The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1916-06-30

the Quesado trail reported a steady
stream of artisans pouring in to rush
the city-making.
On the Thursday the grading and
paving Of Chigringo avenue was be-
gun, and, true to his promise, Mr.. Cort-
wright was leaving a right of way in
the street for the future, trolley
tracks. And 1t was during this event
ful week that the distant thunder of
the dynamite brought the welcome
tidings of the pushing of the railroad
grade over the mountain barrier. Also
but this was an item OF minor i'm
portance-it was on the Saturday of
this week that the second tier of forms
was erected on the great dam and the
stripped first section of the massive
gray foot-wall of concrete raised itself
In mute but eloquent protest against
the feverish activities of the miracle.
workers. II the protest were a threat,
1t was far removed. Many things
might happen before the gray wall
should rise high enough to cast it's
shadow, and the shadow Of the coming
end, over the miraculous city of the
plain.
1t was Brouillard himself who put
this thought into words on the Sunday
when he and Grislow were looking
over the work of form raising and find
ing it good.
Catching you, too, Is it, Victor?"
queried the photographer, dropping
easily into his attitude of affable cyni-
cism. II thought it would. But tell
me, what are some of the things that
may happen?"
It's easy TO predict two Of them:
Some people will make pot of money
and some will lose out"
Grislow nodded. "Of course you
don't take any stock in the rumor that
the government will call a halt?"
BrouilIard was shaking his head
slowly.
Il don't pretend to nave opinions
any more, Grizzly. I'm living from day
to day. If the tail should get big
enough to wag the dog"
They were in the middle Of the high
staging upon which the puddlers
worked while filling the forms and
Grislow stopped short.
whats come over you, lately, Vic
tor? I won't say you're half-hearted,
but you're certainly not the same
driver you were a few weeks ago, be-
fore the men quit calling you 'Hell's
Fire."
Brouillard smiled grimly. TITS 60
ing to be long Job, Grizzly. Perhaps
l saw that l couldn't hope to keep
keyed up to concert pitch all the way
through. Call it that, anyway. I've
promised to motor Miss Cartwright to
the upper dam this afternoon, and it's
time to go and do it."
It was not until they were climbing
down from the staging at the Jacks
Mountain approach that Grislow &C
quired the ultimate courage Of his con-
Victions.
Going motoring, you said-with
Miss Genevieve. That's another
change. I'm beginning to believe in
your seven-year hypothesis. You are
no longer a woman-hater.
ooh, bally! There are times when
you make me feel as IL / had eaten too
much dinner, Grizzly! This is one of
them. Put 1t in words; get it out OF
your system"
cit needs only three words: You are
hypnotized. A month ago this city
building fake looked as crazy to you
as It still does to those Of US who
haven't been invited to sit down and
take a hand In Mr.. Cortwright's little
game. Now you seem to have gone
over to the other side. You -hobnob
with Cartwright and do Office work for
him. You know his fake is fake;
and yet / overheard you boosting it
the other night in Poodles' dining
room to a tableful of money maniacs
as il Cartwright were giving you a
rake.off."
Brouillard stiffened himself with a
ierk as he paced beside his accuser,
but he kept his temper.
you're an old friend, Grizzly, and a
mighty good one-as | have had occa-
sion to prove. 1t is your privilege to
ease your mind. Is that all?"
mo. You are letting Genevieve
Cartwright make a fool of you. II you
were only half sane you'd see that she
is confirmed trophy hunter. Why,
she even gets down to young Griffith
and uses him to dig out information
about you She"
Hold on, Murray; there's a limit,
and you'll bear with me If say that
you are working up to it now" Brouil-
lard's Jaw was set and the lines be-
tween his eyes we're deepening. i
don't know what you are driving at,
but you'd better call 1t of. can take
care of myself"
'Tf / thought you could-f ! only
thought you could" said Grislow