Gilpin observer., 1915-05-13

Marie looked at the eager young en-
gineer, and, despite the fact that this
was one of the most solemn moments
In her life. she could not restrain
smile. She loved Carl. but how short
an acquaintance theirs had beeni
When. dear?" repeated Lindsay.
When the new dam is finished"
answered the girl. Then, growing Sc
rious, You see, dear, do not intend
to be hindrance to you, and all your
mind must be concentrated on the new
DAM When 1t is built your reputation
will be made. And then will become
your Wife"
He drew her to him and folded her
In his arms.
Carl Lindsay had been five weeks
with the construction company. build
ing the dam In the canyon over the
thickly populated valley. There bill
lions of gallons of water were to be
stored to fertilize the rich but half
arid soil 1t was task such as Lind
say loved. And Marie Simpson, the
daughter of the wealthy contractor,
had promised definitely to marry him.
Fame and happiness! Could any
man want more? Lindsay did not
realize that envy dogs fame and hate
happiness. He did not know that he
had an enemy in the world. Since
Simpson had been called east, leaving
him in sole charge. the day had never
been long enough for Lindsay. He
drove his men-but they thought none
the less of him for that. Only some
times he fancied that Hardy, the fore
man. looked at him strangely. He
thought, also. that he had seen Hardy
somewhere before. He racked his
brain, because the situation puzzled
him. His father had been a big lum-
herman east; perhaps Hardy had
worked for the old man at some time
or other. Lindsay let it go at that
Hardy was not prepared to let it go
at that. He knew Carl Lindsay better
than Carl knew him. He had not been
ungraciously received by Marie before
the young engineers advent upon the
scene. and the fact of his being sup
planted had added fuel to his Jealous
anger. In the second place, Hardy had
an old score to settle with Lindsay's
father. The old lumberman had
turned him off his property, where he
was employed, for whipping a boy.
That had been years before; but when
Hardy met Carl Ire felt that fate had
thrown them together for the purpose
of granting him his revenge.
He stood with knit brows beside
the almost completed dam and
watched the pair sauntering side by
side in the distance. He looked down
into the valley. A mile beneath them
the busy settlers were already at work
In their fields. which looked like tiny
yellow patches upon the face of the
brown, thirsty earth. In two or three
weeks the dam would be completed,
and the stored-up waters ready to dis
charge themselves into the vale. Lind
says fortune would be made, his name
assured. while he, Hardy. would have
to seek another job.
He scowled after the distant lovers.
and clenched his fists hard.
III see him ID first!" he said.
vicIously.
The men liked Hardy well enough.
and Lindsay also. but some OF them
were discontente6 and some had griey.
ances against the Simpson company.
Three of these spirits had actually en-.
deavored to stir up the men against
Lindsay. They had been engaged in
positions OF Importance at one time.
but degraded by old Simpson, who had
not the knack Of retaining loyalty
among his men. Each OF the three
had approached Hardy at some time or
other. without success. Now Hardy
resolved to make use of them.
He knew enough OF each to secure
his prompt obedience. And the propo-
sition that he made so craftily was an.
parently devoid of personal animus
against Carl Lindsay. Did they know.
he asked. that old Simpson was using
cement of quality unnecessarily
strong? The dam would hold fast
with inferior cement. at any rate. SO
long as they lived. He, Hardy. knew
the subcontractors, and there ought to
be clean thousand apiece II an infe.
rior cement were substituted.
The proposal, cunningly suggested.
so that, In fact, II actually emanated
from one of the three rather than
from the foreman. was eagerly re-
ceived. The three, working under
Hardys orders, could effect the substi. |
tuition without Lindsay's becoming
aware of 1t. And nothing need ever
be known.
Hardy went home to his shack |
chuckling. He had put spoke in
Lindsays wheel. The dam would burst
within few hours Of its completion.
II was unfortunate for the settlers,
but. even II Lindsay escaped convic.
ton on the charge of manslaughter.
his reputation was ruined. He could
not imagine old man Simpson, who
prided himself on honest work, accept.
ing Lindsay as a son-in-law theni He