The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1919-09-19
CHAPTER XIX.
More 0ratory.


Four men sat at small table In q
corner of the crowded hotel dining
room, in FL Centre. Their names
made their corner the psychological
center of the room. Marshall was al
ways target Of speculation. Mac
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 combination
which encouraged speculations and
head-Shakings. The room was damned
with valley men. The meeting Of the
rancherS 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 fortnight.
1t was known throughout the valley
that the work Mt 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
to shift his burden was looked upon
as suspicious. 1t was in the air that
the officers of the Overland Pacific
would demand a recall of the damage
suits before they would complete the
protective works at the Heading. The
men of long vision, members OF the
wafer companies. and Brandon,
through the valley Star, were pointing
"ut 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 Rrandon's editorial. without
Immediate force to restrain it. recla-
nation for that valley is dream that
is done. And the only force equal to
;hat emergency is the railroad. Why
deliberately antagoniZe the railroad?
The Desert Reclamation company. it
is we'll known, is bankrupt. For the
instant. the railroad has assumed the
responsibilities OF the smaller Organi-
cation. Apply the same situation to
individuals. Suppose private citizen
-. IT,, ..tp e.
ward to help him. Must every cred
itor assume that the Samaritan should
pay the crushed citizens bills? In the
present issue. self-interest should urge
consideration. Better small loss
today that tomorrow may amply re-
fund. than total ruin in the future"
Hardin. from his morose unshared
table. could see the anxious curiosity
setting toward the railroad group.
Over glasses, heads were close to-
.ether. Near him. the talk ran high.
Scraps of inf'ammahle speeches blew
his way from Barton's party.
Hardin'S mouth wore set sheer.
water company talk" Black was
harangunS his comrades. 'Stand out
against them. Don't let them bluff
You. Marshall will try to bluff you.
Stand together" Rarton'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 had
they all been if it had not been for
him? Why. he'd pulled them from
their little farms back East. where
they were toiling-where they'd be
toiling yet. They'd had the vision of
sudden wsalth-1hey hadn't the grit
to work for it. to wait for it! How
many years had he been struggling
He was young man when he'd gone
into this thing, and ne was old now.
Coffee and cigars had been
reached of the midday dinner. Bah.
cock was nervously consulting his
watch. shouldn't we arrange the
meeting:" he asked for the third time.
The social and casual air Of the meet.
ing had leased him. What had the no.
!itical situation in Mexico to do with
the important session confronting
them? His fussy soul had no polite
salons; Office rooms every one OF
them. MacI.ean looked to Tod Mar.
shall to answer.
II think it will arrange itself" His
voice was silken. at is to be a dis.
"l>sion. a conference. You can't slate
that"
We could program" began Bah,
cock, looking at bis watch again.
Il don't think Wen have to-" Mar.
shall smiled across the table. you'll
find this meeting will run itself. There
is not man here who is not burning
to speak. Look at them now: Drop
Il paper in that crowd, and see the
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