THE SEMI. WEEKLY TRIBUNE, NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA.
When the Colorado
Burst Its Banks and
Flooded the Imperial
Valley of California
The RIVER
By
Ednati Aiken
Copyright. I3obbs-Mrrllt Company
CHAPTER XVIII Continued.
9
nis eyes glued to tho lurching station-house,
Bnbcock took a brown-paper-rolled
clgnrctto from tho prof
fered box.
"Look," lie cried. "There, she'll go.
Boo that"
Thero was a splash of splintering
timber; a Niagara of fiprny ns the
building fell Into tho flood. A minute
later, u wreckage of pulnted boards
was floating downstream.
At tnblo Babcock resumed his cam
paign. "The troublo with you all,
you have cold feet. You're nil scared
off too Boon."
Woostcr, up from his nap, looked
across tho table. "Cold feet? So
you'd have If you had been up for
nights, wetting your feet on tho levee,
as some of us have, as Hardin has.
Mine are cold all right." lie lifted an
amazed foot. "Cold I Look hem,
boys, thcy'ro wctl" The men looked
to find tho water creeping In Bab
cock climbed on his chair.
"This means tho stntlon," cried
Wooster. Every man Jumped. If tho
waters had got to them, It wouldn't
bo long before they wero reaching tho
0. P. depot 1 Tho tracks would go
They wero piling out of tho door
when the telcphono caught them. It
was a message from Rlckard. A car
Was to bo rigged up, papers, tickets
and express matter taken from tho
fetation. The river was cutting closo
to tho track. Tho enr would bo tho
terminal, n half-mllo from town.
Tho sltuntlon looked black. Coul
ter, Efcgers, began to pack their stock.
The levee. It was said, would not hold
half of Mcxlcali was gone. Calexlco
would go next Itlcknrd's Indians
wore kept stolidly piling brush nnd
rtuffed sacks on tho lovec. This, tho
word ran, would bo tho fierce night
w one expected to sleep.
Thoy wero preparing for tho big
battle, tho final struggle, when tho
trade recession passed the town.
Spectacular as was Its coming, there
Was an antlcllmnx In Its retreat. Tho
water reached tho platform of tho
depot, and halted. Tho town held Its
breath. Thero was some sleep that
night.
Tho next day, tho nerves of tho val
ley relaxed. Tho river wnrf hot cut
ting back. Tho men at the levco
dropped their shovels, nmf went back
fo tho discussion of their lawsuits.
Their crops wero ruined; too much
Water, or too little. Whatever wny
they had been hurt, tho company
would havo to pay for itl
A small shift guarded tho river,
tttckard, In his room at the Desert
betel, and Ilnrdln up the river, slept n
day and n night without waking. Tho
thalr-Ulters picked up their argument
whero they had loft It; was tho rail
toad reaping a harvest of damage
suits when they should be thanked
Instead? Faraday, tho newspapers
reported, was trying to Bhlft his ro
ponslblllty; he hud appealed to tho
Tho Ranches Wero Ruined.
president Their correspondence wob
published. The government was In no
hurry to tako tho burden. A tele
graphic sermon, preaching duty, dls
trlbuting blame, was sent from Wash
Ington. Perhaps not Faraday himself
was more disturbed than the debaters
of tho Desert hotel.
"Tho railroad's no infant In arms I
It wasn't asleep when It took over
the affairs of the D. It." Hero spoko
the majority. "A benefaction! It
was self-interest I When tho river 1b
harnessed, who'll profit the most from
tho vnlloy prosperity? It can afford
to pay tho obligations; that Is, It
eould. It will find a way," the ravens
rronked, "of shaking tho Desert Re
clamation company's debts; of ovnd
Ing tho dnmago suits. Look how
Hardin was treated 1"
Tho feeling ran higher. For many
of tho ranchers wero ruined; there
was no money to put In tho next
gear's crop unless tho promises of tho
rriraUoa eompHy wwro epu
few landowners, nnd others who had
' not completed their contrncts, dis -
i trusting tho good faith of the com-
pnny, or Its ability to pay, had "quit"
In disgust, to begin again some
where else. I'nrrlsh, and Dowker,
and others of the "Sixth" scoured dis
trict had secured tho promise of em
ployment nt tho Heading. Work, it
was expected, would be begun nt once
now thnt tho dangor to Calexlco had
passed.
CHAPTER XIX. I
i
More Oratory.
Four men snt at a small tablo In n
corner of the crowded hotel dining
room, In El Ccntro. Their nnraos
mndo their corner the psychological
center of the room. Marshall was al
ways n target of speculation. Mnc
Lenn, strnlght nnd soldierly In his
mustard-colored clothes, was, as usual,
tho man of distinction. Bluck start
ed tho whisper going that tho dark
stranger was General do la Vcgn, tho
Mexican commissioner.
What was ho doing In that group?
Babcock completed a combination
which encouruged speculations and
hond-shaklngs. The room was Jammed
with valley men. The meeting of tho
ranchers and the several wnter com
panies had been called for thnt nfter-
noon, the summons signed by Fura
I day himself. Nothing elso had been
' talked of for n fortnight,
l It wns known throughout tho valley
- that tho work nt tho lntnko was not
yet begun; that Rlcknrd wns waiting
thero for orders; thnt Fnraday nnd
tho president of tho United States
wero Involved In correspondence ns to
tho responsibility for tho future con
trol of tho river. Fnraday's engerness
to shift his burden was looked upon
ns suspicious. It was In tho nlr that
the ofllcers of tho Overland Pacific
would demand n recall of the damago
suits before they would complete tho
protectlvo works nt the Ileadlng. Tho
men of long vision, members of tho
water companies, and Brandon,
through tho valley Star, wero pointing
out that tho valley's salvation depend
ed on the immedlato control of the
river; that tho railroad, only, had
power to effect It These conservatives
wero counseling caution. Only thnt
morning, tho Stnr ha 3 Issued an extra,
a special edition pleading for co-opern-tlon.
"If tho river breaks out ngaln,"
warned Brandon's editorial, "without
Immedlato forco to restrain It, recla
mation for that valley Is a dream that
Is done. And tho only forco equal to
thnt emergency Is tho railroad. Why
deliberately nntngonlzo tho railroad?
Tho Desert Reclamation compnny, It
Is well known, is bnnkrupt. For tho
Instant, tho railroad lias assumed the
responsibilities of tho smaller organi
zation. Apply tho samo situation to
Individuals. Suppose a prlvato citizen
Is In straits, and auothcr comes for
ward to help him. Must every cred
itor assume that tho Samaritan should
pay tho crushed citizen's bills? In tho
present Issue, self-interest should urgo
consideration. Better a small loss
todny thnt tomorrow may amply ro
fund, thnn total ruin In tho future."
Hardin, from his moroso unshared
table, could seo tho anxious curiosity
sotting toward tho railroad group,
Over glasses, heads wero closo to
gether. Near him, tho tnlk ran high.
T! heB blW
his way from Barton's party.
uarums mouth woro a set sneer,
"water company timer muck was
haranguing his comrades. "Stand out
ngalnst them. Don't lot them bluff
you. Mnrshall will try to bluff you
Stand together I" Barton's resonant
organ broke through tho clatter,
"Marshall Is not going to bluff us."
Grnco and Black begun to tnlk at once,
Hardin's Hp grow rougher. Where hud
tney an uccn it it nau not ueen lor
him? Why, ho'd pulled them from
their llttlo farms back East, whero
they wero tolling where they'd bo
tolling yet. They'd hud tho vision of
sudden wealth they hudn't tho grit
to work for It, to wait for It I How
many years had ho been struggling?
Ho was a young man when ho'd gono
Into this thing, ami he was old now.
Coffeo and cigars had been
reached of tho midday dinner. Bab
cock was nervously consulting his
wntch. "Shouldn't wo arrange tho
meeting?" ho nsked for tho third time.
The social nnd cusual air of the meet
lng had tensed him. What had tho po
lltlcal situation in Mexico to do with
tho Important session confronting
them? His fussy soul had no pollto
sulons; olllco rooms overy ono of
them. MncLenn looked to Tod Mnr
shall to answer.
"I think It will nrrnngo Itself." His
volco was silken. "It 1b to bo a dls
cusslon, a conference. You can't slato
that"
wu couiu program, ueguu nau-
cock, looking nt Ills watch again.
"I don't thlnlc we'll havo to." Mar-
Bimu siniicu ncross mo itinie. "xou'ii
find this meeting will run Itself. Thero
Is not a man hero who is not burning
to speak. Look rit them now I Drop
i paper In thut crowd, aud eco tho
blaze you'd get I iou can open tuo
meeting, Mr. Bnbcock, aud I would
'suggest thnt you call on Mr. Do In
1 Vogu first."
Tho eyes of tho dining room fol-
lowed tho pnrty as they filed past tho
buzzing tnbles. Fnraday was not In
town; Murshnll represented that pow
er. As he walked out, bowing right
nnd left, his right hand occasionally
extended In his well-known oratorical,
courteous gesture. Ills black tlo was
stringing down his shirt front; his
blnck clothes were the worso for his
lunch. But no one, save the Eastern
girls, saw spots or tie. The .future of
that valley lay In that nmn's hand, no
matter how Black or Grace might
harangue. In five minutes, tho dining,
room wus emptied.
As snow gently fnlllng, had gath
ered tho first damage suits, of tho
ranchers. The last fiood had precipi
tated n temperamental storm. Men
wero suing for the possible vulues of
their farms, Impossible values of
crops. Not alono tho companies had
been blanketed with the nccuslng pa
pers, but ngainst Mexico tho white
drifts had piled up. Mexico I No ono
knew better than Ilnrdln how absurd
it was to accuso tho sister country ot
responsibility. A pretty pickle they
wero In I Whero" was It nil going to
end?
In tho lobby, Hardin ran up ngalnst
Brandon, who was following a news
scent. Through tho valley It was being
rumored that subscriptions wero to bo
nsked for the completion of tho worKT
If this were tho Intention, thero would
he a hot meeting.
"You arc going on tho platform?"
assumed the newspaper man. "No?
Then will you sit with me?"
"If you will sit upstairs," scowled
Ilnrdln, "I don't want to bo dragged
outo the platform."
Down in tho orchestra, Black from
the Wistaria wus haranguing a group
of gesticulating ranchers. Phrases
climbed to tho men on tho balcony
goats.
"Keep their pledges. Promise
makers. Let them look at our crops 1"
If Marshall expects to coerce
those men, I lose my guess. Then he's
no Judgo of men," cried Hardin.
Look at those faces." Tho floor was
n sea of Impassioned features.
"Something's going to drop," echoed-
Brandon.
From tho wings, Babcock's Inquisi
tive glasses wero seen to sweep the
house. Hardin could cntch tho sum
mons of nn excited forefinger to the
group unseen. Thero was a minute
of delay. Then Babcock's nervous
toddlo carried him onto tho stage.
Do In Vega followed Bahcock.
Thero was a hush of curiosity. The
houso did not know who ho was. Be
hind him, soldierly, stiff, stallfcd Mac-
Lean. Marshall's entrance released
tho tongues. Thero wns uu Interval
of confusion on tho stage. Babcock,
like a restless terrier, was snapping
at tho heels of tho party. At last,
they wero all fussily seated. Do la
Vega was given tho place of honor.
Marshall, Babcock put on his left,
MacLean on the right
Babcock raised his staccato gavel.
A hush fell on tho house. His words
wero clipped and sharp.
"You havo left your plowing to come
here. You arc anxious to henr what
wo have to say to you. You cannot 1
afford to bo Indifferent to It. You ac-
knowledge, by your presence, a de-'
pendence, a correlation wnicn you
would llko to deny. Irrigation means
co-operation, Buffering together, strug-
gllng together, succeeding together.
You prefer tho old Individual way,
each man for himself. I tell you It
won't do. You belong In other coun
tries, the countries of old-fashioned
rain. You want to hear what we have
to say to you, tho company who saved
tho valley, the company you are suing.
But you hnvo also suits nenlnst Mmr.
imi you novo aiso suus against Alex-
ICO. Tliero IS U gentleman Here WHO
nan a message irom Mexico aoout
tlioso suits. I lmvo tho honor, gentle-
men, 10 liurouuce, oenor uo m vegu."
"Ladles," bowed the Mexican. "Gen-
tlcmcn, Mr. Chairman. It Is with an
appreciation of the honor that I ac
cepted for today tho invitation of Mr.
Marshall to speak beforo you, to speak
to you; I must tell you first my
thought as I sat thero and looked at
you, tho youth, tho flower of tho Ainer-
ican people. A few years ago, wo
were culling tills the grout Colorado
desert; now, tho world calls It tho
hothouse of America. This theater
Is built over the bones of gold-seekers,
who dnrcd denth In this dreaded
desert to find whnt wns burled In
thoso mountains beyond. Tho man,
I suy, who crossed this desert, took
tho hazard of death. It was a coun-
tryninn or mino who piloted, fifteen
yenrs ngo, a llttlo bund of men, ncross
tho desert Perhaps ho camped on
this very spot It Is not Impossible!
It Is hero, perhaps, that lie got his
inspiration. Ho Bnw n wondorfal ter -
rltory; ho dreamed to quicken It with
ino useless wuterb or tho Colorado.
You will oil agree that It was Gull-
lermo Estrada who dreumed the dream
unit nas como truo; tnnt It wns'
inrougn nun thnt some of your coun-
trymen secured their prlvtlego to re -
claim tins land. I.ntor, when ono of yonr
countrymen round ho could not fulfill
his promiBO to you, tho promise to de-
I liver water to your ranches, ho came
to my nation and got permission to cut
Into tho river on our territory. Most
gladly did Porflrlo Diaz grant that
privilege. For that, today, you aro
suing him. This, I am told, is your
complaint."
His nbrupt pnuso betruyed n con
fused murmur of vplces. Do la Vega's
polite eur tried to differentiate the
phrases. Thero wns n Jumble of sound.
De la Vega looked Inquiringly at Bab
cock, who wnved him on.
"It hns nothing to do with tho his
tory, but I would llko to say In passing
titut eo ussurcd were your people of
our frendly feeling towurd you thnt
tliey did not wait to rccclvo permis
sion from Mexico to make the cut.
Your people wero In a hurry. Your
crops wero In danger. First the lack
of water, then too much wnter dam
aged your volley. A few ncres "
A volco from the crowd cried out,
"A few acres? Thousands of acres."
Instantly others were on their feet.
"Thousands of acres. Ruin." Ono mnn
was 'shouting himself apoplectic.
Babcock's gavel sounded a sharp
staccato on tho table.
"Thousands of ncres." Do la Vega
wns unrufiled. "And more than that.
The valley, -It- must bo remembered,
does not stop nt the line. Mexican
In nds, too, have been scoured by tho
action, the result of tho action of your
irrigation company. It was a mutual,"
he paused, and n qunint word enmo. to
his need. "A mutual bereavement It
did not occur to us to accuso you of
our troubles. Your damage suits pained
nnd astonished us. But they gave us
also a suggestion."
The rustling nnd the murmurs sud
denly ceased. A prescient hush wait
ed on Do la Vega. "You hnvo been nd
vlscd to sue us. To sue us for giving
you that concession. anereiore, tno
only answer Is for us to withdraw J;hnt
concession 1 You accuse us, for giv
ing it to you. That concession Is val
uable. What elso can we do? Before
your damage suits wero filed, we were
approached by others for the same
privilege. It you do not withdraw
your suits, my nation sends word to
you that you may not toko water from
the Colorado river through Mexican
soil. You will not bo without water
probably long; I havo said that con
cession is valuable! Other arrange
ments will probnbly bo mndo so that
the valley will be given water. I would
llko to take your answer to my govern
ment." It wns several seconds before tho
house got Its breath. Tho Import of
the diplomat's words was astounding.
Barton got to his feet, yelling with his
great bass voice, "Betrayed 1" His
shrunken finger Indicated n youth with
"R. S." In black letters on his collar.
"Tho valley has been betrayed."
In tho balcony, tho uproar was deaf
ening. Around Hardin and Brandon
words wero thudding llko bullets.
"Reclamation Service." "That's their
game." "The concession I" "They
won't got It" "Betrayed. Wo aro be
trayed." Downstairs. Babcock's gavel rapped
unheard. Behind tho excited figure
wielding tho stick, sat Marshall, his
unreadable, sweet smile on his face.
His eyes wero on Babcock, who was
vainly clamoring for order. "Program
that mectlnc."
Holllster was trylnc to make hlm-
aeif i,cnra to Barton over two rows of
BCnta, but his volco was llko a child's
Tan oceau be Tarton
was sur
rounded by eager anxious men. The
audience had split Into circles of
haranguing centers. It wns Impossible
to get attention. Hardin could seo Mar
shall pull Babcock by the tails of his
coat Unwillingly, ho could seo Bnb-
cock allow tho crowd five minutes by
Ws consulted watch. Then again, tho
i .i.,.i !., 'i.,i
cirrel danced on tho table. Marshall
wnn sHH Rmlllmr. Unhmclr'a nlirlll
Volco split tho din. "Order." The
nepan of voices swnllowed him ncnln
i w0 won.t iet them In." Grace wns
bchowlng, "tho valloy won't stand for
It"
"Take your medicine,"
tho big organ of Barton.
thundered
"I warned
you, Imperial valley."
"Betrayal." groaned tho crowd
Down In tho orchestra, Barton was
holding a hurry-up meeting of tho wn-
I tor companies. De la Vega had
stepped bnck nnd was consulting with
Tod Marshall.
Babcock pulled out his wntch, his
gavel culling for nttcntlon. This time
ho was heard.
Do la Vega apnroachcd tho foot-
lights, a questioning look on his face.
"Wo nsk for a llttlo time," began
Barton. Instuntly tho houso wns on
its feet "Withdraw tho suits. Glvo
him your answer. Glvo him our nn
Bwer. Wo don't want tho Service. Tho
valley don't want ttm Service. With
1 inw tiic aults."
, Barton's moon fnco looked troubled
t "Wo can't answer for all the ranchers."
"Yes. vou cuu." screnmed Ornco.
nnnninir u r nnd down like n hnhoon.
i "If vou don't I'll nnswer for them,
Don't vou see. It's n trick? It's
j trick. I see tho hnnd of tho O. P. In
' this." Friendly bunds pulled lilm down
into his sent.
. Tho audlcnco was chnntlne. "With
drnw tho suits. Toko your medicine,
Don't loso tho concession. Lord,
tho Service I Glvo them tho answer
now."
Barton held up n withered hand.
The undeveloped body was dignified
by the splendid head. "Don't with
draw your concession. I think I can
say that Mexico will not be sued."
Again, tho shout wont up. "Answer
like n man. Think I Good Lord I Suy
we withdraw tho suits 1"
"Wo withdraw the claims ngalnst
Mexico." Barton sat down to a sud
den hush. The first blood had been
let
Once more Babcock's glnsscs swept
the house. He rapped tho table.
"That's not all. We've got more to
say to you. Gentlemen, Mr. Marshall."
Marshall stepped forward to a si
lence which was n variety of tribute.
no bowed. "I will be brief. Mr.
Faraday has asked mo to take his
placo hero this afternoon. It's only
Marshall's Voice Rang Out.
fair. If It were not for my Interfer
ence, ho would not bo involved in this
situation. I think you will grant that
It Is Mr. Faraday's company which
can save tho. valley?"
"To save Its own tracks 1" yelled a
volco from the balcony.
Marshall sent a soft smllo heaven
ward. "Incidentally. And its traffic.
Why don't you say It? We don't deny
that Tho Overland Pacific's no altru
ist." Thero was n. Jeer which roso into a
chorus. "Altruist 1 Octopus. That's
what It Is."
Marshall's hand went up. "If you
want to hear me?" He waved away
Babcock's descending gavel. "I was
told it would cost two hundred thou
sand dollars to close that break of
yours. Do you want the nctual fig
ures? It has eaten already n million,
and the work Is not yet done. You
know the history of the undertaking.
Tho Desert Reclamation compnny was
In straits. Faraday promised his help
on tho condition that the affairs of
tho Desert Reclamation company
would be controlled by his company.
Ho took the control. He Inherited
what? Not good will. Threats, dam
age suits. Do you think that snow
slide of complaints Is going to encour
age him to go on? This is what I came
hero to talk to you about You ranch
ers don't want to cut your own throats.
Now, there's a good deal going on
nbout which you arc In tho dark.
Fnradny's got a right to feel he's
shouldered an old man of tho sea,
He's been trying to dislodge it. He's
appealed to the president Ever since
we came into this, the cry from Wash
ington has been, 'Do this tho way we
like, or we'll not take It off your
hnnds.'" A murmur of angry voices
started somewhere, swelling toward
the balcony.
"Wo don't want the government "
began tho rising voices. Marshall's
voice rang out :
'But tho government wants you I
Unless you will help save your own
homes, tho government will have to, In
time. -It' got to. Up thero at Lagunn,
have you seen It? There's nothing go
ing on. They're wntchlng us. That's a
useless toy If our works nro washed
out Faraday says this to you" Not
a sound In tho stilled house. "Unless
you withdraw your dnmago suits, ho
won't advance another damned cent."
Sharply ho snt down before the au
dlcncc roullzed that his inessnge was
finished. Tho house hud not found Its
voice, when Babcock's gnvel was
pounding ngnln for attention. The
question, ho felt, hnd not been put to
them completely. Perhaps, they did
not gather tho full Import of Mr. Mar
snail's message. Mr. MacLean would
follow Mr. Marshall.
MacLenn's superb figure roso from
a trec-pnncled buckground.
"Ho should sing 'Brown October
Ale,'" suggested Brandon to Hardin
humorously.
Hardin's eyes wero on MacLean.
What did he know nbout It? Whnt
could ho tell thoso men thnt they did
not know? Maclean wus u figurehead
In tho reorganized Irrigation compuny.
j Why hudn't thoy called ou him. Har
din? He knew moro nbout tho Involved
history of tho two companies than tho
whole bunch on tho stage down yon
der. He could have told them, ho
could have called on their Justice,
their memory
MncLenn wus speaking..
"Mr. Marshall has likened the 'river
project to the old man of the sen. Ho
bus It on his bnck, while It Is busily
kicking him in tho shins I
"Mr. Murshnll hns given you Mr.
Fnruduy's message. Ho has asked
you to dismiss your damage suits. I
nsk you to do more thnn that Put
your hands in your pockets I Como
out nnd help us. You don't want tha
government I am told that Is the
sentiment of the vnlley. When you
called to them, they wouldn't help
you; they wouldn't give you an ade
quate price. Congress will soon bo
adjourning. Whnt Is Mr. Fnraday to
say to Washington? Is ho going to
close thnt break? That depends on
you. Withdraw your suits. Do more.
Stop fighting against us. Fight with
us"
The audience stirred ominously,
angrily. Before MacLean was done, a
voice screamed from the baleony.
"You enn't quit. That's a threat
You're In too deep. You can't fool us.
You've got to save yourself. Yon'vo
got to go on. Tell Fnraday to tell that
to Washington."
The upronr was released. Black,
from the Wlstarln, Jumped on his
chair. "I am speaking for tho valley.
We can't help. You know It We'ro
stripped. We're ruined. You think to
threaten us with the government If
we wnlt for the government to decide,"
tho vnlley is gone nnd the railroud's
money with It I tell you, your bluff
won't go. We want justice. Wo are
going to have Justice."
"Justice I" came from the surging
ranchers.
"Fair piny," yelled Black. "You can't
trick us. We were not born yesterday.
We havo rights. The company brought
us here. Whnt did we give our money
for? Desert land? What good Is this
land without wnter? Wo bought wa
ter. Glvo us back the money we've
put in that's what we're asking for.
We won't be scared out of our rights."
There was n growling accompani
ment from the back rows, herding to
gether. "Order," cried Bnbcock, thumping
his gavel. "Let Mr. Black have the
floor."
Black had not stopped. Wildly his
hnnds cut the nlr. His speech, though
high-pitched, had a prepared sound;
It worked townrd a climax. Ho gave
Individual lnstnnces of ruin. "Grace,
Wlllard Grace, his crop gono, his place
cut in two. Holllster und Wilson of
the Pulo Verde, the ranch a scream
ing horror. Scores of others." He
would not mention his own case; and
then ho Itemized his misfortunes. Pnr
rish, his place scoured beyond all fu
ture usefulness. What had they como
Into the valley for? Who had urged
them? Thero were pledges of tke D.
R., water pledges. That was all those
ruined men were plendlng, the redemp
tion of those pledges. Individual ruin,
whnt did it mean? A curtailing of lux
uries, or personal Indulgence. I tell
you, It means food, bread, potatoes ;
milk for tho babies; or starvation."
Black had touched the doop note.
This was tho nnswer. This was what
thoy wanted to say.
"You ask us to help you, a. we who
are taxed nlready to our breaking
point. You say your company won't
go any further. What docs thnt help
mean to you? Poverty? A fow thou-
sands, n million to tho O. P., a cor
poration, what does a loss mean to
them? Poverty? I tell you, no. A
smaller dividend, maybe, to whoral
Yes, to whom? To the mon who live
in Fifth avenue, whose wive are
dragged about In Umouslnos. With
draw their suits? Help Faraday, and
ruin men llko Pnrrlsh? Men of the
vnlley, what is your answer to Fara
day?" The crowd was on Its feet swaying
nnd pushing. The air was fotld with
breaths. Wilson's crowd had forgotten
Its lorgnettes. "No," yelled tho ranch
ers. "We say, no."
A boy made his way from tfea wings,
n yellow envelope In his hand.
Bnbcock waved him on to Marshall.
Tho audience wns crying Itself hoarse.
Bnbcock lost control of tho meeting
In thnt minute of turning. Holllster,
of the Palo Verde, was striving to bo
heard; Bubcock's hammer sounded In
vnln. But Marshall's eye hnd caught
a spark from the yellow sheet He
sprang forward, throwing tho dispatch
toward MacLean. His excitement
caught the eye of tho crowd. "Tho
river I" There was a sudden hush.
"Tho river's out again I" A groan
swept through the house, thero was a
break townrd the doors,
(TO 1313 CONTINUHD.)
You Oughta Know That, Uncle.
"Fine dog you hnvo there, my little
mnn;" remarked tho kind old gentle
man. "Whut do you call him?" "Don't
hafta to coll him," -answered my llttlo
man. "Ho goes every placo I do."
OptlmlstlD Thought
He who knows nothing knows enough,
if ho knows when to bo silent
