Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-04-05

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force WAS put on the river; these, the
weaTers Of the brush mattresses that
were to line the river bed. On the
banks were the brush cutters; tons Of
willows were to be cut to weave into
the forty miles Of woven wire cable
waiting for the cross strands. Day
by day the piles Of willow branches
grew higher. the brush cutters work
ing ahead Of the mattress workers in
the stream. In the dense underground
the stOlid Indians. Pimas and Marico-
pas and PapagOes, struggled with the
fierce thorn of the mesquit and the
oyerpower1ng smell Of the arrow
weed. As tough as the hickory handles
they welded. they fought a clearing
through dense thickets in the intense
trople heat.
Down stream the Brobdingnagian
arm Of the dredge fell into the mud Of
the bypass, dropping its slimy burden
on the far bank. Down the long
stretch Of levee the "skinnersH drove
their mules and serapers; two pile
drivers were setting in the treacher-
Gus stream the piles which were to
anchor the steel-cahled mattresses to
the river bed. 1t was a well-organized,
active scene. Rickard. in his office,
debating letters and kilograms to Mac
Lean, Jr., felt his first satisfaction.
Things were beginning to show the re-
suit Of months of planning. Cars were
rushing in from north and east; every
quarry between Los Angeles and Tue
son requisitioned for their undertak-
ing.
/ A shadow fell on the pine desk.
Ling, IN blue ticking shirt and white
butcher apron. waited for. the boss"
to look up. lie stood wlping the per-
spiratlOn from his head, hairless ex-
cept for the long silk-tapered queue.
swell, Lingg"
Il go tamale." His voice was soft
as silk. Il no stay"
II was a thunderclap. There was
no one to replace Ling, who was
drawing down the salary of a private
secretary. Lose Ling? 1t would be
more demoralizing to the camp than
to lose an engineer.
"Money all lite. Bossee all lite. No
llkee woman. Woman she stay, Ling
CO."
"Mrs. Hardlnw Richard woke up.
"She all time makee trouble. She
clazy. She think woman vellee fine
cook. She show Ling cooliee pluaes.
Teachee Ling cookee plunes! l no
stay that woman Unutterable final
ity in the leathern face. Rickard and
MacLean, Jrp exchanged glances
which deepened from concern into
perplexity. They could not afford to
lose Ling. And offend Mrs. Hardin,
the camp already Hardinesque?
Rlckard grew placating. He spent
a half hour wheedling. They met at
the starting place. Ling go tamale."
"Oh, Lord" groaned the manager
captivating. "All right, Ling"
With the dignity of an oriental
prince, Ling pattered out of the tent,
Richard was puckering his lips at his
secretary. "Td' rather take castor
OIL"
A half hour later, MacLean saw his
chief leave his tent. He was in fresh
linens.
Il wouldn't swap places with him
this minutel She'll be as mad as a
wet hen!"
Mrs. Hardin, from her bed by her
screen window, saw him coming She
slipped into a semlnegligee of alter
nate rows of lace and swiss construct
ed for such possible emergencies. She
did not make the mistake Of smooth
ing her hair; her instinct told her
that the fluffy disorder bore out the
use Of the negligee. She was sew
ing In her ramada when Richards
knock sounded on the screen door.
Despite his protests she started wa
ter boiling in her chatting dish. He
had not time for tea. he declared, but
she insisted on making this call Of a
social nature. She opened a box Of
sugar waters her zeal that Of a child
with toy kitchen; she was playing
dolls house.
Richard made several openings for
his errsnd, but her wits sped like
a gopher from his labored digging.
She met his mood with womanIy dig
nifty; she tutored her coquctries, with
held her archncss.
He found he would have to discard
blurt out his message; use
bludseons for this scampering agility.
my mission is a little awkward,
Mrs. Hardin ] hope you will take it
all right, that you will not be Of
Tended"
"OffendedT Her face showed
alarm.
"It's about Ling. He's a queer fell
low; they all are. you know" He
was laundering like a schoolboy I'M
der the growing shadow in Gerty's
blue eyes. "They resent authority
that is, from women. He is a tyraut,
Ling Is"
"YesI" All, she would not help him.
Let him flounderl
"Ile wants to be let alone; he
doesn't appreciate your kind help.
Mrs. Hardin"
"Oh" Her eyes were hot with