The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-02-22
CHAPTER XIX.
More Oratory.


 Four men sat at a small table in a corner of the crowded hotel dining room, in Fl Centro. Their names made their corner the psychological center of the room. Marshall was al- ways a target of speculation. Mac Lean, straight and soldierly in his muStard-Colored clothes, wass as usual, the man of distinction. Black start cd the whisper going that the dark stranger was General de Ia Vega, the Mexican commissioner.
 What was he doing in that groupF 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.
 It was known throughout the valley that the work at the intake was not yet begun; that Rickard was waiting there for orders; that Faraday and the president of the United States
 
 the responsibility for the future con- trol of the river. Faraday's eagerness to shift his burden was looked upon as suspicious. It was in the air that the officers of the Overland Pacific would dznand a 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 rsilroad, only, had power to effect 1t. These conservatives were counseling caution. Only that morning, the Star had issued an extra, a special edition pleading for co-opera- ton. eff the river breaks out again" warned Brandons 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 antagonlZe the railroad? The Desert Reclamation company, it is well known, is bankrupt. For the instant, the railroad has assumed the responsibilities of the smaller organi- zation. Apply the same situation to individuals. Suppose q private citizen Is in straits, and another comes for ward to help him. Must every cred itor assume that the Samaritan should pay the crushed citizens bllls7 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 unshared table, could see the anxious curiosity | setting toward the railroad group. Over glasses, heads were close to- gether. Near him, the talk ran high. 1 Scraps of infammable speeches blew | his way from Barton's party.
 l Hardin's mouth wore a set sheer. Water company talk!' Black was l haranguing his comrades. Stand out l against them. Don't let them bluff ! you. Marshall will try to bluff you Stand togetherl'' Barton's resonant organ broke through the chatter Marshall is not going to bluff us.' 1 Grace and Black began to talk a once 1 Hardin's lip grew rougher. Where had they all been If it had not been for nim? Why. he'd pulled them from l their little farms back East, where 1 they were toiling-where they'd be l -oiling yet. They'd had the vision ot l sudden wealth-they hadn't the grit l 0 work for 1t, to wait for it! How
 lany years had he been struggling
 Ie was Q young man when he'd gone -,+a hn o1A Coffee and cigars had beer
 cached of the midday dinner. Bab
 'ock was nervously consulting hi. 1 'atCh. "Shouldn't we arrange the
 leeting?' he asked for the third time
 he social and casual air of the meet
 g had teased him. What had the DO tical situation in Mexico to do witt | le important session confronting
 lem? His fussy soul had no politt 1 lions; office rooms every one of
 le:n. MacLean looked to Tod Mar shall to answer.
 q think it will arrange itself" Hi: voice was silken. "It is to be a dis cussfon, a conference. You can't slat that
 I've could program" began Bab cock, looking at his watch again.
 q don't think we'll have to-" Mar shall smiled across the table. "You'l find this meeting will run itself Ther is not man here who is not burnin to speak. Look at them now! Drol q paper in that crowd, and see tn blaze you'd get! You can open tn meeting, MT. Babcock, and I woul suggest that you call on Mir. De l: Vega first"
 (Continued Monday
 House committee agrees on Victor