Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1919-03-14
CHAPTER w.


He left the dusty car with relief
when the twin towns were called. He
had expected to see Mexican town,
or at least Mexican influence, as
the towns Rugged the border, but it
was as wildly American as was I'M
perial or Brawley. There was the yell
lOw-painted station of the Overland
Pacific lines, the water tank, the eager
American crowd. Railroad sheds an
nounced the terminal of the road.
Backed toward the station was the in
evitable hotel bus of the country town,
q painted sign hanging over its side
advertising the Desert hotel. Before
he reached the step the vehicle was
crowded.
"Wait, gentlemen, I'm coming back
for a second load" called the darby
who was holding the reins.
eff you wait for the second trip you
won't get rOom," suggested a friend
ly voice from the seat above.
Richard threw his bag to the grin
ming negro and swung onto the crowd
ed steps.
Leaving the railroad sheds he OBJ
served building which he assumed
was the hotel. It looked promising.
attractive with it's wide encircling We
randa and the patch of green which
distance gave the dignity of lawn.
But the darby whipped up his stolid
horses. Richards eyes followed the
patch of green.
The friendly voice from above told
him that that was the office of the
Desert Reclamation company. His
next survey was more personal. He
saw himself entering the play as the
representative of company that was
distrustad if not indeed actively hated
by the valley folk. 1t amused him that
his entrance was so quiet as to be sur
reptitious. 1t would have been quieter
had Marshall had his way. But he
himself had stipulated that Hardin
should be told of his coming. He had
seen the telegram before It left the
Tucson office. He might be assuming
an unfamiliar role in this complicated
drama of river and desert, but = was
The heavy bus was blowing slowly
through the dust of the street. Rick
ard was given ample time to note the
limitations of the new town. They
passed two brick stores of general
merchandise, lemons and WOODEN
goods. stockings and crackers disport-
ing fraternally in their windows. A
board sign swinging from the over"
hanging porch of the most pretentious
building announced the post Office.
From a small adobe hung a brass
plate advising the stranger of the
Bank of Calexico. The 'dobe pressed
close to another two-storied structure
of the desert type. The upper floor,
supported by posts, extended over the
sidewalk Melted wire screened away
the desert mosquito and gave the over
hanging gallery the grotesque appear
ance of huge fencing mask. From
the street could be seen rows of beds,
as in hospital wards. Calexico, it was
seen, slept out of doors.
desert hotel" bawled the darby,
refining in his placid team.
ayes, sab, I'll look out for your bag.
Got your room? The hotels mighty
sure to be full. Not many women yit
down this away. All the men
mostly lives right heah at the hotel"
Richard made dive from swirl of
dust into the hotel. The long line he
anticipated st the desk was not there.
He stopped to take in valley innova-
ton. One end of the long counter had
been converted into a saltwater bar.
The high swivel stools in front of the
white marbled stand, with its towering
oliver fixtures, were crowded with dust
parched occupants OF the bus. A white
coated youth was pouring coiored
sirups into tall glasses; there was a
blinking Of ice; sizzling of siphons.
That's new one on me-" grinned