uflHiBr n "Qnli nBB K vgeaaHl v
3pPSJ2
The door opened behind them, and
Rlcknrd snw the ninn whose descrip
tion hud hem so deftly knocked off.
lie recognized the type seen so fre
quently in southern California towns,
the pale, damaged exile whose chance
of reprieve is conditioned hy stern
roles of diet und sobriety. It wns the
tempernment which must perforce
translate :i personal necessity into a
religious dogma.
"This gentleman's Just Is Just
looking around." stammered MacLean,
blundering, confused.
The vegetarian nodded, taking off
Ms felt sombrero and putting it on a
chair with care.
By this time It was apparent that
no one save Hardin knew of his com
ing. He was ahead of Marshall's let
ters. He did not like the flavor of hla
entrance.
"What provision Is being made for
the new general manager T"
The question, aimed carelessly, hit
the auditor.
"They are not talking of filling the
position Just yet," he responded.
"There is no need at present. The
Ogilvie's Dismay Was Too Sudden.
work is going along nicely, better, I
might say, adjusted as it now Is, than
it did before."
"I heard that they had sent a man
from the Tucson office to represent
Mr. Marshall."
"Did you hear his name?" stam
mered Ogilvle.
"Rlckard."
The auditor recovered himself. 1
would have heard of it were It true.
I am in close touch with the Los An
geles office."
"It Is true."
"How do you know?" Ogilvie's dis
may was too sudden ; the flabby facial
muscles bMrayed him.
"I'm Rlckard." The new general
manager took the swivel chair behind
the flat-top desk. "Hit down. I'd like
to have a talk with you."
"If you will excuse me,' Ocllvle'r
bluff was as anemic as his crushed ap
pearance. "I I nui busy this morn
ing. Might I trouble you for a
few minutes? My papers aro In tlilr
desk."
iticknrd now knew Ms man to the
shallow depihs of Ids white-corpus
cled soul. "If I won't be in your way
I'll hang around here. I've the day to
kill."
Ills sarcasm was lost in transit.
Ogilvle said that Mr. Itlckard would
not be In his way. Ho would move
his papers Into the next room tomor
row.
The engineer moved to the French
windows that opened on the nlfalfa
lawn. A vigorous growth of willows
marked the course of New river,
which had cut ho perilously nenr the
towns. A letter "b." picked out In
quick river vegetation, told Ihe story
of the flood. The old channel there
It was, the curved arm of the "b," one
could tell that by the tall willows had
heen too tortuous, too slow for those
sweeping waters. The flow had di
vided, cutting the stem of the letter,
carrying the flood waters swifter
down grade. The flow hail divided
hm! divided perhaps the danger too!
An idea in that! He would see that
better from the water tower he'd spied
at entering. Another flood, and a
gamble whether Mexlcall or Calexlco
would get the worst of It. Unless one
was ready. A levee west of the
American town!
"Excuse me, sir do you need me?"
He turned back Into the room. lie
could see that MacLean whs aching to
get out of the room. Ogilvle had vis
ibly wit in-red. A blight hi ini-i I to fall
n him as his white, blue-velued fin
gers made a bluff among his papers.
. "TliRiik you." Rlckard nodded jit
N
river.
EDNAH
AIKEN
Mncl.eun, who burst Into the outer of-
lll'l'.
"It's the new general manager from
Tucson Ulckard's his name." Ills
whisper ran around the walls of the
room, where other arrivals were tilt
ing 'their chairs. "The new general
manager! Ogilvle woozled for notli
Ing. You should have seen his face!''
"Did anyone know t lint he was com
ing?" Silent, the tanned glnnt, spoke.
"That's Marshall all over," said
Woostcr, bright-eyed and wiry, re
moving his pipe. "He likes to move In
n mysterious way his wonders to per
form. (Used to sing that when I was
a kid!) No announcement. Simply,
'Enter Rlckard."
"More like this." said Silent. "Exit
Hardin. Enter Ogilvle. Enter Itlck
ard." "And exit Ogilvle," cried MncLcnn.
"It's a d d shame," burst out
Woostcr. No one asked him what he
meant. Every man In the room was
thinking of Hardin, whose shadow this
reclamation work was.
"What's Rlckard doing?" asked the
Infantile Hercules at the checkerboard.
The force called him Pete, which was
a short cut to Frederick Augustus
Bodefeldt.
"Taking Ogilvie's measure" this
from MacLean.
"Then he's doing something else by
this time. That wouldn't take him five
minutes unless he's a gull," snapped
Woostcr, who hated Ogilvle as a rat
does a snake.
The door opened and Rlckard came
In. Almost simultaneously the outer
door opened to admit Hardin. Who
would Introduce the new general man
ager to the dismissed onef The
thought flashed from MncKean to Si
lent, to the telegraph operator. .Bode
feldt doubled over the checkerboard,
pretending not to see them. Confu
sion, embarrassment was on every
ace. Nobody spoke. Hardin was
coming closer.
"Hello. Hardin."
"Hello. Rlckard."
It appeared friendly enough to the
surprised office. Both men were glad
that It was over.
"Nice offices," remarked Hardin, hla
legs outspread, his hands in his pock
ets. "Ogilvle 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
last summer!" was the rejoinder.
"This la a haven, though, from the
street. Thought I'd loaf for today."
Was Hardin game to do the right
thing. Introduce him as the new chief
to his subordinates? Nothing, it de
veloped, was further from his Inten
tion. Hardin, his legs outstretched,
kept before his face the bland, Im
penetrable smile of the oriental. It
was clearly not Ulckard's move. The
checker players fidgeted. Rlckard'a
silence was Interrogative. Hardin
still smiled.
The outer door opened.
The newcomer, evidently a favorite,
walked Into u noisy welcome, the
"boys' " embarrassment overdoing It.
He wns of middle height, slender a
Mexican with (usiillan ancestry writ
ten in his high-bred features, his gruce
and his straight, dark hair."
"Good morning, Estrada," said Har
din with the same meaningless smile.
"Good morning, gentlemen." The
Mexican's greeting paused at itlckard.
"Mr. Estrada, Mr. itlckard."
Everyone in the office saw Hardin
snub his other opportunity. Ho had
betrayed to everyone his deep hurt,
his raw wound. When he had
stepped down, under cover of a resig
nation, he hud saved his face by tell
ing everyope that a rupture with
Maltlaml, one of the directors of tho
reorganized company, had made It
Impossible for them to serve together,
and that Maltlund's wealth and im
portance to the company demanded his
own sacrifice. Two months before
HlckarU'a appearance Maltland had
heen discovered dead In his bnth In a
I. os Angeles hotel. Though no one
had been witless enough to speak of
their hope to Hardin, he knew that
all his force was dally expecting his
reinstatement. Ulckard's entrance
was another stab to their chief.
"The son of the general?" The' new
manager held out his hand. "General
Estrada, friend of Mexican liberty,
founder of steamship companies and
father of (lie Imperial valley?"
"That makes me u brother of the
valley" Kstradu's smile was sensitive
and sweet.
Estrada looked at Hardin, hesitated,
then passed on to the checker players
and addressed MacLean :
"I saw your father In I.os Angeles.
He has been chosen to All the vacancy
made hy Mallland's dentil."
Macl.ean's eyes wavered toward
Hardin, whose nonchalance had not
faltered. Had he not beard, or did
be know, already?
Td like to hove a meeting, a ''.in
ference, tomorrow morning." iticknrd
U speaking. "Mr. Ilnrdln, will you
Vet Ihe hour at your convenience V"
Because It was so kuully done, Har
din showed bis first resentment. "It
will DO! lie possible for me to be there.
I'm going to l.os Angeles In the morn
ing. He turned and left the olllce,
Estrada following him.
"Oh, Mr. Hardin, you mustn't take It
that way," lie expostulated, concern In
each sensitive feature.
"I'll take orders from him, but he
gave me none," growled Hardin. "It's
not whal you think. I'm not sore. But
I don't like him. He's a funcy dude.
He's not the man for this Job."
"Then you knew him before?" It
was a surprise to Estrada.
"At college. IIo was my er In
structor. Marshall found him In Ihe
classroom. A theory sllnger."
Estrada's thoughtful glanco prated
on the angry fnce. Win this genuine,
or did not Ilnrdln know of the years
Rlckard hud served rin the road; of
Ihe Jolt In tin heat-! ked barrancas
oi Mexico where Marshall had "found"
hltn? But be would not try again to
net-Mode hurdle, to give up his trip
to l.os Arueles. it might be better,
after till, fin the new iiuin.i:rer te take
charge Willi his predecessor out of
the way.
"Mncl.cnn's coming down tonight,"
he threw out, still wiitclilu;.' Hardin's
fate. "With BttbcoehV
"I won't be inl-cd." Ilr.nlln's
mouth v.as lilller, 'Kxtrudn, If I had
the sen e of a gout I'd sell out, sell
my stock to Mm-Lcniu and quit. What's
In all this fin me! Docs anyone doubt
my reason for staying? It would be
like leaving u sinking ship, like de
serting the passengers and crew one
had brought on hoard. (Jod! I'd like
to go I But bow can I? I've got hold
of the tall of the hear and I can't let
got"
"No one doubts you " began Es
trada. Hardin turned away, with an
mm
Hardin Turned Away With an Ugly
Oath.
ugly oath. The Mexican stood watch
ing his stumbling anger. "Poor Har
din!" In the office Rlckard was speaking
to MacLean, whom he hud drawn to
one aide, out of earshot of the checker
players.
"I want you to do something for
rue. not at all agreeable!" Ills tone
Implied that the boy was not given
the chance to beg off. "What time
does the train pull out In the morn
ing?" "Slx-flfteen."
"I'll have a letter for you it the
hotel at six. Be on time. I want to
catch Hardin before he leaves for l.os
'Angeles. If he's really going. I'll ghe
1 hltn today to think It over. I'.iit he
I can't disregard en order as he did my
Invitation. I didn't want to rub It In
1 before the men."
Macl.enn stared, then said that be
thouL'ht lie was not III. el v to I
Rlcknrd left the olllce in time to
see Hardin shutting the outer gnte
behind him. Ills exit released a cho
rus of indignant voices.
"An outrage 1"
"A d d shame!" This from
Woostcr.
"Hardin's luck!"
On the other side of the door Itlck
ard deliberated. The hotel niul Its curi
ous loungers, or his new ofllce. where
Ogilvle was making a great show of
occupation. He hud not seen Estrada.
He was making a sudden dive for his
hotel when the gentle voice of the
Mexican hailed him.
"Will you come to my car? It's 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 Ihe gate. They may
be new to you."
Itlckard spent the afternoon In the
car. The twin towns tlid not seem so
hostile. He thought he might like tho
Mexican.
Estrada wus earning his father's
mantle. He was the superintendent
of the road which the Overland Ta
ctile was building between the twin
towns and the Crossing; a director of
the Pi-sort Bertl nation company, and
the head of a small subsidiary com
pany which had been created to pro
tect rights und keep harmonious rela
tion with the sister country. Rlckard
found him full of meat, and heard, for
the first lime consecutively, the slory
of the rakish river. Particularly In
teresting to him was tin: relation of
Hardin to the company.
"He has Ihe had luck, that man!"
exclaimed Estrada's soft, musical
voice. "Everything Is In his hands,
c'ipiit'1 la proml l. end he goo Id
New Vmk to have the papers drawn
up. The day be gets there" Ihe Maine
In destroyed. Of eoitrso capital Is sbv.
He's had (lie devil's own luck with
men; Glfford, honest, but mulish;
Slither, mulish and not honest oh,
there's II string of them. Once he
rent to Hermosillo to get an option on
my father's lands. They were already
covered by an option held by some
men In Scotland. Another man would
have welted for the three months to
pass. Not Hardin. He went to Scot
land, thought he'd Interest those men
with his mops and papers. He owned
nil the data then. He'd made the sur
vey." Estrada repented the story Brandon
and Marshall bad told. With little dis
crepancy. A friendly refrain followed
the narrative. "He has tho bad luck,
thai man!"
"And the Scotched option?" remind
ed Itlckard. smiling at bis own poor
Joke.
"It was Just that. A case of Hardin
luck again. He slopped off In London
to Interest some cnplpil there; follow
ing Up a lead developed on the steam
'er. He was never a man to neglect a
chance. Nothing came of It, though,
mid when he reached Glusgow he
found his man bad died two days be
fore or been killed. I've forgotten
which. Three times Hardin's crossed
the ocean trying to cornet the oppor
tunity he thought ho hud found. It
Isn't laziness, Is his trouble. It's Just
infernal lurk."
"Or over.nstuteness. or procrastina
tion," criticized his listener to himself.
He knew now what It wns that had
so changed Hardin. A ninn cannot
travel, even i though he be hounding
down a quids scent, without meeting
strong Influences. He had been thrown
with hard men, strong men. It was
en Inevitable chiseling, not a miracle.
"I want to hear more of this some
day. But this map. I don't under
stand what you told me of this by
pass, 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
young engineers joined them.
It had been outwardly a wasted day.
Rlckard bad lounged, socially and
physically. But before he turned In
that night he had learned the names
and dispositions of hla force, and
Mine of their prejudices. Nothing, he
summed up, could be guessed from tbe
gentleness of the Mexican's manner;
Woosjer's antagonism was open and
snappish. Silent wus to be watched,
and Hardin bad already shown his
hand.
The river, as he thought of ft, ap
peared the least formidable of his op
ponents. He was Imaging It as a high
spirited horse, maddened by the fum
bling of Its would-be captors. His task
It was to lasso the proud stallion, lead
It in bridled to the sterile land. No
wonder Hardin was sore; bis noose
hud slipped on one time too many !
Hardin's luck I
CHAPTER VI.
Red Tape.
At ten o'clock tbe next morning Har
din, entering the office, again the gen
eral manager's, found there before him
George Macl.enn, the new director, and
Percy Rahcock, the treasurer, who had
been put In by the Overland Pacific
when the old company was reorgan
ized. They hod Just come In from Los
Angeles, the trip mode In Mini. can's
private car, to attend a director's meet
ing. Rlckard entered a few minutes Inter,
Estrada behind him. Ogilvle followed
Rickard to hla desk.
"Well?" inquired tbe new manager.
Ogilvle explained lengthily that he
had the minutes of the Inst meeting.
"Leave them here." Rlcknrd waved
him toward Estrada, who held out bis
hand for tbe papers.
Reluctantly the accountant relin
quished the papers. His retreating
coaltalls looked ludicrously whipped
but no one laughed. Hardin's scowl
deepened.
"Showing his power," he thought,
"lie's going to cnll for a new puck."
Estrada pushed th Inutes through
with but a few unimportant interrup
tions. He was sitting at the same desk
with Rlckard. Hurdln, sensitive and
sullen, thought he saw the meeting
managed between them.
Several times he attempted to bring
the tangled affairs of the water om
panics before the directors. Itlckard
would not discuss the water compa
nies. "Because he's not posted ! He's be
ginning to see what he's up against,"
ran Hardin's stormy thoughts.
He wus on his f,.,-t the m-xt minute
with u motion to complete the Hardin
hi-ndgale. Violently he declaimed to
Babeock and Mncl.eun his wrongs, tbe
Injustice that bad been dune him. Mar
shall bnd let that fellow Maltland con
vince him thai the gale wus not prac
ticable; bud It not been for him the
gate would be In place now; all this
time and money saved. And the Malt
land dam, built Instead! Where was
It? Where was the money, the time,
put In Unit Utile toy? Sickening! His
face purpled over the memory. Why
was he allowed to begin again with
the gate? "Answer me thai. Why
iwis I allowed to begin again? It's all
child's play, Unit's what It-Is. And
when I am In It again up to my neck
be pulls me off!"
This was the real Ilnrdln, the un
couth, overnged Lawrence student I
The new manner was Just a veneer.
Rlckard hud been expecting It to weur
thin.
"I think," Interjected Rlcknrd. "that
we all agree with Mr. Mnrshall, Mr.
Hardin, that a wooden headgate on silt
Klatloa could never be
ii makeshift i understood ttat the
first day In- visited the river with you
in- bad the idea to put tin- ultimata
gate, the gale which would control the
water supply of the valley, up at the
Crossing on rock foundation. Mr. Mar
shall loes not cxpi i to finish tliut In
time to be of first use. He holies the
wooden gate will solve the Immediate
problem, Ii was a case of any port In
ii storm. He has asked me to report
my opinion."
"Why doesn't he give me a chance
to go ahead then?" growled the de
posed manager. "Instead of letting
the Intake widen until It will be an Im
possibility to confine tbe river there
at nil?"
"So you do think that it will be an
Imposslbllty to complete the gate aa
planned?"
Hardin had run loo fast. "I didn't
mean that," he stammered. "I mean
It will be difficult If we are delayed
much longer."
"I line you the force to re-begln
work at once? " demanded Rlcknrd.
"I had It," evaded Hurdln. "I had
everything ready to go on men, ma
terial when we stopped the last
time."
"Answer my question, please."
"I should have to assemble them
ugnln," admitted Hardin sulkily.
Rlcknrd consulted his notebook. "I
think we've covered everything. Now
I want to propose ihe laying of a spur
track from Hamlin's Juuctlon to tbe
Heading." Ills manner cleared tbe
stage of supernumeraries ; this was
the climax. Hurdln looked ready to
spring.
"And In connection with that the de
vclopment of a quarry In the granite
hills hack of Hamlin's." continued Itlck-
1 ard, not looking at Hardin.
Instantly Hardin waa on hla feet
Hla (1st thundered on the table. "1
ahall oppose that," be flared. "It la sb-
Instantly Hardin Was en Hie Feet
aolutely unnecessary. We can't afford
it. Do you know what that will cost,
gentlemen?"
"One hundred thousand dollars!"
Rlckard Interrupted btm. "I want an
appropriation this morning for that
amount. It Is, In my opinion, abso
lutely necessary if we are to aave the
valley. We cannot afford not to do It
Mr. Hardin!"
Hardin glared at the other men for
support; he found MacLean'a face a
blank wall ; Estrada looked uncom
fortable. Bahcock had pricked up his
ears at the sound of the desired appro
priation ; his head on one side, he
looked like an Inquisitive terrier.
- I gtfagsmA -dsf lanL
if you want graduate mechanics to keep your
auto up to snuff and out of trouble.
We get on our knees to work on your car.
And our brains and hands deal out results that
will satisfy you.
That kind of treatment brings us business.
Dependable Vulcanizing
We are equipped with standard Vulcanizers
and with men who know how to use them.
A repaired tire is usually the worry of an
automobilist.
Our vulcanizing is an art that we are proud
to demonstrate to any wheel's rubber.
Let us show you our skill in fixing sick tires.
Universal
You're pretty sure
Hardin spread oul Hs hands In ,.u
Ions desperation, -xooii ruin u
pnld. "It's your money, the o p.'.
bi.i you re lending it. not giving it t
us. You are going to swamp the ),J
rt Ileclnmstlotf company. We rsfl
throw funds BWSy like thai." ie ,ut
drcd thousand dollars! Why, In mm
have stopped the river at any tutu. (
he bud had that sum ; once n i --iliry
thousand would have suverj ttiem
didn't ask the O. P. to come in 0M
ruin us, but to stop the river ; not tJ
throw money away In hog-wild rnajj
Ion." He was stammering Inarth nintj
ly. "There's no need of a spur trd;
If you rush nty gate through." ., t
"If." Rlckard nodded. "Granted.
we can rush It through. But suppo
It falls? Marshall suld the railro4
would stand for no contingencies, 'flu
Interests at stake are too vital"
"Interests!" cried Torn HimHi
"What do you know of the interest
stake? you or ynnr railroad f onilm
In ut the eleventh hour, what can ym
know? Did you promise safety to t boo.
sands of families If they made their
homes In this valley? Are you respopS
hie? Did you get up this company, ig.
duce your frlt-uda to put their ir.otitj
In It, promise to see them throng!
Whnt do you know of the Interests m
stake? Vou want to put one hundred
thousand dollars into a frill. God, do
you know what that means to rajUfi
company? It means ruin " Km rede
pulled him down in his seat.
Itlckard explained to the dlri-etenj
the necessity In his opinion of tbe -imf.
track and the quarry. Rock In greet
quantities would be needed; cars mint
be rushed In to the break. He urged
the Importance of clenching the issue,
"If It's not won this time, It's a ins
cause," he maintained. "If It cuts i
deeper gorge, the Imperial valley is a
chimera ; so Is Lsguna dam."
The otber men were drawn Into tbe
argument. Bahcock leaned toward R
din's conservation. MacLean was Jv
dldal. Estrada upheld Rlckard. Tb
spur-track. In bis opinion, was esse
tlal to success. Hsrdln could see the
meeting managed between the nee
comer and the Mexican, and his safer
Impotently raged. Hla temper mad
him incoherent He could see Rlcknrd,
cool and Impersonal, sddlng to kh
points, and MacLean slowly woo te
tbe stronger side. Hardin, on his feet
again, waa sputtering helplessly at
Babcock, when Rlckard called for i
vote. Tbe appropriaUon was carried,
Hardin's face waa swollen with rage.
Rickard then called for s report n
tbe clam-shell dredge being rushed it
Ynma. Where was the machinery!
Was It not to have been finished li
February?
"Why not get the machinery beret
What'a tbe use of taking chances?" d
mended Rlckard. -
Hsrdln felt the personal Implication,
He was on his feet In a second. "There
are no chances." He looked at Mm
Leon. "The machinery's done. It'. ne
use getting it here until we're ready."
"There are always chancee," inter-'
rupted hla opponent coolly. "We are
going to take none. I want Mr. Har
din, gentlemen, appointed s commute
of one to aee that tbe machinery Is de
livered at once, and the dredge rushed.'
(To be continued next week.;
o
The Yankee soldiers have not ben
sble to make acquaintance with the
French dogs, because tbe dogs de
not understand English. They pt
no attention to a simple "come here"
but obey Instantly wben a Frenchmu
says "Venea-s-s icl."
The ex-Kalser now states that be
never desired war. Can it be that
his memory Is failing?
Steer
Into
Us
11
Garage Co.
to see it in this paper
I
0
U