calexlco, The 'dobe pressed close lo another two-storied structure of Hie desert type, The upper Door .supported by posts, extended over tie- sidewalk, Netted wire screened away the desert mosquito, and gave the over hanging gulli ry the grotesque appear once of a huge fencing mask. Krora the street could be seen rows of beds, as In hospital wards. Calexlco, it was .seen, slept oul of doors. "Desert hotel," bawled the darky, reining in ins placid team. "Ves, sah, I'll look out lor your bag. Got your room? The hotel's mighty sure to be full. No many women yll do vb this a-v.a.v . . . aii the men mostly lives rlgbl beuh at the hotel." Rlckard made a dive from a swirl Of duel Into the hotel. The long line bo anticipated at the desk wan uol there, i le tnnpi d to take In a valley Innova tion, (me end of tin- long counter had beei averted into a soda-water bur. The high mioIs in froul Of the white marbled standi with II si her Ixtures, w re crowded with dui I part-bad occupants dV the bus, A " """" was pouring coiorea uuttering to his early Judgtnent. And mi ups uii'i tan gin ioh; there was U he had expected her to he m shuel ' II was staring into hi,; nlata of nitmi tctt in the house, 'rne proprietor awarded him the valley stare. "Going to be here long?" He passed the Inst key on the rack lo the darky stagger ing under a motley of hags and suit cases, iticknrd recognized his, and fol lowed. "I may get you another room tomor row," called the proprietor after him as he climbed the dusty stairs. The signals of n new town were waving in the dining room. The ma jority of the citizens displayed their shirt sleeves and unblushing suspend ers. One large table was surrounded by men In khaki ; the desert soldiers, engineers. The full blown waitresses. club- rately pompadoured, were push- ; Injf through the swing-doors, carrying i heavy trays. Coquetry appeared to be I their occupation, rather than meal- serving, the diners accepting both varie ties of attention with appreciation. The supremacy of those superior maidens was menaced only by two other wom en who sat at a table near the door. Rlckard did not see them at first. The room was as masculine as a restaurant In a new mining town. Rlckard left his Indoor view to look through the French windows opening on a side street. He noticed a slender but regular procession. All the men passing fell In the same direct. on. "Cocktail route," explained one of his neighbors, ha mouth full of boiled beef. "Oyster cocktail?" stalled the new comer. "The renl thing ! Calexlco 'n dry, like the whole valley, that Is, the county. See that ditch? TtuU Is Mexico, on the other side. Those sheds you can see nre In Mexican, Calexlco's twin sister. That painted adobe Is the cus ton house. Mexican's not dry, even In sgmmer I You can bet your life on, that. You can get nil the bad whisky and stale beer you've the money to i buy. We work In Calexlco, and drink In Mexlcall. The temperance pledge Is ktpl better In this town than any other town In the valley. But you cun see this procession every night." The Amazon with a handkerchief aprou brought Rlckard his soup. He was raising his first spoonful to his mouth when he Haw the face, carefully Mw Hi amazing, i' oi uiieii women come to marry, they make often n queer choice. it occurred to him that that tntj hi have been llanlln -he had not wanted to stare at them. That was not Hardin's face. It held strength mid power. The outline was I sharp and distinct, -bowing the strong i lines, the determined mouth of the p0 I neer. There was something else, some- thing which stood for distinction no, It conrdn t hs Hardin. And then, because an outthrust lip changed I tin entire look of the man, Rlckard hhI.c.I his table companions, who was tin- man with the two Indies, near the door. "That, siih," bis neighbor from Aln I bamu became Immediately oratorical. j "that is n big man, sun. ir the Itn I perlal valley over becon ns a reality, a ! tlxtuah, it win be becnuse of that one i man, suh. Reclamation Is like a seed thrown on a rock. Will It stick? Will I 't take roof? Will It gfowf That Is i what we all wan! to km w." I Rlckar1 lliaughl that be had wanted I to know something quite different, and 1 reminded iho gentleman from Alabama 1 that he hud not told him tho mime. "The hither of this valley, of the reclamation of this desert, Thomas Hardin, miIi." Mellaril tried to reset, without at tracting their attention, tin- -roup of Ills Impression' of the iiutli W'htMS per sonality hud been so nhnoxlou lo him In the old I.; a i, row days, 'lb-Hardin be had known bad also large features, but of the tn cid Irritating ord r. He summoned a picture of Hard n aa he had shuffled Into Ids own classroom, or up to the long table when Oerty had always queened It among her ?n 'iher's boarders. He could see the rough tin pollshi d hoots Hint had always offend ed him iii a betrayal of the man's In ner con. -. ness; the badly filling coat, the Ions BWkWird arms, and Iho satis fied, loud-sneaking mouth, These fu tures wire more definite Could time bring tin M changes? Had he changed, like that? Had they atan fetal Would Gerly, would Hardin remember him? Wasn't It his pluce to make hlmsi if known ; vave the flag of old friendship over an awkward situation? He found himself standing In front of thulr table, encountering first, the eyes of Hardin's sister. There was no surprise, no welcome there for him. He felt at once the hostility of the camp. His face was uncomfortably Warm, Then the childish profile turned on him. A look of bewilderment, flushing Into greeting the years had been kind to j Gerty Holmes! "Do you remember me, Rlckard?" If Hardin rceognlzi I n dlllleiilt situa tion, be did not betray It. It was a man Rlckard did not know who shook Dim warmly by the hand, and said that Indeed he hud not forgotten him. "I've been expecting you. My wife, Mr. Rlckard, and my sister." "Why, what are you thinking of, Tom? To Introduce Mr. Rlckard! I Introduced you to each other, years ago!" CJerty's cheeks were red. Her bright eyes were darting from one to the other. "You knew he wus coining, und did not tell me?" "You were at the Improvement club when the telegrum came," put In Innes Hardin, without looking at Rlckard. .No trace of the Tucson cordiality In that proud little fuce! No acknowledgment that they had met at the Marshall's! "Oh, you telegraphed to us?" The blond arch smile had not aged. "That wus friendly and nice." Rlckard bad not been self-conscious for many a year. He did not know what to say. He turned from her Ui turned face to the others. Innes liar din was -luring out of Hie window. over tin- head of en i orov di d tables ; Hardin .g al bis Rlckard dec I led thai be would gel oul of this before Gerty discover d that it was neithei "friendly nr nice." "If I fend known that you were here, i would nave Insisted on your dining with ii, In our' tent. For It's terrible. thinking, fearfully, Rial she wus going to cry. "Didn't 1 tell youV" Her voice, re pressed, carried the threat of tears. "Dldn'l I fell you how It WOUld be? Didn't I say that you'd be sorry If you ( ailed the railroad In?" "Must we go over this again?" aked bar husband. "Why didn't you loll me? Why did you let me make a goose of myself?" She wis remembering Unit there had been no protest, no surprise from in nes, sin- knew! A family secret! She shrugged. "I'm glad, on the whole, that you Planned It us a surprise. For 1 carried It off as If we'd not been In sulted, disgraced." "Oerty I" expostulated Hardin. "(leiiy !" Implored Innes. "And we are In for a nice friendly dinner!" "Are you quite finished?" Hardin got up. As the three passed out of the dining renin, Rlckard caught their several ex pressions! Hardin's stiff. Indifferent; Oerty'a brilliant but hard, as she flashed a finished, brave little smile In his direction. The sister's bow was dlstlnt tly haughty. In the hall, (ierty's lunch rippled out. It was the laugh Rlckard remem bered, the light frivolous cadence which recalled the Ihiniho.wint pattern Of the Holmes' parlor carpet, the long, crowded dining table where (lerly bud reigned. It told him flint she was in different to his coming, as she meant It should. And II turned him back to a dark corner In the honeysuckle draped porch where he had spent so many evenings with her, where once he hud held her hand, where he told her that he loved her. For he had loved her, or at least he thought ho hud I And had run away from her ex pacta Bl eyes, A cad, wus he, because he had brought that waiting look Into her eyes, and had rnn from It? Should a man ask n woman to give her life Into his keeping until hit Is quite sure that he wants It? He was revamping his worn defense. Should he live up to a minute of surrender, of tenderness, If the next Instant brings sanity, nnd disillusionment? He could bury now forever self-reproach. Ho could laugh at his own vanity. (Serty Hardin, It was easy to see, had forgot ten what he had whispered to Gerty Holmes. They met as sober old friends. That ghost was laid. SeaaMssriassTBW-- "&-' nw tat J-'--sf?T8T-?-Vr'?T5l K "I'll Take You Around." CHAPTER V. Tow He Saw the Face, Carefully Averted. averted, of the girl he had mot at the afarabaUa' table, noes Hardin. His eyes Jinn, cd lo her companions, the man u stranger, and than, Gerty Holmes. A I bast, Mrs. Hardin! Some how, n surprised hli i to find her pretty. She In i achieved a variety of dis tinction, preserving, moreover, the ear-cnt babyish chin which bad mads ItS early appeal lo lilin. There v. as the same fluffy balr. Its ringlets a bit arti ficial to tils more sophisticated eyes, the same well turreil nose, lie bud been wondei lag about this meeting; he found that be bad been exnt'l tllltf sonic sort of .bock v.lio .aid thai the lovt Of today . a tOIUOITOW '.' The dl eovi ry thai Gerty was not a e t brought the surprised gratification which we award a letter or composition writ ten in our youth. Were we ns clever ns thai, .u complete al ulgutei q or twenty-one? Could we, now, with all OU1 ice, do any letter, or In- u i ss wen i nut particular n- t'li" with wings! Could we make It fly t iay as n soared yesterday? Rlck ard Wa finding that Oerty'fl more nia- turi charms did not accelerate his lean bcits, bat they wer i cei talaly clinking of Ice; u Blasting of siphon . i inns a new one on me," grjiwedfcbllied mjud. l.'lel ...I litrtiitw, I,.,.... ...I ,1... .,...!.. . . - """"i nntui'i llll! IIC.K where a complacent proprietor stood waiting to aononmeo thut there wus but one room left. "With bath?" 'J& right aceaj he hsjl, Only Calf lovi I'm- be bll i lo, 1 her or at leUSl hll bad loved her .ion, her pretty childish way of lifting it. She iiii.i prettier than he had pic tured her. Queer that a mini like Har din Could draw such women for sister and wife the blood tie wss the most Isn't It?" Sin- ila-bed at Ii i in the i look he rei umbered so vividly, the childish coquettish appeal. "We dine 'at home, till ii becomes tiresome, and then we coine foraging for Mirlely. Hut you niusi coma to us, say Thursday, is that Hgbl for you? We should love It." Still Ihose two averted faces. Rlck ard said Thursday, as he was bidden, and got back to his table, wo ulernig why III thunder be bad lei Marshall per suade him lo take this Job. Hardin waited a scant minute to pro test : "What possessed you to ask blui to dinner" "Why SbOUldAt IV lie Is an oln friend." Gerty CUgbt a glance of ap peal, from sM,r f, brother. "Jealoeujf" she pouted charmingly al her lord. ".leal. his, no!" bluffed Hardin. lie though) then that she knew, Hint Ini.es hud told her. The Lawrence epi sode held no sflng to him. Once, it hud enchanted blm thai be bad carried off the boarding bouae belfe, whom even that bookman bad found tie Irable bookman! A superior dude He I, .1 always had Ihose grand airs. As f ii were no! more to a man's credit lo struggle for bis education, even if ho were older than Ills clns'i. or his leach. I or, than lo accept it on.- sliver i j nanaea ny mckey v itli Kurd bad ul I ways acted as If it hud been I omothlng j to be ashamed of. It made him sick, -Jbey've done It Una Hum. It's fool choice," Again, Unit look of pleading from In in . Oerty had a shiver of Intuition. "Fool Choice)" ller voice was inn, noiisly ciilin. Hardin shook off lanes' eyes. Better be dene wiib it ! iio) the new gen eral manager," "He's the general manager I" "I'm to lake orders from him." fierty's .Hence was of the stunned variety. Tho llardlns w niched her cnimbllng breed on the tablecloth, u A Game of Checkers. The uneasy mood of flic desert, the wind-blown sand, drove people Indoors the mxt morning. Rlckard was served a substantial, Indifferently cooked breakfast In the dining room of the Desert hotel, whose limitations were as conspicuous to the newcomer as they were nonexistent to the other men. They were finding It a soft con trast to sand-blown tents, to life In the open. Later he wandered through the group of staring Idlers In the office, past the popular soda stand nnd the few chalr-tllters on the 'sidewalk, go ing on, as If without purpose, to the railroad sheds, mid then on, down to the offices of the Desert Reclamation company. He discovered It to he the one engaging spot In the hastily thrownlogether town. There were oleanders, rose and white, blooming In the patch of purple bio. lining alfalfa that stood for n lawn. Morning-glories clambered over the supports of the veranda, aaeVea over the roof, itick- iii. Is deductions led him to the llar illns. What school of experience had so Changed the awkward country fellow? Be had resented his rivalry, not that he WAS I rival, but that he was a boor, Ills kisses still warm on her lips, ami she bad turned tn welcome, to coquet With Tom Hardin! The woman who was to in- his wife must be steadier than thai ! It had cooled his fi v.r. rxot Tor hlin the lepcn who could shake and bend her pretty boughs to each rough breeze UUtl blew ! Men tossed Into a desert fighting to keep a toot hold, di, nut garland their offices with morning-glories! Was It the gracious quiet Influence of a wife, n Heiiy Hardin? The festive build lug he was approaching was as ones- peeled iis Captain lliandon! ithkaril walked on, smiling. He was fairly blown Into the outer room, Die door banging behind him. Bvery one looked up nt the noisy Inler rUpUon. There were several men In the long room. Among them two alert, clean-faced youtba, college graduatee, or students out on furlough the kind Of Stuff ill UlS Class at i.av. i-ence. Three of the seasoned, road rum bed type were leaning their chairs against the COOl thkk walls, one was puffing III ir. The other, a big, shy giant, was drawing cloud., of comfort from g pipe. There was n telegraph operator al work In one end of the room, her Instrument rapidly clicking. In an op posite corner was a telephone t change, A girl wltfe n metal band around her forehead Wiis puin hini; connections between the valley towns. Itlckard lost the feeling of having gone lino a remote and Isolated re. i.'lou. The twin towns were on i'i, map. One of the older men return id hi i nod. The young men returned hii tlly withdrawn attention to llielr ftame of checkers. The other I in, ,K, ,- was watching with cro eyed n Hon the rings his ejgur was senliiiK Into jhe air. Rlckurd might not have been there. One of the checker player I. up. "Anything I can do for youl Io you want lo see unyon, In particular?" "No," it was admitted. "No one In particular. I was just looking round." :e.w place ol CalcxICO, III In'li.V head. lie -aid the 'ooi.i.b take you around, It Is the only plncej would give me more lessons more reel In town that Is comfortable when It's knowledge In a .V'iir than I'd gel g fix nt college. I kicked up an nw-faj row" The older man smiled, "of course Yon doii'i want to go hack now" The hoy made n wry race. lie ej. pects me to go nacK in August, .s.iysi I must." "Vou did not tell me your name, was suggested. "Mncl.eun. (h'orge Mncl.eon," snlijj the young man rather consciously. It was a good deal to live up to. He n. ways felt the appraisement which fal lowed that admlssWin. Ocorgo Map. Lean, elder, was known among the railroad circles tO be n man of Iron, one Of the strongest of the head' of the Overland Pacific system. He wss not the sort of man a son could speak lightly of disobeying. - ' "Of course everyone calls me .1. in ter." "I guess you'll go bock If he WSI you to," smiled Rlckard. "Oh, but what a rotten trick It would be!" exclaimed the son Of tlio man of Iron, "To throw me out of colleg, was daffy to finish with my class, and to get me here, to get me 'n- leresled ami then arter rve lost my place to pull me back. Why, there nre things happening every dny that nre a liberal education. They are only Jmt neginiiiiig lo underslauu what (hey are bucking up against. The Colorado's an unknown quantity; even old mg). neers are right up against It. There are new problems coming np evcryl day. The Indians call her a yeliow dragon, hut she's a tricky woman. she h un eel ; she's giving us sums to breuk our teeth on." "Who has the next roomf "Used to be the general manager's. Ogllvle uses It now." "And who did you say was Ogl. vie?" They turned bsck into toe room. "You can go In. He's not here. He Is the new auditor, an expert account ant from Los Angeles. Rut In by the O. P. when It assumed control last year, lie used to come down once a month. After Hardin went out be came down to stay." "Whose say-so V "1 don't know. The accounts wer rotten, that's no office secret. The world knows that. Hardin Is binned for It. It Isn't fulr. Look at Mathers Stone palace in I.os Angeles. Look at Hardin's tent, his shabby clothes." "I'd like to meet Ogllvle," observed the general manager. " h. he's not much to meet. A pale. white-livered vegetarian, a theoso- phlst. You've seen 'em. Los Angeles Is full of 'em. He was here when Ilnr- hot, or when the wind blows, nnd that's the program ull summer. Take my place, I'ete." Pets), the young giant, wllh the face of his Infancy enlarged rather than matured, slipped Into the vacant chair. lie hud been the fir t to discover the stranger, but he had evaded the re sponsibility. The game Immediately absorbed him. "It's nice here," repeated the young fellow, leading the way. They were followed by n few Idle glances. Rlckard looked with approval at the tan slim figure which was assuming the courtesy of the towns. The fine handsome face wns almost too girlish, the muscles of the mouth too sensitive yet for manly beauty, but he liked the type. Lithe ns a young desert-reared Indian, his manner nnd carriage told of a careful home snd r'gld school dis cipline. He wns ushered Into a large cool room. The furnishings he Inventoried : s few stiff chairs, a long table and a typewriter desk, closed for the Sab bath. "The stenographer's room," an nounced the hid superfluously, "Whose stenographer" "tieneral property now. Everyone has a right to use her time. She used to be Hardin's, the general manager's. She Is Ills still, In a way. Rut Ogllvle keeps her busy most of the time." Rlckard had not lean! of Ogllvle. He made a mental register. "When did knew the dat din was fired. You could see him Hardin go nut?" He his opportunity. Ills chest swelled himself. He expected ' up. He looked as If he had tusted i Information. He had a very active cu riosity about Hardin. The man's fail ures inid been spectacular. The young fellow was thinking aloud. "The dam went Novembe i.1)th. llanlln wus given a decent lu- j terral to resign. Of course he was Died. It was an outrage " He re membered that he wus speaking to a the answer would trail wisps of other ! meat for the first time. He thought that he could woozle Into the empty place! He went hack to Los Angeles. convinced them thut the auditor should be here, protect the company's Interests. It sounded mysterious, sleuthlike, as If he had discovered something, so they let hlra bring the hooks down here. He Is supposed to lie ferreting. Rut he's 'woosltng.' He stranger und broke off suddenly. Rick- ' l"i,'tl to ''e in the outer office. Said ard did not question blm. He made i '''' noise made his head ache, so he another Bote, Why was It an outrage moved In here. All the committee or wliy did It appear so? In peffepec meetings are held here, nnd occasion- live, from Hie Mexican barranca, i ullv ""' directors meetings. Water where be hud been at the time, the failure of that dam had I n auothei bar sinister agalnei iiardin. "I see thai you are from the I'nlvei slty of t'allfornlii?" Itlckard said, und nodded at the pin of gold gad blue enamel. "Out for a year," glowed the lad "Had wanted me to gel some real companies', too. Ogllvie's taking notes wants to be Hie next general mana ger; It sticks out ull over him." "What's the derivation of xvoozle?" i this with deep gravity. "Walt Hll .vim see Ogllvle!" laughed nis cm. .runner. Then as an after thought, "This Is all public gossip. lies rnir game. (To be com limed next week. I At Your Service I To be progressive and to serve you right, we have installed utasBjJ-SAow-jjrjaaffans the Electrical Wizzard in our Shop h ro.st ii.sNoiiir money Iml. ii will save you u lot of money. lleuttUHu n Ii stlv. quickly nnd aurelv i i. . .. : , . . .ins i iii i poiioic in your Kiivi tic sun mo- llm jgbting is, stein on , our pari Don't irt a ii'iio.NHci' tear your oar nil to ivrs trying to find Hit- trouble. iiii AMBU we Will it'll you whttt it is inside of thirty niiiini.'s no mutter how complicated m- of li lonir rtnndiii.''. rO0Tatr0IT lmpnj jSfrVm Bflisss vr'.gn s -'raB5 m m J UfHia l aaaj r ' SS "' Universal Garage Co. You're pretty sure to so it in this paper