Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-03-28
SYNOPSIS.

called to the Office of President Mar
shall in Tucson, Ariz Casey is an
enigma to the Office force; he wears
dude clothes. but he had resigned
chair OF engineering in the east to
go on the road as a fireman and his
promotion had been spectacular.
While waiting for Marshall Richard
reads report of the ravaGes of che
Colorado, despite the efforts OF
Thomas Hardin of the Descent Recla-
nation Company. This Hardin had
been a student under Richard and
had married Gertny Holmes, with
when Richard had fancied he was in
love
CHAPTER II-aMrshall tells Rick
ard the Overland Pacific has got to
step in to save the Imperial Vale
and sends him to the break. Richard
declines because he does not wan
10 supplant Hardin. hut IS won over.
stop the river; damn the expense,
says Marshall.
CHAPTER III Richard journeys to
Calexico. sees the irrigated desert and
learns much about Hardin and his
work. f
CHAPTER lV--At the hotel he
meets Mr.. and Mrs, Hardin and lines
Hardin, Hardin's half sister DiSap'
pointed in her husband and an inccr-
rigible coquette, Mrs Hardin sets her
cap for her former lover and invites
him to dinner.
CHAPTER V.-Rickard visits the
company's Offices and takes control
He finds the engineers loyal to Har-
din and hostile to him. Estrada, a
Mexican, son of the Father Of the
Imperial Valley" tells him Of the gem
eral situation.
CHAPTER VI-Rickard attends a
meeting of the directors and asserts
his authorit2 Hardin RACES. Estrada
tells Richard or his forebodngs that
his work will fail. Il can't see it
finished"
CHAPTER WI rnues is discov,
cred in her garden. She tries TO cheer
up aHrdin, who is furious against
Richard.
CHAPTER VILLA family luncheon
of the Hardins which throws light on
them.- s.azs.a
CHAPTER IX-Hardin discovers
that Richard IL planning a leyee to
protect Calexico and puts him down
as incompetent Gerry thinks her lord
jealous.
CHAPTER X.-Thc Hardin dinner
to Richard discloses further the fam
lily characteristics Hardin is surly
and sulky Innes is hardly polite,
Gerty plars a progressive ride" in
Richards honor,
CHAPTER Richard encounters
the INSTRUMENTATION of the company $
engineers. He is stirred by the In
clans statement that this is the hun
uredth year of cycle, when the
Great Yellow Dragon. the Colorado,
grows restless. He makes various
preparations, pushes work on the Ca
iexico leyee and is ordered by Mar
shall to take a fighting chance on
tie completion Of Hardin's pet pro
Ject, gate to shut the break in the
river.
CHAPTER XlI.--,San Francisco is
destroyed by earthquake and fire and
dredge machinery, which Richard had
ordered Hardin to have shipped, is
burned through Hardins neglect
Richard secretly equips the big water
tower as signal station.
CHAPTER Mulberry Hardin de
cides that Richard still loves her and
trouble.
CHAPTER XiV.-The progressive
ride is begun under adverse condi
tons wind and dust, with the guest
of honor absent. Then MacI can
Richards secretary, brings word that
the river is raging and every man is
wanted on the leyee.
CHAPTER XV.--Hardin motors of
With a load of dynamite, leaving
everything in confusion on the levee
Innes. through friendly engineer, is
sues orders in her brothers name, tC
save her brothers face. The levee
and the signal tower save CalexicC
till Richards return.
cHAPTER XVI-Gerty Hardin be
gins to ges really interested in Rick
ard. The wind blows a gale and tbs
leve is in danger again
CHAPTER XFII.-Women as vel
as men work on the levee the secont
night. Innes finds Richard and GertJ
together and begins to suspect his sis
ter-in-law.' Her brothers's wrong
headedness and Richards evident eff
fcieney only serve to embitter inne'
against Richard.
CHAPTER XVIII. - The rive
washes away half of Mesicali. Calex
ico's Mexican twin city, but Calexict
still sands
CHAPTER XIX-A stormy publi'
meeting is held in which representa-
tives or the settlers. the Overland Pa
cifc and Mexico clash A telegram
from Richard that the river ha
broken out again saves n big row ant