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Tils sister's irnzo rested on him with
concern. Il had too little to do. She
iruessod tluit hit title, consulting en
gineer, was a mocking ne, that his
chief, nt least, did not consult him.
Was It true, what she had heard, that
he had made a Ihiko ahout the ma
chinery? He was looking needy. He
had lieen letting Ills clothes go. Ho
looked like a man who has lost grip;
who has In en shelved.
She knew ho was Bleeping badly.
Rvery morning now she found the
couch rumpled. Not much pretense of
marital Congeniality. Things were go
ing hadly, there
"Everyhody has accepted." Oerty
was saying. "They have been waiting
for tne to set the date."
"And you cater to him. let hlra
dangle you all. 1 wonder why you do
It, unless It's to hurt me."
"Hurt you, Tom," cried his wife, her
deep hlue eyes wide with dismay.
"How can you say such a thing? lint
If It Is given for him, how can I do
anything else than let him arrange
the day to suit himself? It would he
funny for the guest of honor not to
be present, wouldn't It?"
"I don't see why you want to make
him a gih'st of honor," ha retreated,
covering his position.
Gently, Oerty expressed her belief
that she was doing the best thing for
her husband In getting up a public af
fair for his aneceaaor, she did think
that Tom would see that It showed
they had no feeling.
"I think it a tine Idea." agreed In
nes heartily. "I'm rare Tom will, too,
when he thinks ahout It." Hut she did
not give him any chance to express
himself. "Mow are you going to man
age it. Oerty? fog said It wns going
to be progressive?"
"We shall draw for partners," said
Mrs. Hardin. "And Change every half
a mile. The first lap will be two
miles; that will give s.nne excitement
in cutting for partners." Ka'sy, being
the hostess, to withhold any slip she
pleased, easy to make It worn acci
dental !
"When is this circus corning off?"
inquired in r husband.
"Mr. Kiikanl says he will be back
on the first ; that he'll be free on the
second."
"For half an hour, I'll listen to Mrs.
Youngberg tell me how hard it is to
have to do without servants, as she's
never done It In her life before. For
another hair -mile, Mrs. Hatfield will
flirt with me, and Mrs. Mlddleton will
tell me all about 'her dear little kid
dles.' Sounds cheerful. Why didn't
you choose cards? No one has to
talk then."
There was an Interval when his wife
appeared to be balancing bis sugges
tion. "No, I think It will have to bo
a drive; for I've told every ono about
It."
, "Well," remarked her husband. "I
only hope something will happen to
deevent it."
: "Tom I" exclaimed Oerty Hardin.
"What a dreadful thing to say. That
Mut,i!y ni;e curse, tat make my
bjpod run cold."
"Shul" lgld Hardin, picking up his
hat. "That was uo curse. ion
, wouldn't go if it rained, would you?"
, "Oh, rain!' Sbo shrugged at that
possibility.
"Well, you wouldn't go If the wind
blows!" retorted Hardin, leuving the
room.
EDNAH
AIKEN
herself In against further argument.
She came back Into the room, pow
dered and heavily veiled against the
wind. A heavy winter ulster covered
the new mull gown which she had not
worn at supiier, though Innes could
have helped her with the books! Hut
there was always BO much talk about
everything I
They had to face the gnlo as Hie
maelilnc swept down the wluU-criut.fl
street.
It wns too bad to have n dght like
this! And all her work Tom and
his sister would hnve it go for noth
ing! She was made of stubborner
stuff than that. J.I IV hud been deal
ing out mean hands to her, but she
would not drop out of the game, ac
knowledge herself beaten luck would
turn, she woulil get better cards.
In the, hall of the Hescrt hotel, the
party was assembling. Mrs. Hardin's
roving eye seouivd the hall. sttflkurd
was not there, i'atton (tilled her from
the desk. Some one wanted her at
the telephone. It was ltlckard, of
course, at the office; to say be bad
been detained. The fear which bad
been chilling her passed by.
It was not ltlckard on the wire, but
Mrs. Hatfield, loquacious aial coquet
tish. She urged a frightful neuralgia,
and hoped that she was not putting
her hostess to any Inconvenience at
this last moment. She wanted to
prolong the conversation had the
guests all come? Were they really
going? Then she must be getting old,
for a night like tins dismayed her!
Oerty felt her good-night was rudely
abrupt. I'.tit was she to stand there
gabbling all night, her guests wait
ing? She prayed that Rlcknrd would be
there when she returned. What a
travesty if the guest of honor should
disappoint her! Though be was tiot
among the different groups, her con
fidence In bis puact I lloneneaa reas
sured her. She must hold them a lit
tle longer. She flitted gaily from one
standing gronp to another. Her eyes
Constantly questioned the eloek.
"How long are you going to wait
for Mrs. llnttleldV" Her husbund
(nine up. pint eating
"Mrs. lint field," she explained dis
tantly, Is not coming. We are wait
ing for Mr. ltlckard."
"He didn't come in dn that train;
he's at the Heading." Hardin added
something ahout trouble at the Intake,
but (Jerty did not heed. Tom had
known and had not told her wher
there was yet time to cull It oT!
Drearily, they drove down the liv
ing street. The wind was nt their
backs, but It tore ut their huts, pulled
at their tempera. Their eyes were
full of street dust.
A flush of light as they were leav
ing town brightened the thick dust
clouds. "What was that?" cried Clcrty.
She was ready for any calamity now.
"Not lightning?" Airnln, tho queer
light (lashed across the obscured sky.
Tom roused hlntscIT to growl that he
hadn't seen anything. And the dreary
farce went on.
Innes' partner wns young Sutoliffo,
the Kngllsh rnnjero. He was In the
quicksand of n comparison between
English and American women, Innes
mischievously coaxing him Into deeper
waters, when there was a blockade
of buggies ahead of them.
"The A It (5 ranch." cried Innes.
peering through the veil or dust a
the queer unreal outlines of fences
and trees, "it's our In i stop."
"Oh, I say. that's ton bad." began
SutcllfTo. Innes was already on the
road, her skirts whipped by the wind
Into clinging drapery,
OertyV party found Itself disorgan
ized. I'.iitut i. were living to find
or lose each other. ";.-t In here I"
Innes heard the voice of I'strailn be
hind her. lie bad a top buggy. She
hailed a refuge,
"Splendid !" She cried,
rellcl I" CUtUblng In. si
hope this Isn't I . setting ( I
nogementr"
"Arrangement ! I k n'
The Women ware bit I fiUtg -lit of Hie
dtist awlri Into any hoveu (hat of
fered. Willi little m reams nf di iiety,
they ran like rabbits to eovt r.
Oerty found hernelf with Bllntt At
the next atop there waa .1 block of
buggies. "No use Changing again!"
tyke acknowledged herself beaten.
'; a is go on, What arc they slipping
forV" Dtanol farce It all wjis!
She v a panning back ber disheart
ened i . when the Lent oi horses'
hoofs buck of them brought the blood
back Into Iter what chilled . icell .
"illcknil!" she thought, "He tmisl
bavi In n vpe.lal!" The gtoora
suddenly dtngorged Mad. can.
"Illiinh! Where I;-?"
"Winn i up?" yell, d llllnn. "Is It
the rivi V' MiicI.cmi's face answered.
him. I lis ranch scoured again "Uod
table Hint IiimI else been gay. THO
women'; teeth shivered over the lees.
Their faces looked ghastly by the light
shed by Qerty'a green shades. Sho
Wlahed aha were lit the levee. Shi'
simply musl go to (be levee. "I'm go
ing to get u wrap," (die threw to Oerty
us she uissed. "I left It In the hall."
She stole through the deserted of
fice, past the white and silver soda
fountain, and out Into the speeding
blur of the night. Formless shapes,
soft-footed, passed ber. As sho sped
past the French windows of the din
ing room she could gut a view of the
shuttered parly.
Innes made a dive Into the darkness.
There was n dim outline of hastening
Nothing between It and the tracks at
Walton, Nothing to stofi its Bow Irto
that spectacular new s"n whose basin
did not need a drop of the precious
misguided (tow. She could bear Un
belts ; now the Irnln wan coining lato
the Million; she would not wait for
Silent. She did not want to meet
ltlckard.
No one saw her as she left the levee.
She passed Silent, who was Issuing or
ders. She heard him say, "The bona
says so."
She tool; the road by tho railroad
sheds, to avoid the dismissed shifts.
'What n
..id: "1
. ly'a ar-
theml"
4MZk !!
VkwW&J - M . S&) !
SAHS&w DKRd3t tPknfllv
km--- ' JMSiDMS She Collided With a Man.
MMffiSagMB "aBraKSHgu
inking for ray broth
"You ought not to bo out at nigbtj
alone here.
"It's morning!"
"With every Indian In the country
coming in. I'll send I'arrlsh ult
you.
She recognized I'arrlsh behind lilij.
She tried to tell him that she knew
every Indian In Mexlenll, every Mcxj.
can In the twin towns, but he wouM
not listen to ber. "I'm hot going to lt ;
you go home nlontv
Mie nntiKcn rcneninn at trio p.
planter of her brother. But she (01154
herself following I'arrlsh. She took 1
deep pride In her independence, hr
fearlessness. Tom let her go where
she liked. She had an Impulse to du
miss I'arrlsh ; every man was m im
but he would obey Richard's orderc
MMLtM had told her that ! "They
don t like mm. hut tney mind html"
Rlcknrd made his way down to the
levee. "Where Is Hardin?" be n sited
of every one he met. Silent came
"(
Innee Made a Dive Into the Darkness.
Slu
CHAPTER XIV.
r
The Dragon Takes a Hand.
The company's automobile honked
outside. Hardin frowned across the
tflhle at bis wife. "You're surely not
going such a nlghl as Ihls?"
Oerty gave one of ber light, elusive
shrugs. No need to answer Tom when
be was in one of his black moods.
3 his was the first word he hud spoken
pee he had entered the tent. She
'ifad warned Innes by n lifted eye
brow they must he careful not to
provoke him. Something had gone
wrong at the office, of course I How
Jgtich longer could she stand his hit
iTOors, these ghastly silent dinners?
"The river on a rampage, and we
go for a drive!" Jeered Hardin.
The flood was not serious yet !
Tom loved to cry "Wolf!" No one
Was alarmed in town I'atton, Mrs.
Toungberg, would have fold ber. of
course, one never knew whsl that
dreadful river would do next, bat If
one had to wall always to see what
the river's next prank would be, one
would never get anywhere !
Innes was leaving the Utile. "Well,
I auppose I should he lashing on my
hat!" Qerty'a pretty lips hardened ax
the girl left the tent. These Harding
always loved to spoil ber enjoyment.
Tiny would like her lo bu 11 nun, u
clol icnsl nun!
At tins opening of the door, the
wind tore the pictures from the piano.
4irty ran Into her room, allotting 1 '"g buggies.
J ' 1 ' 'A ' WMfr7
wmfWK
twWkw'
Qerty'a Pretty Llp Hardened
"A pretty time to tell me!" Had
be been looking at her, he would have
been loft no illusions. Her blue eyes
flashed bate.
"I did not know it until we got
here. There wus a message from Muc
Lgaa nt the desk, waiting."
IfacLean was not there, either I
"We are all ready," she cried.
"Mrs. Hatfield and Mr. ltlckard cannot
come." Not lor worlds would she give
In to her desire to call the whole
grim affair off; let them think she
was disappointed, not she. Though
the world blew away, she would go.
file found herself distributing slips
of mangled quotations. The white
slips went to 1 he women; the green
bits of pasteboard to the men. She
held a certain green card In her
gleve: "heads on to fortune." Kick
aid might come dashing in at tho last
moment, the ideal man's way; a spe
cial, perhaps; it did not seem credible
Hint he would deliberately stay away
Without sending' her word.
In u burst of laughter, the com
pany discovered then Unit Ihe guest
of Junior was also absent. Mrs.
Hardin hurried llieiu out to tho wall-
Almiidii
"The liver!" screamed the women.
The men were surrounding Mai Lean,
whose horse was prancing as If with
the importance of having carried a
Revere. "The levee!" called Mac
I.ciin. "Where's Hardin?" lie spurred
his mare toward Hardin, who was
blacker than Napoleon at Austcrlltz.
"You're needed. They're all Dei d
m1." The other voices broke in, the
men pressing up. This threatened
thorn all. initio's ranch lay In the
ravaged sixth district. Nothing would
save him. Youngberg belonged to
water company number one; tleir
ditches would go. llolllster and Wil
son of the I'alo Verde saw taiiii abend
of them. Bach man wits visualising
the mad onward sweep of that de
stroying power. Like gho ta, the
women huddled in the dust blown
road.
"Where Is It now?" demanded Mlinii.
"It's here, right on us. You're all
needed at tho levee," bawled Mac
Lea o.
The levee! There was a dash for
buggies, a scraping of wheels, the
whinnying of frightened horses. Some
one recalled the flashes of light they
had seen on leaving town. "What
were those lights signals?"
"Front the water-tower." Mik Lean's
voice split the wind. "The wires are
all down between the Crossing and the
towns. Onrnnoi was on the tower he
got the signal from the Heading he's
been there each night for a week !"
This waa n great nlghl lor his chief,
ltlckard!
Oerty llardln cauclit the thrill of
his hero-worship. How splendid, 'how
triumphant !
Innes found herself in her brother's
buggy. His horse, mider Ihe whip.
dashed forward. Suddenly he pulled
It back on Its haunches, narrowly
averting a Juin. "Where's Aiac
Lean?" g
The boy rode buck. "Who's cull
ing mot"
"Olvo mo your horse," demanded
Hardin. "Tu take my sister homo"
Oerty Hardin's patty was torn Ilk
a bow of useless finery. Knclng the
wiiiii now, 110 one couiil tall, ; no one
wanted to talk. F.ach was threshing
out Ills own thoughts; personal rulu
stared them lu the (ace. L'very man
Was remembering that reckless ex
posed cut of Hardin's; pinning their
hope to tbut ridiculed levee. The
horses broke Into a reckless gallop,
the buggies lurching wildly iu they
dodged one another. The axles
creaked and strained. The wind tore
away the bats of the women, rent
their pretty chiffon veils.
The dusty road was peopled with
dark formless shapes. The signals
bad spread the alarm; the desert
world waa flocking to the gorge of the
New river, to the levee.
The women were dumped without
ceremony on the sidewalk, under the
screened bird cage of the Desert
hotel. Shivering, her pretty teeth
chattering, Oerty Hardin ushered
them Into the deserted hall. The
Chinese cook snored away bis vigil In
an armchair by the open fire. The
men had rushed away to the levee.
"Women must wait," Oerty's laugh
was hysterical. "We can do no good
down there." She threw herself, con
scious of berolneshlp, into the ordeal
of her spoilt entertainment.
It was alwaya an Incoherent dream
to Innes llardln, that wild ride home
ward, the lurching scraping buggies,
tne apprehensive silence, this huddling
or women like scared nihluiM around a
figures In front of her
hear some one breathing heavily by
her side. They kept apace, stumbling,
occasionally, fhe moving gloom belray
Ing their feet. A man came running
buck toward the town. "It's cutting
hack!" He died. "Nothing but the
levee will sn;- the f OWI1M 1"
The levee!
The harsh breathing followed her.
As they passed the wretched hut of a
Mexican gambler, a sputtering light
shone out. Innes looked buck. Sho
BW the wrinkled face of Coroncl, who
had left Ids water tower, ills black
coarse hair was streaming In the
wind, his mouth, ajar was expres
sionless, though the fulfilment of the
Great Prophecy won at hand. Beneath
the cheek splotches of green and red
palnl rested a curious dignity. The
Indian was to come again. Into bis own.
What was his own. she questioned,
as her feet Stumbled over loosened
boarding, a ditch crossing she had not
si i a. More corn, perhnpi more tiery
Btttff to wash down the corn! More
while man's money In the brown
pocket-rthati bis bapplneae,
U'dy should be not thank the gods?
I!:s gods were speaking! For When
toe waters of the great river run buck
to the desert, the long ago outraged
gods were no b.iger angry. The towns
mlgM go, but the great Italian gods
Were showing their good Willi
She Joined n group at tho levee,
winding her veil over mouth and fore
head. Hark shapes swayed near her.
The wind was making havoc of the !
mad waters rushing down from the
channel. The noise of wind and wa
ters wns appalling. Strang,, loud
voices catne through the din. of In- j
(Hans, Mexicans; guttural sounds. Men
ran past her, carrying shovels, pulling
sacks of sand; lanterns, blown dim,
flushed their pale light on her chilled
cheeks.
Not even the levee, she knew then,
would save the towns. This was the
end.
CHAPTER XV.
moving townward. At full speed,-she
collided with a man, rounding the
shed--' corner, it. was ltlckard. Her
could ' Vl" ,l!"l slipped to her kboulders and
he saw her face.
"Miss Hardin!" he exclaimed.
"Whatever tire you doing here?"
to explain that narnin naa gone tip u
Fnssett's Just a few minutes mrn to
carry dynamite. The river was cut
ting back there. "Good," cried Kick.
ard. "that's bully!"
"He left me In charge," glibly lied
the friend of Hardin. "Any ordera
sir?"
"Things are going all right?" hegaa
the manager. He stopped. I'run
above came a dull roar.
"Dynamite!" cried Rlcknrd.
The friend of llardln had nnililng
to suy. "I thought you mid be went
only it few minutes ago?" deniimded
his chief.
There was another detonation. Lown '
the river came the booming of the see
i ond charge.
"That's dynamite for sure," evaded
Silent.
"Not a minute too soon!" declared
Rlcknrd, going back to hla inspection.
(To be contiaued aext week.)
Let us do that next job work.
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We Give
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Competent Mechanics
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On'the Levee.
llardln did not go home that night
He was feeling to the quick the irony
of his position; his duty now to pro-
tect the levee he'd ridiculed ; now the
only hisjie of the towns! The Integrity
of the man never faltered, though his
thoughts ran wild. Like the relentless
bounds of Actueon, they pursued him,
barking at Ids vanity.
He started the anxious ranchers at
sacking sand. Bodefeldt rnn up to tell
htm that there was a hill of tilled
sacks over In Mexlenll. "ltlckard had
a hunch of Indians working for a
week."
The confusion of the shy fellow did
not escape Hardin. Oh, he knew what
sister and bis friend looked nt onch
other, the same thought In mind:
ltlckard. In from the Heading!
in her face Silent saw the snmo
spectacular Impulse which had Hashed
over Ilardln'a features a abort time
before.
She put her hand on his arm. "Si
lent, you're his friend. Straight n this
out. We can't have him ne back
spying and find this." She waved her
hand toward the disorganized groups.
"I'd lake more orders," suggested
the engineer.
"Then n-nd a third of them home,
tell them to come back tonljlit at six.
Hend away Ihe other third, tell them
to come bin k at noon. Keep the other
shift. Kay you'll have coffee sent
from the bifid, tell them Hardin says
to slop wasting stuff. Tell them, oh,
tell them anything you can think of.
Silent, before he comes." Her break
down was girlish.
She could h the signal of the lo
comotive; coming closer. Then she
could hear Ihe pant of llio engine as
It worked up the grade. It was a
sleady geatl climb till the way from
the junction, two hundred feel bt low
scnlevel, to the towns resting at the
level of the sea. II quicke 1 her
thought of the power of the river.
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