Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-03-25
CHAPTER XXI.
a Complete Camp.

complete. isn't it," Estrada was
leading lines Hardin through the en-.
ginccgS quarters.
YES, it complete
Her Brother had told her at break.
East that morning how grandly they
had been wasting time. She would
act let herself admire the precision OF
The arrangements, the showers back OF
he white mems quarters, the mcsquit.
shaded Kitchen. Gerty'S elaborate set.
ling was of n piece, it would seem
With the new management. House
seeping not fighting, then, the new
order of things
Tom was utire to get his gate done
81, knew what il meant to him; IL
The valley. The flood waters had to
be controlled That depended, Tom
had proved 10 her, on the gate. And
he men dance and play house. ns If
they were children, and every day
rounfinc,
she thought she was Keeping her nc
ousations to herself but Estrada was
watching her face.
Owe are here. you know, for a siege.
There are months of work ahead, hot
months, hard months The men have
got to be kept well and contented We
can't lose any time 10y sickness lie
wanted tn add "and dissensionS." The
split camp was painful to him, IN Is
4 ftD t1lN,Ai, 81 itigI, h. TO
If we do finish it"
she wheeled on him, her eyes gleam-
ing like deep yellow jewels. you've
never thought we could finish it,
Estrada hesitated over his answer.
"You are a friend of Toms, NJ. Is
trGda|
surely But I am also an admirer
of Mr.. Richard mean of his methods.
can never forget the levec."
She had 10 acknowledge that Rick
ard had scored there. And the burn
ing of the machinery had left wound
that she still must salve.
You have no confidence in the
gatet"
The conditions have changed"
urged Estrada. you've seen the mess
tent? AS it was planned, it was all
right, hurry-up defense Marshall
all along intended the concrete gate
for the permanent intake. Have YOU
seen the gap the Hardin gate is to
closeF Have You heard what the last
floods did to it? It's now tWenty-Six
hundred feet, and Disaster island.
which your brother planned to anchor
to. swept away If it can be done, it
will, YOU can rest assured, with Rick
ard he saw the Hardin mouth then
-'Hnd Won: brothers zeal, and the
strength Of the railroad back of them"
The camp formed hollow trape-
zium; the IIardns' tents, and Mrs.
powker's. We're isolated on the short
parallel. Richards ramada ami his
tent were huddled with the engineers.
Across, toward the river, behind Ling's
mosquitoes. began another polygon, the
camp of fo"cmen and white labor.
Some of these tents We're empty.
rs this Mexico, or the States?'
asked lDncs.
Mexico" She wondered why he
halted so abruptly. She did not see.
for the glare in her eyes, Il woman's
skirt in the ramada they approached.
Estrada marched on.
Outside the rGmada, the two women
met. Gerty's step carried her past
like high-bred horse. Her high heels
cut into the hard sand. There was a
suggestion of prance in her mien. She
waved her hand gayly ut the two,
cried, How hot it is - and passed on.
lines saw Richard ut his long pine
table used for Il desk.
II can see it all from here" Not for
money would the sister of Tom Iiar-
din 20 N,
At table, that evening, her family
heard with surprise Gerty's announce
ment that they were to eat in the mess
tent with the men. II was too hot to