The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-11-15
CHAPTER XXI.
Witnesses.

Witnesses.
Driven by Starbuck In the brand
new car, Smith reached the dam nt
half-pnst ten and was in time to see
the swnrming carpenters begin the
placing of forms for the pouring of the
final section of the great wall. Though
the high water was tapping at the foot
timbers of the forming, and the wealth
er reports were still portentous, VIII
Hams was in fine fettle. There had
been NO further interferences on the
part of the railroad people, every man
on the Job was squirting for the finish,
and the successful end was now fairly
In sight.
"We'l be pouring this afternoon"
he told Smith, 'nnd with a twenty
four-hour set for the concrete, and the
forms left In place for additional Sc
curity. we can shut the spillway gates
and back the water into the main
ditch. Instead of being hindrance,
then, the flood-tide will help. Under
slack-water conditions, II would take
a day or two to finish filling the reser-
voir lake, but now we'll get the few
feet rise needed to I'LL the sluices al
most while you wait"
"You have your guards out. as we
planned?" Smith inquired.
'.rwenty of the best men I could
find. They are patrolling on both
sides of The river, with instructions to
report II they see SO much as rabbit
jump up"
"GOOd. I'm going to let Starbuck
drive me around the lake limits to
see to 1t personally that your pickets
are on the job. But, first. I'd like
to use your phone for a minute or
two" and with that Smith shut him.
self up in the small field office and
called Martin, the bookkeeper, at the
town headquarters.
The result of the brief talk with
Martin seemed satisfactory, for when
1t was concluded, Smith rang Off and
asked for the Hophra House. Being
given the hotel exchange, he called
the number of Miss Richlander's suite
and the answer came promptly In her
full, throaty voice:
''Is that you, Montague?"
"Yes. I'm out Mt the dam. Moth
ing has been done yet. No telegraph
ing. l mean. You understandT'
Perfectly. But something Is go
ing to be done. Mr.. X. has had Colonel
u. with him in the bank. saw the
colonel go In while was ut breakfast
When are you coming back to town.
"Not for some time; have a drive
to make that will keep me out until
afternoon"
every well; you'd better stay away
as long as you can, and then you'd
better communicate with me before
you show yourself much in public. I'll
have Jibbey looking out for you"
Smith said "good-by" and hung ur
the receiver with fresh twinge OF
dissatisfaction. Every step made his
dependence upon Vera Richlandel
more complete. Corona Baldwin
what would she say to this newest al
lance? Would she not say again. and
this time with greater truth. that he
was a coward Of the basest sort; OF
the type that makes no scrrple of hid
ing behind woman's skirts?
Between the noon-hour and the
one-o'clock Hophra House luncheon
Mr.. David Kinzie, still halting be
tween two opinions, left his desk and
the bank aud crossed the street tC
the hotel. He wrote his name on 9
card and let the clerk send II up. The
boy came back almost immediately
with word that Miss Rlchlander wal
waiting In the mezzanine parlors.
The banker tipped the call-boy ant
went up alone. He had seen Mis-
RIchlander, once when she was driving
with Smith aud again at the theater IL
the same company. So he knew wha
to expect when he tramped heavil!
into the parlor overlooking the street
None the less, the dazyling beauty o.
the young woman who rose to shak,
hands with him and call hirl by nam,
rather took him Off his feet. Davit
KInzie was a hopeless bachelor, from
choice. but there are women. and WON
en-.
''Do you know, Mr.. Kinzie, 1 hav,
been expecting you all day" she salt
sweetly. making him sit down besId'
her on one of the flaming red monstros
tiles billed In the hotel inventories o.
1 Louis Quinze sofas." my father sen
me . note BY one Of your young men