The Elbert County tribune., 1919-05-09

now. Sent some ALFRED. independent
kindergarten orders to the Indians.
Says they have to be In bed by ten
o'clock. or some such hour on Satur-
day and Sunday nights. It's a strike.
their answer. That's what his monkey
ing has brought down on u.s."
They're not going to quitT
They've sent word they won't work
on Mondays. and they will 60 to bed
when they choose Saturday nights.
Losing one day q weekl We can't
stand for that. Luck's been playing
into his hands. but this will show him
ap. This'n show Marshall his pet
clerk. Tell Casey there'll be no In
dians tomorrow" He sputtered an
grily out OF the office.
Rickard seemed pleased when Mac
Lean made the announcement a few
hours later.
His secretary was weighing him.
'what do you Intend to do about it7"
"Call their bluff" grlnned Casey.
showing teeth tobacco had not had q
chance to spoil. Boycott them"
MacLean found Wooster at the river
were watching a plle-driver set re-
bellious pile. Two new trestles were
to supplement the one which had been
bent out of line by the weight OF set
Ting drift. Marshall's plan was being
| followed, though jeered at by reclama-
| tion men and the engineers of the ID.
| II. company.
"Stop the mattress weaving and
dump like hell ~ had been his orders.
Boycott the Indians. well I'm
bowed" the beady eyes sparkled at
Hardin. ''Now he's cut his own
| throat"
by the eternali" swore Hardin.
MacLenn left the two engineers match.
| ing oaths.
There was an ominous quiet the next
| day. Not an Indian offered to work at
| the river. A few stolld bucks came to
| their tasks on Tuesday morning; they
were told by Rickard himself that
there was no work for mem. Rlckard
| appeared Ignorant of the antagonism
| of the engineers.
An unfathered rumor started that
Richard was In with the Reclamation
| to fail; to be adopted by the Service.
| MacLean broke lance or two against
the absurd slander. He was making
the discovery that n mans friendship
for man may be deeper than mans
love for woman. He was Richard
man. He was made to feel the re-
proach Of 1t.
| Wednesday not an Indian reported
Coronel passed from camp to camp
his advice unpopular. Scouts sent out
to watch the work on the river report.
ed 1t was crippled. The white mnn
would be sending for the Indian soon
The waiting braves sat on theiI
launches, grinning and smoking thelI
pipes.
Saturday night the camp went
gIoomily to bed. On the Indian side
there was no revel. no feasting OF
| dancing.
Rickard did not turn In until after
midnight. planning alternatives. Hs
was sleeping hard when MacLean, al
dawn, dashed into his tent.
"Quick, what does this meant"
1t was a splendid. spectacle, and
staged superbly. For background. the
sharp-edged mountains flushing to
pinks and purples -.gainst one-hued
sky; the river-growth of the old chan
mel uniting them. blottIng out miles o,
| desert into fiat scene. On the op
posite bank of the New r'-er, five
hundred strong. lined up formldably,
their faces grotesque and ferocious
with paint. were the seven tribes. The
SUMS rays glinted up from their fire.
arms, shotguns, revolvers. into mot
ley of defiancel Cocopahs. with
streaming hair, blanketed Navajos,
short-haired Pimas. those In front rein.
Ing In their silent pinto ponies, and all
motionless, silent In that early morn,
ing light.
"What does 1t mean?' whispered
MacLean. Rickard did not answer. Ha
had one nauseous instant as he looked
| toward Innes' tent. Then he broke Into
laughter.
"See. the white horse, no. In frcpt--
by jove," MacLean slapped his
thigh. "CoroneIi They had me buf.
faloed. What do you think 1t is7"
RIckard stepped out Into the wash
Of morning air and waved a solemn
salute across the river. Gravely II
was returned by Coronel.
"What does 1t meanT demanded
MacLean.
ut means we've won," chuckled his
chief, coming back into his tent.
An hour later Coronel led In a picked
group Of the tribes. If the white chief
would recall the boycott the Monday
strike was over. The white mans sill.
yer had won.
Cro BE coNTINUED)