The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1919-04-15
CHAPTER XIX.
More UraIory.

Four men sat at a small table In q
corner Of the crowded hotel dining
room, in E Centre. Their names
made. their corner the psychological
center Of the room.i Marshall was al
ways a target Of speculation. Mac
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 Ia Vega, the
Mexican commissioner. ~ z
What was he doing in that groupt
Babcock completed combination
which encouraged speculations and
head.shakings. The room was jammed
with valley men. The meeting OF the
ranchers and the several water com
panies had been called for that after
moon, the summons signed by Fara-
day, himself. Nothing else had been
talked Of for a fortnight, =; ~
It was known throughout the valley
that the work at the intake was not
yet begun; ;'that Rickard 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 a 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, and 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 1t. These conservatives
were counseling caution. Only that
morning. the Star had issued an extra,
a special edition pleading for co-opera-
tien. If the river.breaks out again," "
warned Brandon's editorial, without
immediate force to restrain 1t, recla.
nation for that valley is a dream that
is done. And the only force equal to
that emergency is the railroad. Why
deliberately antagonize the railroad?
The Desert Reclamation company, 1t
Is well known, is bankrupt. For the
instant,i the railroad has assumed the
responsibilities Of the smaller organi-
zation. Apply the same situation to
individuals. Suppose 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 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 infammable speeches blew
his way from Barton's party.
Hardin's mouth wore a 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
Hardin's lip grew rougher. Where had
they all been If it had not been fol
him? why, he'd pulled them from
their little farms back East, where
they were toiling-where they'd be
toiling yet. They'd had the vision OF
sudden wealth-they hadn't the gril
to work for it, to wait fer it! How
many wears had he been struggling