Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1919-03-19

that's what it is. Oh, I can see through
fence with a knothOle as big as your
bead. He doesn't want to finish the
until it's too late to go on with it; l
know him. He'd risk the whole thing,
and all the money the o. =. has
chucked into 1t, just to start with a
clean slate to get the glory of stop
ping the river himself. 1t turns my
stomach; it's a plot" The lower lip
shot out.
AIacLean's attention was deferentlal.
lie had always liked Hardin; all the
fellows did. But he was jumping Off
wrong this time. He'd brought 1t all
on himself.
HE said something about a levee for
the towns. He's got TO investigate that
before he goes TO the front"
"A levee? Well, wouldn't that jar
YOU" Hardin addressed the stenog-
rapher in the transparent shirtwaist.
Does he think we're going 30 have
another flood this season? Thinks It's
going to reach the hotel and wet his
clothes? Take the starch out OF his
shirts?" He flung out of his chair,
throwing the papers back into the
drawer.
He stamped out of the office, mad
clear through. To this crisis they had
sent, down dandy, a bookman who
wanted to build a levee. Oh, hell
They'll come crawling after me to
help them after this fellows buried
himself under river mud, come calling
to me as they did after Maitland failed
Please, Mr.. Hardin. won't you come
back and finish your CATER I'll see
them dead first. No, I'll be fool enough
TO do it. / can't help myself. I'm
Hardin. / have to finish what I've be-
gun"
Ii was not because this was a pet
enterprise, the great work of his life,
that he must eagerly eat humble pie.
take the bullets. the falls. and come
whining back when they whistled to
him. He told himself 1t was because of
his debt to the valley, to the ranchers.
The colOnlsts were about desperate.
Who could blame them? The last years
floods had worked havoc with their
crops; this year had been a horror
The district they called No. was
screaming irony of ruin. The last de-
bauch of the river had made great
gashes through the ranches, had
secured deep gorges which he'd under
mined the canals on which the water
supply for No. 6 depended. The suits
were piling up against the ID. r., dam
age suits. and they hold up his gate.
while he gets the curses of the val
ley And Mr.. Richard thinks he'll
build leveel
He flung himself on the couch in the
tent. Gerty was laying careful
cloth for supper. A brave, determined
smile was arranged on her lips. The
noon storm had passed She hummed a
gay little tune. II there was anything
Hardin hated IL was humming.
You'll have your dude to dinner all
right her husband announced. Hes
In town"
yes, know" rejolned his spouse
II had letter from him yesterday.
From Imperial"
Tom sat up glaring. "He wrote to
YOU from ImDerialf"
His wife misplaced the accent. She
misunderstood Toms scowl. II was
the old story over again. Whenever
those two men came together the old
feeling Of jealousy must be revived
again 1t was unpleasant, Of course
very unpleasant. TO have men care Ike
that, but /: made life exciting. Life
had been getting little stale lately
like book of obvious. even plot.
Richards entrance into the story gave
81 new interest. n oew twist. She
hummed an air from new opera that
had set the world WALKING.
Hardins thoughts lid not touch her
at the hem He was at the headgate.
his gate. What the deuce had Richard
gone to Imperial for7 If he wasn't the