Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-07-24


they made their way around Squaw
lake and across he fields. The fog
was rolling up from the willows at
| the bend. Men were chopping ia the
brush. and McCloud and his com
| panion soon met Lance Dunning rid
/ ing up the narrow strip OF sand shat
held the river of the ranch.
McCloud greeted Cunning. regard
| less OF his amazement, as II he had
| parted from him the day before. How
are you making IL over hereT Ae
!. asked. I'VE are in pretty good shape
/ at the moment down below. and
thought 1 would ride over TO see IL we
could do anything for you. This is
what you call pretty fair water fox
| this part OF the valley. isn't IT,
Lance swallowed his astonishment.
This isn't water. McCloud; this Is
hell" He took of his hat and wiped
his forehead. Wei. I call this white.
anyway. and no mistake do. indeed.
sir. This is Whispering Smith. isn't
| 1T Glad TO see you at Crawling
/ Stone, sir" Which served not only
TO surprise but to please Whispering
Smith.
| tinued McCloud; II switched some
mattresses and sacks around the Y.
thinking they might come in play here
for you az the bend. They are at your
service If you think you need them"
Need them" Lance swore fercely
and from the bottom OF his heart He
was glad to get help from any quar-
1 ter and made no bones about II. More
over. McCloud lessened the embarrass-
| ment by explaining that he had a per
sonal interest in holding the channel
where IL ran. lest q change above
might threaten the approaches already
built 10 the bridge; and Whispering
Smith. who would have been on terms
with the catfish IL he had been flung
into the middle Of the Crawling stone
contributed at once. like a re enforced
spring. to the ease OF the situation.
Lance again took OF his hat and
wiped the sweat OF anxiety from his
dripping forehead. Whatever differ
ences Of opinion I may have with
your company. have no lack OF
esteem personally. McCloud. for YOU.
sir, by heaveni How many men did
YOU bring?"
4NAAA WAtAAtfNA NMftlN NOu craving
Stone ranchers may have I'm vour
heads on the subject OF irrigation" re-
turned McCloud. evenly. Il have no
lack OF esteem personally. Mr. Dun
ming, for you. I brought 100"
Do you want to take charge here9
I'm frank, sir; you understand this
game and don't"
Suppose We look the situation over
meantime. all our supplies have 10 be
brought across from the Y. What
should you think, Mr. Dunning. OF NUT
ing all the teams you can at that epS
OF the work."
Every man that can be spared
from the river shall 20 at Il. Come
over here and look at our work and
Judge for yourself"
They rode 20 where the forces as-
sembled by Lance were throwing I'M
emoankments and riprsppinE. There
was hurried running TO and fro. a VIC
lent dragging about OF willows. aud a
good deal OF shouting
Dunning. with some excitement.
watched McClOud's face 10 note the
eject OF the activity on him. but Nc
Clouds expression. naturally reserved
reflected nothing OF his views on the
subject Dunning waved his hand at
the lively scene. They've been at Il
all night How many would you take
away. sir?"
You might take them all away. as
Tar as the river is concerned" said
McCloud. after moment.
What? He'll AMP"
They arel not doing anything. are
they, but running around in a circlee
And those fellows over there might as
well be making mud pies as riprap-
! ping az that point What we need
there is mattress and sandbags-
and plenty OF them. Bill" directed
McCloud in an even tone of business
as he turned to Dancing. see how
quick YOU can get your gangs over
here with what sacks they can carry
and walk fast II you will put your
men on horses, Mr.. Cunning. they can
help like everything. That bank
won't last a great while the way the
river is getting under II now" Dan
cling wheeled like an elephant on his
bronco and clattered away through the
mud. Lance Dunning, recovering from
his surprise. started his men back for
the wagons, and McCloud, dismount-
Ing. walked with him 10 the waters
edge TO plan the fight for what was
! left Of the strip in front OF the alfalfa
fields.
When Whispering Smith got back
to the house he was in good humor.
He Joined Dicksie and Marion in the
dining room. where they were drink
ing coffee. Afterward Dieksie ordered
horses saddled and the three rode TO
the river. Up and down the bank as
far as they could see in the misty
rain, men were moving slowly about
more men, It seemed to Dicksie.
than she had ever seen together in
her life. The confusion and the noise
had disappeared. No one appeared TO
hurry, but every one had something
to do, and, from the gangs who with
sledses were sinking "deadmen"
among the trees to hold the cables OF
the mattress that was about TO be
sunk, and the Japs who were diligent-