The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-04-11
CHAPTER XIX.
More oratorv

1nG1l SdI Ut d SI1dlI ldDtC III q
corner of the crowded hotel dining
room, in Ell Centric. Their names
made their corner the psychological
center of the room. Marshall was al
ways 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 la Vega, the
Mexican commissioner.
What was he doing in that group?
Babcock completed a combination
which encouraged speculatfons and
head-shakings. The room was jammed
with valley men. The meeting of the
ranehers 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 a fortnight.
+ 1t 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
1 to shift his burden was looked upon
as suspicious. 1t was in the air that
the officers of the Overland Pacific
would demand 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 it. These conservatives
were counseling caution. Only that
morning, the Star had issued an extra,
a 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 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, it
] 10 Wei hhOnl1s 10 bul1hA OEls VI hAAN
instant, the railroad has assumed the
responsibilities of the smaller organi'
cation. Apply the same situation to
individuals. Suppose a private citizen
is in straits, and another comes for
ward to help him. Must every cred
itcr 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 unshareG
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 inflammable speeches blew
his way from Barton's party.
Hardin's mouth wore a set sheer
water company talk! I" Black was
haranguing his comrades. "Stand GU
against them. Don't let them bluff
you. Marshall will try to bluff you
Stand togetherl" Barton's resonant
organ broke through the clatter
Marshall is not going to bluff us
Grace and Black began to talk at once
Hardin's lip grew rougher. Where. haC
they all been If it had not been fol
him? Why, he'd pulled them from
their little farms back East, wher'
they We're toiling-where they'd b,
toiling yet. They'd had the vision o
sudden wealth-they hadn't the gri
to work for it, to wait for it! How
many years had he been struggling
He was a young man when he'd gon,
into this thing. and he was old now.
Coffee and cigars had beer
reached of the midday dinner Bah
! cock was nervously consulting hi
watch. shouldn't we arrange the
meeting?" he asked for the third time
The social and casual air of the meet
ing had teased him. What had the DO
litical situation in Mexico to do witt
the important session confrontin,
them? His fussy soul had no polit,
salons; office rooms every one of
!, them. MacLean looked to Tod Mar
|. shall to answer.
81 think it will arrange itself" Hi.
, voice was silken. SIT is to be a dis
, cussion, conference. You can't slat
! that"
J I'VE could program" began Bao
: cock, looking at his watch again.
: 81 don't think Wen have to-" Mar
' shall smiled across the table. "Youl
find this meeting will run itself. Their,
' is not a man here who is not burnin,
8 to speak. Look at them nowi Drol
t IA paper in that crowd, and see tn
3 blaze you'd getl You can open tn,
| meeting, Mr.. Babcock, and I woul,