Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1919-05-09
CHAPTER XIX.
More Oratory.

More Oratory.
-Four men sat at small table in 9
corner of the crowded hotel dining
room, in El Centre. Their names
made their corner the psychological
center of the room. Marshall was al
ways target of speculation. Mae"
Lean, straight and soldierly in his
mustard-colored clothes, was, as usual,
the man of distinction. Black start
cd the whisper going that the dark
stranger was General de la Vega, the
Mexican commissioner.
What was he doing in that group?
Babcock completed a combination
which encouraged speculatiOns and
head-shakings. The room was damned
with valley men. The meeting Of the
ranchers and the several water com
panies had been called for that after
noon, the summons signed by Fara-
day himself. Nothing else had been
talked Of for q fortnight.
It was known throughout the valley
that the work at the intake was not
yet begun; that Richard was waiting
there for orders; that Faraday and
the president of the United States
were involved in correspondence as to
the responsibility for the future con-
troll Of the river. Faraday's eagernesS
to shift his burden was looked upon
as suspicious. It was in the air that
the officers Of the Overland Pacific
would demand q recall Of the damage
suits before they would complete the
protective works at the Heading. The
men of long vision, members Of the
water companies, anu Brandon,
through the valley Star, were pointing
out that the valleys salvation depend
ed on the Immediate control Of the
river; that the railroad, only, had
power to effect it. These conservatives
were counseling caution. Only that
morning, the Star had issued an extra,
special edition pleading for co-opera-
ton. IF the river breaks out again.
warned Brandon's editorial, without
immediate force to restrain it, recla-
nation for that valley is dream that
is done. And the only force equal to
that emergency is the railroad. Why
deliberately antagOniZe the railroad?
The Desert Reclamation company, it
is we'll known, is bankrupt. For the
instant, the railroad has assumed the
responsibilities of the smaller organi-
zation. Apply the same situation to
individuals. Suppose a private citizen
is in straits, and another comes for
ward to help him. Must every cred
itor assume that the Samaritan should
pay the crushed citizens bills? In the
present issue, self-intereSt should urge
consideration. Better a small loss
today that tomorrow may amply re-
fund, than total ruin in the future"
Hardin, from his mOrose unshared
table, could see the anxious curiosity
setting toward the railroad group.
Over glasses, heads were close to-
gether. Near him, the talk ran high.
Scraps of inflanlmable speeches blew
his way from Barton's party.
Hardin's mouth wore q set sneer.
'Water company talk % Black was
haranguing his comrades. stand out
against them. Don't let them bluff
you. Marshall will try to bluff you.
Stand together" Barton's resonant
organ broke through the clatter.
Marshall is not going to bluff u.s.
Grace and Black began to talk at once.
Hardins lip grew rougher. Where had
they all been if it had not been for
MIN? Why, he'd pulled them from
their little farms back East. where
they were t0lling-Where they'd be
toiling yet They'd had the vision of
sadden wealth-they hadn't the grit
to work for it, to wait for it! How
many years had he been struggling?
He was young man when he'd gone
into this thing, and he was old now.
Continued Next Week.