The Elbert County tribune., 1919-03-14

ginning TO see what he's up against
ran Hardin's stormy thoughts.
BE was on his feet the next minute
with = motion to complete tho Hardin
headgate. Violently he deciaimed to
Babcock and MacLean his wrongs. the
injustice that had been done him. Mar
shall had let that fellow Maitland con-
tcable; had 1t not been for him the
gate would be in place now; all this
time and money saved And the Malt
land dam, built insteadi Where was
1t! Where was the money, the time.
put in that little toy? SickeningI His
face purpled over the memory. Why
was he allowed TO begin again with
the gate? Answer me that. Why
was / allowed to begin again7 It's an
child's play. that's what 1t is And
when am In 1t again up to my neck
he pulls me orr
This was the real Hardin. the un-
couth. averaged Lawrence student !
The new manner was just a veneer.
Rickard had been expecting 1t to wear
thin.
II think" Interjected Rickard, "that
we all agree with Mr.. Marshall. Mr..
Hardin. that a wooden headgnte on silt
foundation could never be more than
| makeshift. / understood that the
first day he visited the river with you
he had the Idea to put the ultimate
gate. the gate which would control the
water supply OF the valley. up at the
Crossing on rock foundation. Mr.. Mar
shall does not expect to finish that In
time to be of first use. He hopes the
wooden gate will solve the immediate
problem. 1t was n case of any port In
a Storm He has asked me to report
| my opinion"
why doesn't he give me a chance
to go ahead them" growled the de-
posed manager. "Instead of letting
the intake widen until II will be an i'm
possibility to confine the river there
at all2"
$50 you do think that 1t will be an
impossiblity to complete the gate as
plannedr
Hardin had run too fast. 81 didn't
| mean that" he stammered. 81 mean
1t will be difficult IL we are delayed
much longer"
"Have you the force to re-begin
work at once?" demanded Rickard.
81 had It," evaded Hardin. II had
everything ready to go on-men. ma
terial - when we stopped the last
! time"
Answer my question, please"
81 should have to assemble them
| again." admitted Hardin sulkily.
Rickard consulted his notebook. 'T
think we've covered everything. Now
l want to propose the laying of spur
track from Hamlin's Junction to the
Heading" His manner cleared the
stage of supernumeraries; this was
the climax. Hardin looked ready to
spring,
| "And In connection with that the de-
velopment of quarry In the granite
hills back of Hamln's." continued Rick
ard. not looking at Hardin.
| Instantly Hardin was on his feet.
His fist Numbered on the table. II
shall oppose that" he 1ared. 1T is abb
solutely unnecessary. We can't afford
it. Do you know what that will cost,
gentlemen?"
"One hundred thousand dollars -
Rickard interrupted him. "I want an
appropriation this morning for that
amount. 1t is. in my opinion. abso-
lntely necessary IL we nre to save the
Wiley. We cannot afford not to do it.
Mr.. Hardin!"
Hardin glared at the other men for
support; he found MacLean's face a
blank wall Estrada looked uncom-
Portable. Babcock had pricked up his
ears at the sound of the desired appro-
priation; his head on one side, he
looked like an inquisitive terrier.
Hardin spread out his hands in help
less desperation. You'll ruin u.s." he
said. TITS your money, the o. P.'s,
but you're lending 1t, not giving 1t to
us. You are going to swamp the Des-
ert Reclamation company. We can't
throw funds away like that" One hun
dred thousand dollarsl Why. he could
have stepped the river at any time II
he had had that sum; once a paltry
thousand would have saved them 81
didn't ask the o. =. to come in and
ruin us. but to stop the river; not to
throw money away in hog-wild fash
ion" He was stammering inarticulate-
ly. There's no need of spur-track
If you rush my gate through"
"If." Richard nodded. "Granted. II
we can rush 1t through. But suppose
it fails? Marshall said the railroad
would stand for no contingencies. The
interests at stake are too vital"
Interests - cried Tom Hardin.
what do you know of the interest at
stake? You or your railroad? Coming
in at the eleventh hour, what can you
know? Did you promise safety to thou
sands of families II they made their
homes In this valley? Are you response
bile? Did YOU get I'D this company. in