The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1919-04-22
CHAPTER XXI.
A Complete Camp.

CHAPTER XXI.
A Complete Camp.
complete, isn't it?" Estrada was
leading Innes Hardin through the en-
gincr:s' quarters.
Eyes, it's completed"
Her Brother had told her at break.
fast that morning how grandly they
had been wasting time! She would
not let herself admire the precision Of
the arrangements, the showers back Of
the white mems quarters, the mesquit-
shaded kitchen. Gerty's elaborate set
Ting was of q piece, it would seem,
with the new management. House
keeping, not fighting. then, the new
order of things!
Tom was afire to get his gate done.
She knew what it meant to him; to
the valley. The flood waters had to
he controlled. That depended, Tom
had proved to her. on the gate. And
the men dance and play house. as If
they were children, and every day
counting!
She thought she was keeping her &C.
cusations to herself, but Estrada wa
watching her face.
"We are here, you know, for 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 by sickness" Ht
wanted to add "and dissensions." Tho
split camp was painful to him, an Es
trada. "Even after we finish the gate
If we do finish it"
She wheeled on him, her eyes gleam.
ing like deep yellow jewels. "You've
never thought we could finish i'll"
Estrada hesitated over his answer.
"You are friend of Toms, Mr.. Els.
tradaW
Surely! But am also an admirer
Of Mr.. Rickard, I mean Of his methods
I can never forget the levee."
She had to 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
gateY
"The conditions have changed"
urged Estrada. "You've seen the mess
tent? As 1t was planned. it was all
right, a hurry-up defense. Marshall
all along intended the concrete gate
for the permanent intake. Have you
seen the gap the Hardin gate Is to
close? 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 1t can be done, It
will, you can rest assured, with Rick
ard" he saw the Hardin mouth then
-"and your brothers zeal, and the
strength Of the railroad back Of them" !"
The camp formed a hollow trape-
zium; the Hardins' tents, and Mrs.
Dowker's, were isolated on the short
parallel. Richards ramada and his
tent were huddled with the engineers.
Across, toward the river, behind Ling's
mesquites, began another polygon, the
camp of foremen and white labor.
Some Of these tents were empty.
'Ts this Mexico, or the States?"
asked Innes.
"Mexico." She wondered why he
halted so abruptly. She did not see,
for the glare in her eyes, woman's
skirt in the ramada they approached.
Estrada marched on.
Outside the ramada, 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 at the two,
cried, "How hot it isl" and passed on
Innes saw Rckard at his long pine
table used for a desk.
Il can see It all from here" Not for
money would the sister Of Tom Ha%
din 60 hi
1t table, that esa1tn& lse hhnsta5
hsend with easpFtaa a1txA aRwanss-