Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-07-24
CHATTER XVIII.
A. the Dixie


Marion caught her closely 70 her
heart 4 knew you would 40 n ] Eot
you angry. dear But YOU are so slow
20 anger. Mr. McCloud is just the
same way. Mr. Smith says when he
does get angry he can do nythinE.
he Is very like YOU in SO many ways. 30
Dtcksie was wiping her ewes is
he. Marion Well what shall wear 30
Just your riding-clothes. dear and
a smile he won't know what YOU have
on IL IS YOU he will want 20 see. But
I've been thinking OF something else.
What will your Cousin Lance say .
Suppose be should object9"
Object. I should like 70 see him
object after losing the fight himself "
Marion laushed We'll. do YOU think
you can find the way down there FOR
u.s."
I can find any way anywhere within
200 miles % here"
on the 2Oth Of June McCIoud did
have something OF an army OF men in
the Crawling stone valley. or these.
$50 We're in The vicinity of the bridge.
the abutments and piers OF which
were being pat IN just below the Dun.
ming ranch. Near az hand Biu Dan
cling. with bic gang. had been Tor
some time watching the ice and dvna.
hitting the jams McCloud brought in
more men as the river continued 10
rise. The danger line ON the gauges
was az length submerged. and Tor
three days the mainline construction
camps had been robbed OF men 20
guard the soft grades above and be.
low the bridge The new track up
and down the valley had become a
highway OF escape from the flood. and
the track patrols were met at every
curve by cattle. horses. deer. wolves
and coyotes fleeing from the waste
OF waters that spread over the bot
toms
Through the Dunning ranch the
Crawling Stone river makes a far
bend across the valley TO the north
and east. The extraordinary volume
or water now pouring through the Box
canyon exposed 10000 acres OF the
ranch 20 the caprice OF the river. and
IL az the point OF its tremendous sweep
10 the north 10 should cut back into its
old channel the change would wipe
The entire body OF ranch alfalfa lands
on the face OF the valley. With the
heat OF the lenpthening June days a
vast steam rose from the chill waters
OF the river. marking in ominous wind
ings the channel Of the main stream
through a yellow sea which, ignoring
the usual landmarks Of trees and
dunes. Ranked the current broadly on
either side. Late In the afternoon OF
the day that Dicksie with Marion
sought McCloud a storm drifted down
the Topaz Topaz hills, and heavy
showers broke across the valley.
At nightfal the rain had passed and
the mist lifted from the river Above
the bluffs rolling patches OF cloud OBJ
scured the face of the moon, but the
distant thunder had ceased. and at
midnight the valley near the bridge
fsy In a stiffness broken only by the
hoarse calls OF the patrols and far-on
megaphones. From the bridge camp.
which lay on high ground near the
grade, the distant lamps OF the track
walkers could be seen moving dimly.
Before the campfire In front or Nc
Clouds tent a group Of men, smoking
and talking. sat or lay sprawied OF.
tarpaulins, drying themselves after the
long day. Among them were the
weatheT-beaten remnants Of the old
guard OF the mountain workers. men
who bad fought the Spider Water
with Glover. BIZ Dancing. huge. lurn-
bering. awkward as bear and as
shifty. was talking. because with no
apparent effort be could talk ali night.
and was a valuable man at keeping
the camp awake. Bill Dancing talked
and, after Sinclairs name had been
dropped from the roll. ate and drank
more than any two men on The di-
vision. little apart. McCloud lay
on leather caboose cushion trying to
get nap.
The man sent to the bridge had