Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-04-25

ever fingered, with that same serious
" solemn look on the false little face
of ner sister-in-law.
After dinner they were standing in
the shade of the Palmyra. 1t was
soft still afternoon. The fierceness of
the savage desert had melted to her
days of lure. Beyond, the turbid wa
ters of the Colorado bore smiling sur
face There was nothing to hint of
treachery.
1t was a minute of pleasant. lassi-
tude, snatched from the turmoil. Rick
ard had succumbed to the softness of
the day and his mood. He was enjoy
ing the thought of lines nearneSs,
though she kept her face turned from
him. He knew by the persistence of
those aterted eyes that she was as
acutely conscious of his presence IS he
was, restfully, of hers. Deliberately,
he was prolonging the instant.
| A stir on the river had caught the
alert eye of Tod Marshall. He swore
string of picturesque Marshallian
oaths. Richards eyes jumped toward
| the bypass. The placid waters had
suddenly buckled. Majestically the
gate rose and went out. Months of
work swept away! The gate drifted
a hundred feet or more. Some unseen
obstruction caught it there, to mock
| at the labors of man.
Innes, aghast, turned toward Rick
ard. His face was eXpressionless.
There was babel of excited voices
behind them, Bodefeldt, MacLean,
Tony, Crothers, Bangs, all talking at
once. Her eyes demanded something
of Rickard. A fierce resentment rose
against his calmness. "He knew it,"
she rebelled. Hes been expecting
this to happen. It's no tragedy to
him !" There was stab as of physi-
cal pain; she was visualizing the blow
to Tom.
She heard Marshall's voice, speak
ing to Richard "Well, you're ready
for this" She did not hear the an
swer, for already Rickard was heading
for the bypass. Marshall and the
young engineers followed him.
To Innes that wreck down yonder
was worse than failure; it was ruin
1t involved Toms life. 1t was his life
This would be the final crushing of his
superb cOurage-her thoughts released
, from their paralysis were whipped b!
, sudden fear. She must find him, bt
with him. The next instant she wa!
speeding toward the encampment.
, Estrada met her on the run.
! Had Gerty heard? The pity tina
: she must know! She would not be ten
: der to Tom;- her pride would b.
= wounded. She must ask her to be ten
= der, generous. Her footsteps slack
5 ened as she came in sight of the tents
: She heard voices in the ramada.
2 mans clear notes mingling with Gel
e tvs childish treble Godfrey" He
d mind jumped to other tete-a-tetes.. o
courseI So that was what was goin
). on. And she not seeing! If not on
p man, then another! Horrid little claT
d destine affairs!
|. The meeting was awkward. Speef
+ lily Innes got rid Of the news. Mrs.
S Hardin shrugged. II believe I'll G
out" Plaintively, she made the Al
l. nouncement, as though it were jus
/. evolved. Now, the camp will be no
n rid. Everybody will be cross an
everybody will be working"
e AS she left The tent beyond, lime
t could hear the vibrant voice of Coz
& frey persuading Mrs. Hardin to sta
# there few weeks longer. She coul
e hear him say, "This will delay the tur
6 ing of the river at the most but a fe
IS weeks. Richard told me so a week ag
If And think what it would be here wit
c out you!"
"They were all expecting it ~ resis
p ed Innes Hardin. She turned back t
st ward the river. She must find ToI