The Tupelo journal., 1909-09-03

Cdu Dc uOuc. Anu dlt0F IuTtleT ulS-
cussion it was SO arranged.
McCloud and Smith had been
joined by Dancing on horseback, and
they made their way around Squaw
lake and across the fields. The fog
was rolling up from the willows at
the bend. Men were chopping in the
brush, and McCloud and his COM
panion soon met Lance Dunning rid
ing up the narrow strip of sand that
held the river off the ranch.
McCloud greeted Dunning, regard
less of his amazement, as if he had
parted from him the day before. How
are you making it over here?" he
asked. 1--WE are in pretty good shape
at the moment down below, and l
thought l would ride over to see if we
could do anything for you. This is
what you call pretty fair water for
this part of the valley, isn't it?"
Lance swallowed his establishment.
This isn't water. McCloud; this is
hell" He took off his hat and wiped
his forehead. Well, l call this white,
anyway, and no mistake do, indeed,
sir! This is Whispering Smith, isn't
it? Glad to see you at Crawling
Stone, sir" Which served not only
to surprise but to please Whispering
Smith.
Some of my men were Free" on
tinued McCloud; 81 switched, some
mattresses and sacks around the Y,
thinking they might come in play here
for you at the bend. They are at your
service if you think you need them"
Need them!" Lance swore fiercely
and from the bottom of his heart. He
raj glad to get help from any quar-
ter and made no bones about it. More
over, McCloud lessened the embarrass-
ment by explaining that he had a per-
sonal interest in holding the channel
where it ran, lest a change above
might threaten the approaches already
built to the bridge; and Whispering
Smith, who would have been on terms
with the catfish if he had been flung
into the middle of the Crawling Stone,
contributed at once, like a REINFORCED
spring, to the ease of the situation.
Lance again took off his hat and
wiped the sweat of anxiety from his
dripping forehead. Whatever differ
ences of opinion l may have with
your company, l have no lack of
esteem personally, McCloud, for you,
sir, by heaven! How many men did
you bring?"
"And whatever wheels you Crawling
Stone ranchers may have in your
heads on the subject of irrigation" re-
turned McCloud, evenly, Il have no
lack of esteem personally, Mr.. Dun
ming, for you. / brought 100"
do you want to take charge here?
game and / don't"
Suppose we look the situation over;
meantime, all our supplies have to be
brought across from the Y. What
should you think, Mr.. Dunning. of put
ing all the teams you can at that end
Of the work."
Every man that can be spared
from the river shall go at it. Come
over here and look at our work and
judge for yourself"
They rode to where the forces as
sembled by Lance were throwing up
embankments and riprapping. There
was hurried running to and fro, a vio-
lent dragging about of willows, and a
good deal of shouting.
Dunning, with some excitement,
watched McCloud's face to note the
effect 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 1t
all night. How many would you take
away, sir?"
you might take them all away, as
far as the river is concerned" said
McCloud, after a moment.
What? He'll! All?"
"They are not doing anything, are
they, but running around in a circle?
And those fellows over there might as