Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1919-02-14

MarshaII sends for RIekard.


The large round clock was striking
nine as Casey" Richards dancing step
carried him into the outer Office OF Tod
Marshall The usherIng clerk. coat
less aud vcstiess IN expectation OF the
third hot spring day, made a critical
appraisement 81 the engineers get-up
before he spoke. Then he stated that
Mfr. Marshall had not yet come.
For London tie and white silk
shirt beltcd into white serge trousers
were smart for Tucson. The clerks
in the employ OF the Overland Pacific
and OF the Sonora and Yaqui railroads
had stared at Richard us he entered
they followed his progress through the
room. He was newcomer Ia Tucson.
He had not yet acquired the apatheuc
habits OF IFS citizens. He wore belts,
instead Of suspenders. His white
trousers, duck or serge. carried new
ly pressed crease each morning.
The Office had not reached a verdict
on the subject Of X. G. Richard. The
shirt-sleeyed. collarless clerks would
have been quick to dub him dandy
were IL not for page OF his history
that was puzzling them. He had held
a chair OF engineering In some eastern
city. He had resigned, the wind-tosscd
page said. 10 20 ON the road ms
fireman. His rapid promotion had
been spectacular. the last move.
few years ago. to on an Office position
In Tucson. The summons had found
him on the west coast OF Mexico
where the Overland Pacific was push
ing it's tracks.
~ss5u can wait here" suggested the
clerk. looking coyertly AT the shoes OF
the man who a few years before had
been shoyeling coal ON Wyoming en-.
CINE. "Mr Marshall said 10 wait
Ribbons. instead OF shoe iacesl"
cnrped the human machine that must
ever write letters which other men
sign. "And blue pin 20 match his
tie call that going somer
II would never have occurred TO
Richard. had he thought about Il at
all that morning as he knottcd his tie
Of dark. brilliant blue silk. that the
selection Of his lapIs pin was choice
n WAS an inevitable result, an instlnc-
tive discretion OF his fingers. IL
warped. however, the suspended Judg-
ment Of Mnrshalls men. who had
never seen him shoyellng coal. dlsAg-
ured By denim Jumper They did
not know that they themselves were
Stevens. ruined by the climate that
dulls vanity and willis collars.
"Give him a year TO change some OF
his fine habits r. wagered Smythe. the
stoop.sh0ultered clerk as the door OF
the inner Office closed
TO change his habits less :" amend
ed the Office wit And then they fell
20 speculutIng what Marshall was go
Ing 10 do with him. What pawn was
be ln The game that everyone In Tue
son followed with eager sclf-interested
c0nceruf Marshalrs was the control
ling hand IN Arizona politics; the
maker Of governors. the arbiter OF big
corporations; president Of nals'
dozen railroads. Not a move OF bis
on the board that escaped notice.
on the other side Of the door Rick
ard was echolng the Office question.
This play job. where did Il lead TOT
He had liked his work. under Stration.
There hsd been some pretty problems
% meet--what did Marshall mean 10
do with blla3
The note had set the appointment
FOR nine. Rlckard glanced az his
watch and took out his Engineering
Review. Il woulc bc ten before that
door opened Oh Tod sfarshail
he knew that. on the road. Mar
khaiPs work Besan az dawn. "A man
won't break from 0yerHork or rust
from underworld II he fellows the sxs
ample o. the sun. Richard had often
heare him e1pound his fafofite the
org. 1T Is caiy ~. Essgr-- tue syba-
rites, who can afford 10 pcrtert the
Arrangement nature intended for US
But 80 Tucson. controlled IS the wife
iy s0neltude 0f his Claudia. he was
coereed into regular peryersi0n. HIS
ossce never saw him untsl the morn
ipg was half gone.
A half-hour later Richard finished
readlpg a report % the diversion OF a
great western river. The name OF
Tl,omas Hardin had sent him of on
a tangent Of memory. The Thomas
Hardin whose efforts 70 bring water
10 The desert Of the Colorado had been
60 aD..ctacnlariy unsuccessful was the
Tor Hardin tie had known' Tie Sis