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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (April 22, 1919)
THE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE, NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA. The 1 EDNAHAIKEN WITH HARDIN GONE, HIS AIDS DISORGANIZED, WHAT WILL RICKARD SAY? INNES ACTS TO SAVE HER BROTHER'S FACE Synopsis. K. C. RIckard, un engineer of the Overland Pacific, 18 sent by President Marshall to Htop the ravages of the Colorado river In the Imperial valley, a task at which Thomas Hardlu, head of tho Desert Reclamation company, has failed. Itlckard foresees embarrass ment because ho knows Hardin, who was n student uuder him In an eastern college, married Gerty Holmes, with whom Itlckard once thought himself In love. At the company ofllces at Calexlco Itlckard finds the engineers loyal to Uardln and hostile to him. lie meets Mr. and Mrs. Ilnrdln and Inncs llardln, the former's half sister. Innes Is bitter against Itlckard for supplanting her brother. Hanlln dis covers that Itlckard Is planning a levee to protect Calexlco and puts him down as Incompetent. Gerty thinks her husband jealous. Gerty Invites Itlckard to dinner and there plans a "progressive ride" In his honor. Itlckard pushes work on tlic levee nnd is ordered by Marshall Co "take a fighting chance" on the completion of Hardin's pet project, a gate to shut the break In the river. In the midst of Gerty llurdln's progressive ride, which is begun desplto a terrlflc wind and dust storm, word comes that the river Is raging and every man is wanted on the levee. CMAPTCf XV. On the Levee. ' llardln did not go home that night. He was feeling to trio quick tho irony of ,hlH position ; bin duty now to pro tect tlio levee he'fl ridiculed; now tho only hope of the tf-vns 1 Tho integrity of the man never faltered, though his thbughts ran wild. Llko the relentless hounds of Actacoti. they pursued him, barking at his vanity. He started the Anxious ranchers at sacking sand. Bcfcfeldt ran up to tell him that there vns a hill of Oiled "Backs over in Mcxrall. "Itlckard had 'n bunch of Indlfls working for a week." Tho confusion C tho shy fellow did aot escapo Uardln. Oh, lin knew what Bodcfeldt was tin)Ai& what every one was saying I Tey wero all laugh ing at him. The :olncldcnce of this extraordinary flooC hnd upheld Rick ard's wild guess, luloed bis Judgment. It was all n piece fit his infernal luck. Sickening, that's what it wasl His orders scattered. lie ran up nnd down tho levee, giving orders; recalling them when ho found ho was repenting RIckard's. ' This new humlllr.tion, coming on the heels of the dredge flnsco, put him In execrable tcmpir. Ho shouted his or ders over tho nols-.'s of tho night, no rated tho men, buMIed there. No ono did anything right! Lord, what ho .had to put up wit'i! Tho other men, tho ranchers and engineers, saw In his excitement certnlnty of the valley's 'doom. Tho wind nnd tho darkness con tributed to tho confusion. Roger hovels were tossing up earth beforo anyone could tell where the danger point would be. '.Cho water was not t ret high enough to letcrmlno tho plnco of battle. Backed sand wns being brought over from Mcxlcall. Fifty pair of minds nmdo short work of RIckard's "hill." lanterns wero flash ing through tho darkness llko restless fireflies. Tho wind nnd rushing water deadened the sound of tho voices. It was n bnttlo of giants against pyg mies. In tho darkness, tho giants threatened to conquer. At three In tho piornlng, a horsemnn rodo In from Fnssntt's, ono of tho big ranches to tho notlh, cut by tho New river. ?The river Is uttln back," ho called through the din, Cutting back toward tho towns." A turn in tho gorge, u careless dump-pit had pulled tho river llko n mad horso back on its haunches. It was kicking back. "They nro short-handed up there. They need help." "Dynamite," cried Silent and Har- din antlphonally. They happened to bo standing near. "We must have dynamite," bawled nardln. "Are tho wires down between hero nnd Brawley? We must get n wlro .somehow to Ios Angeles, to rush It down hero this morning." "It's hero. There Is a carload on tho siding," yelled Silent Uardln did not need to nsk by whoso orders. It was there. An angry scowl spoiled his face. "Put some on tho mnchlno." Ho wns turning away. Silent called after him. Did Mr. nardln think it ws Bafo? There was no road between tho towns nnd Fas eett's. Tho night, UVq explosive should tbey not wait till morning? Tho ques (ion threw his lato chief Into a rage. t "Did I nsk you to tnko it?" It was tho opening for his fury. "Safo I Will the towns bo safe It tho river cuts back here? The channel has got to bo widened, and you talk of your own precious skin I Walt till I ask you to tnko it Get out tho machine. I'll tako Ifc'to Fassctt's myself." Silent left tho levee, smarting. Uo backed tho machine out of tho shed nd sped through the darkness toward Mexlcnll, where tho car of explosives was Isolated, Hardin, bnttoned up to tho cars, bis soft bat pulled tight over his forehead, was waiting impatiently. Hero was something to be done; ho coveted tho activity, "I thought you wero never coming,"' be grumbled. "Let mo take it I" pleaded the en gineer. "Nonsense, there Is no danger." Har din saw pcrsounl affection In the plea. Ho put his hand affectionately on the man's shoulder. "You go homo and catch a nap; this Is my Job." Ho was standing on tho step. "Crnhk her." There was nothing for Silent to do but to get out. Hardin pointed the long nose of tho enr into tho darkness. Sho was off like tho greyhound sho suggested, missing a telegraph pole by half an inch. "Who Is in charge hero?" a woman's voice was piercing tho rncket of wind and wave. Tho dawn was breaking. Down the New river ho could sec the wind whlp- Sho Collided With a Man. ping tho water Into whltccnpped fury. "Vicious," ho muttered. "Thoso heavy waves play tho Old Harry with tho levee." "Whero is my brother?" "MIbs Hardin I" cried Silent. "Whero Is ho?" demanded Innes. Her hair streamed away from her face. Her cheeks wero blanched. Her yellow eyes, peering Into tho dusk, looked owlish. H,cr wlnd-spunkcd skirts clung to lier limbs. To Silent sho looked boyish, as though clipped nnd trou sered. "Whero Is my brother?" eho re pented. Silent told her without reservations where he had gono und why. Thcro wns no feminine foolishness about that sister of Hardin's. A chip of tho old block. Funny, tho men all thought of her ns Hardin's daughter on uc- count of tho difference of age. As to n comrade, proudly, ho bragged of tho taking of tho dynamlto over that road less waste. "Whom did ho leave In his place?" Silent knew, only, that ho himself wns not In charge! Hardin had or dered him to bed. "Maybo Mr. Estrada?" eho haz arded. "no is not here, ho went down tho road to look after tho track. Ilnrdln went off in such n hurry, I guess ho told nobody," chuckled tho engineer, Htlll L'lowlnir. "Then I'm itl" cried Inncs Hardin. "Will you tnko my orders, Silent?" "Sure," ho chuckled again. Through tho rush of tho wind nnd water enmo tho whistle of n locomo tive. "A special I" cried Silent. Hardin's sister and his friend looked at each other, the samo thought in mind: Itlckard, In from tho Heading! On her face Hllent saw tho enmo spectacular impulse which had flashed over Hardin's features a short tlmo beforo. Sho put her hand on his arm. "SI lent, you'ro his friend. Straighten tills out Wo can't have him como back- spying; and And this," Sho wnvod hqr hand toward tho disorganized groups. When the Colorado Burst Its Banks and Flooded the Imperial Valley of California (Copyright, IJobbi-MerrlU Oompinr) "I'd tnko more orders," suggested tho engineer. "Then send a third of them home, tell them to como back tonight at sir. Send uwny tho other third, tell them to come back at noon. Keep the other shift. Soy you'll have coffeo sent from tho hotel, tell them Hardin says to stop wasting stuff. Tell them oh, tell them nnythlng you can think of, Silent, beforo he comes." Her break down wns girlish. She could hear the signal of tho lo comotive; coming closer. Then sho could hear tho pant of the englno ns it worked up tho grade. It was a steady gentle climb all the way from tho junction, two hundred feet below senlevel, to the towns rcstlnj at tho level of tho sea. It quickened her thought of the power of1 the river. Nothing between it nnd the trncks at Salton. Nothing to stop its flow into that spectacular new sea whose basin did not need a drop of the precious misguided flow. She could hear the bells; now tho train was coming Into the station; she would not wnlt for Silent She did not want to meet Itlckard. No ono snw her as she left tho levee. She pussed Silent, who was issuing or ders. She heard him say, "Tho boss soys so." She took tho road by tho railroad sheds, to nvold tho dismissed shifts, moving townwnrd. At full speed, she collided with a roan, rounding tho sheds' corner. It was Itlckard. Her veil had slipped to her shoulders and he saw her face. "Miss Hardin I" ho exclaimed. "Whatever are you doing here?" . "I wns looking for my brother." "You ought not to bo out at night nlone here." "It's morning!" "With every Indian In tho country coming in. I'll send Pnrrlsh with you." Sho recognized Parrlsh behind him. Sho tried to tell him that she knew every Indian in Mexican, every Mexi can in the twin towns, but ho would not listen to her. "I'm not going to let you go homo nlone." She blinked rebellion at the sup planter of her brother. But she found herself following Pnrrlsh. Sho took a deep pride in her Independence, her fearlessness. Tom lot her go where sho liked. Sho had an impulso to dis miss Parrlsh; every man was needed, but ho would obey RIckard's orders. MacLean had told her that! "They don't liko him. but they mind him!" Itlckard made his way down to the levee. "Whero is Hardin?" ho asked of every ono ho met. Silent came up to explain that Hardin had gono up to Fassctt's just a fow minutes ago to carry dynamite. Tho river was cut ting back there. "Good," cried Rick nrd, "that's bully 1" "Ho left mo in chnrgc," glibly lied the friend of Hardin. "Any orders, sir?" "Things nro going all right?" began tho manager. He stopped. From above came a dull roar. "Dynamite 1" cried RIckard. , The friend of Hardin had nothing to say. "I thought you said ho went only a few minutes ago?" demanded his chief. There was nnothcr detonation. Down tho river enmo the booming of tho sec ond charge. "That's dynamite for .sure," evaded Silent "Not n minute too soon I" declnred RIckard, going back to his Inspection. CHAPTER XVI. RIckard In Town. Tho town woko to a matter-of-fact day. Tho sensational aspect of tho runaway river had passed with tho night Tho word spread that tho flood waters were under control; thnt tho men had gono homo to sleep, so tho women got brenkfast ns usual, and tidied their homes. Tho Colorado was always breaking out, llko a naughty child from school. Never would tho cry of "Tho river 1" fall to' drag the blood from their cheeks. But relief always came; tho threatened danger was always averted, and these pioneer women hnd ncqulred tho habit of swift reaction. That afternoon, Mrs. Youngberg wns to entertain at tho A B C ranch the ladles of tho Improvement club. It wns a sclf-glorlflcatlon meeting, to celcbrnto tho planting of trees In the streets of Calexlco. and to plan the campaign of their planting. Mrs. Bllnn drovo Into town to get Gerty Hardin. Neither woman had seen her husband since tho Interrupted drive the night before. "I don't know whether I should go," Mrs. Hardin hesitated, her face turned toward tho ABO ranch. "Perhnps thcro Is something wo could do." "I have Just come from tho levee.' Mrs. Bllnn's Jolly fnco had lost it apprehension. "Tho water has not risen an Inch since brenkfast. Most of tho men have been Bent home. When noward didn't come home to lunch, 1 grow anxious. But Mr. Rlcknrd says he sent him to Fnssott's with moro dynamite.'' "Thcro ho Is," thrilled Gerty. Mrs. Bllnn's eye swept tho street "Whero? Your husband?" "N, Air. rticknrd. Passing ttie nnnk. There, ho's stopped. I wonder if ho Is going In? You call him, Mrs. Bllnn." Obediently her friend balled Itlck ard. no turned bnck to the windy street no felt boyish; tho crisis wns giving him mercurial feet, ne loved the modern battle. Elements to pit one's brains against, wits ngalnst force I Gerty nnrdln's fnco was flushing and paling. "The river," sho faltered. "Should we bo alarmed, Mr. RIckard?" Smiling, ho assured her sho should not ho alarmed ; tho levees would pro tect the towns. "Mr. Hardin Is up at Fassctt's ranch, he will be coming back today. I told your husband, Mrs. Bllnn, to catch a nap nnd then relieve Mr. nar dln." Gerty found a significance in his words. He had said "Mr. nardln," and "your husband, Mrs. Bllnn." It was enough to weave dreams around. "Wo can't do anything, Mr. Itlckard, to help?" urged Gerty Hardin, her voice tremulous, "I hopo we won't have to call on you nt all." There was no excuse to linger. Gerty threw a wistful little smile nt parting. CHAPTER XVII. Opposition. The second night of the flood, the women of the towns dragged brush and filled sacks for tho men to carry. It wns past midnight when Innes Har din left the levee. While her feet nnd lingers bad tolled, her mind had been fretting over Tom. Two nights, nnd no rest 1 It was told by men who came down tho river how nardln was hero ically laboring. Sho yearned to go to him ; perhaps he would stop for a few hours to her entreaty. But an uncer tain trail across country, with tho dust-laden wind in her face? Sho de cided to wait for the dawn. A snutched sleep first, but who would call her? She would sleep for hours, so weary every muscle. Her mind fixed on Sam as tho only man in town who bad time tot saddle a horse for a woman. She went in search of him. She found that the long adobe ofllce build ing had nlready taken on the look of defeat, of ruin. Tho casements hnd been torn from the partitions; the doors and windows were out. The fur niture had been hauled up to high ground farther away for safety. Sho went hunting through the ghoulish gloom for the dnrky, turning her Inn tern In every dark corner. Sho knew that sho would And him sleeping. Then sho heard steps on the veranda. She ran toward them, expecting to see Sam. She swung her lantern full on two figures mounting tho shallow steps. Itlckard was with her sister-ia-law. "Oh, excuse me I" she blurted blun deringly. Of course Gerty would tako a wrong intention irom tno stupid words ! Tho blue eyes met those of Inncs with defiance. It was as though she had spoken: "Well, think what you will of It, you Hardinsl I don't caro what you think of me I" What indeed did sho think of It? Why should she feel llko the culprit beforo these two, her words desert ing her? It was Gerty's look that made her feel guilty, as though sho had been spying. To meet them to gether, here nt midnight, why should not they feel ashamed? She had done nothing wrong. And Tom down yon der fighting and they make his ab sence a cover for their rendezvous. "I'm looking for Sam I" The effort behind tho words turned them into an oratorical challenge. "So are we. I want to send him homo with Mrs, Hardin. She's worn out." "She can go homo with me. I nm go ing directly. As soon ns I give a mes sage to Sam." She instantly regretted her words, abruptly halting. It came i RIckard Was With Her Slster-ln.law. to her that RIckard would Insist upon delivering her message. Of course, ho would opposo her going. Some petty reason or other. Sho knew from tho men that ho was oppositional, that ho liked to show his power. Not eafo, he would say, or tlio horso was needed, or Sam too busy to wait on her! "You cannot go homo alone, you two. The town is full of strange Tn dinns. Glvo mo your lantern, Miss Ilnrdln; I'll rout out that darky." Itcbelllousiy sno gave him tlio lan tern. 'I'm- light tovned xuii ou nor averted nngry eyes. A haughty Thusnclda followed him. Snm was discovered asleep in the only room where the windows hnd not yet been attacked. His head rested on a bundlo of sacked trees which tho ladies of tho Improvement club had planned to plant the next day. Deep snores betrayed his refuge. "Here, Sam! I want you to tako these Indies home. Chase yourself. They'vo been working while you've slept. I thought you'd have all these windows out by now." Gerty hnd to supply the courtesy for two. Sh6 told Mr. Itlckard In her ap pealing way that he bad been very kind; thnt sho "would have been frightened to death to go homo alone." Inncs had to say something I "Good night!" Tho words hnd an insulting ring. Tho wind covered a passionate si lence, ns the two women, followed by Snm, yawning hnd stretching, made their way down the shrieking street "It wns true," Innes was thinking. Sho hnd at last stumbled on the rout, but It was not a matter of personal, but moral untidiness; not a carelessness of pins or plates, of tapes or dishes. It was far worse; n slackness of ethics. It meant more unhnppiness for Tom. Her aching muscles told her thnt she could not have slept four hours when the durky was back, knocking nt her door. Innes' horse loped through the silent streets. Til run past the levee; perhaps Tom has como back." It occurred to her that there might be a messnge nt the hotel. She' pulled on her left rein, nnd swept past the deserted adobe. As she reined in her horse, RIckard stepped out on the sidewalk. He, too, was heavy-eyed from a snatched nap. "Wero you looking for me?" The scorn in tho girl's face told him that his question was stupid. For him! "Has my brother come back?" He said ho did not know. "You can see I have been dreaming 1" Sho would not smile back at him, but rode oft toward the levee. Was this the river? West of the levee, a sea of muddy water spread over the land. There was yet n chance to save the towns, the town, she cor rected herself, ns her cyo fell on tho Mexican village across the ditch. For Mexlcali was doomed. Some of the mud huts had nlready fallen; the wa ter was running close to tho station house. She saw Wooster standing near, cal culating the distance, the time, per haps, before tho new station woujd go. She hailed Wooster. Ruin was pre saged in the lines of his forehead. "Pretty bad?" she cried. He shook his head. "Is Tom back?" "Ho's over there, now. Fighting like all possessed, ne'll work till he drops." Wooster was proud of that method. "Wo all know Tom 1" Her pride sprang up. "But he's got to stop for a while. I'm going up nfter him." "Not if my nnme's Wooster. I'll go. He'll mind me." Sho wntched the flowing river, swol len with wreckage. Sho saw, with comprehension, a section of a fence; somebody s crop gone. Thero was a railway tie, another! The river was eating up Estrnda's new roadbed? A cry broke from her as a mesquit on the coffee-colored tide caught on a burled snag. The current swirled dan gerously around it. Instnntly, tho wa ter rose townrd tlio top of the levee. Men came running to pry away the tree. A minute later, it' was dancing down the stream. They raised the bank against the pressing tannine: waves. There, the tree had struck again. They ran down the levee with their long poles. Each time that hap pened, unless the obstruction wero swiftly dislodged, she knew it meant an artificial' fall somewhere, a quick scouring out of the channel. The men were working llko silent parts of a big machine; the confusion of the first night wns gone. From their faces one would not guess that their fortunes, their homes, hung on the subduing of thnt Indomitable force which had not yet known defeat, which had turned bnck explorer and conqulstndor. Ah, there was the lurking fear of It! Vic tory still lay to Its credit; tho other column was blank. She saw Wooster coming toward her. His snapping black eyes shot out sparks of anger. "ne won't let mo go." "Who won't let you?" But she knew. "Casey. Says he'll send somo ono else. I said as nobody clse'd make Hardin stop. He said as that was up to Hardin." Of course, he wouldn't let Wooster gdl "Orders me to bed," spat Wooster. "Wonder why, he didn't order gruel, too. It's spite, antagonism to Hardin, that's what It Is 1" She believed that, too. Tom was right. RIckard did tako advantage of his authority. Sho did not see RIckard until he stood by her 6ldo. "I'm sorry not to spare Wooster, Miss llardln. Rut there's stiff work ahead, He's got to be ready for a call. If nardln Insists on spoiling one good soMler, thnt's his affair. I can't let him spoil two." Wooster shrugged, nnd left them. "Spoiling good soldiers!" "I've taken Uodefeldt off duty. I told hlra to relieve Hardin." Bodcfeldt ho blushed when anyone looked at him 1 He would bo nbout ns persuasive to Tom as a veil to a des ert windl She turned away, but not before RIckard saw again that trans forming nnger. Her eyos shone liko topazes in sunlight. . She would not i trust herself to speak. Wooster was waiting tov her. Rlckurrt onld"hcar the man repeat "I'm corry, Miss Uar dln. It's an outrage. That's what it Is." Queer, they couldn't sec thnt it was Hardin's fault; Hardin who was up the river fighting like a melodramatic' hero; fighting without caution or re serve, demoralizing discipline; he couldn't help admiring the bulldog en ergy, himself. That wns what all these men adored. He'd clenched the gtrl's nntngonlam, now, for sure! How her eyes had flashed at htm ! Hello! Thcro was a tree floating down toward tho station house. . . . "Bring your poles!" ho yelled. CHAPTER XVIII. The Passing of the Waters. Babcock came rushing down from Los Angeles thnt morning to see what In thunder It was all about. Uo asked every one he met why some one didn't get busy nnd stop tho cutting back of that river? There was no one at tho ofllces of the company to report to "Orders Me to Bed." t him! Why, the building wus desert ed. Ogllvle's letters had prophesied ruin. It all looked wrong tofhlm. Go ing on to the levee, he met MncLean, Jr., wlio was coming away. The boy told him vaguely that he would find RIckard around there, somewhere. "I'll hunt him up for you." "Why, they nre letting itfget ahead of theml" Babcock's manner sug gested thnt he was aggrieved that such carelessness to his revered company should go unpunished. Something, he told MacLean, might have been dona before the situation got as bad as this ! His excited stride carried him across the dividing ditch, which now was carrying no water, into Mexlcnll. MacLean had to lengthen his step to keep pace with him. The havoc dono to tho Mexicnn village excited Bab cock still more. Estrada, Just In from his submerged trncks, wns lounging ngalnst an adobe wall. His pensive gaze was turned up-stream. The posture of exhaustion suggested laziness to Babcock, who was on the hunt for responsibility. He was more than ever convinced that the right thing was not being done. "Estrada 1" Estrada took his eyes from the river. Babcock looked like a snapping ter rier taking the ditch nt a bound. Mac Lean. Jr., a lithe greyhound, followed. "What the devil are you doing to stop this?" A nervous hand Indicated the Mexican station gleaming in ita fresh coat of paint ; to the muddy wa ter undermining Its foundation. Estrada drew a cigarette out of his pocket; lighted It before answering. "Not a thing. What do you sug gest?" A big wave struck the bank. The car on the siding trembled. "Another wave like that and that car'll go over," cried Babcpck, Jump ing, mad. "Why don't you do some thing? Why don't you hustle all of you?" He would report this incompe tency. Down tho streura camo a mass of debris, broken timbers, ravaged brush, a wrenched fence post, a chicken coop. A red hen, clinging to its swaying ship, took tho rapids. "Hustle what?" murmured Es trada. Babcock glared at him, then at the river, nis eye caught the approach ing wreckage. Men came running with their poies. Tho caving bank was too far gone. Tho Instant the drift ing mass struck it, here was a shud der of falling earth, the car toppled toward the flood waters, the waves breaking into clouds of spray. Human responsibility fell to a cipher. The river's might wns magnificent Even Babcock, come to carp, caught the excitement. "Come, MacLean,' ho cried. "Watch this! Tho station' going!" Ho Joined Estrada by the adobe wall. "Have a cigarette?" murmured Eduardo. What will the valley do? Fac ing tremendous losses If It does not push the damage cults filed against tho railroad, it faoes ut ter rulp If the railroad abandons the fight against the river. Marshal! puta the Issue squarely up to the ranchers, but is he bluffing? Go on with the story in the next tasuo of this paper. (TO BE CONTINUED
