The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1919-04-24

@
He was on his feet the next minute
with a motion TO complete the Hardin
headgate. Violently he acclaimed to
Babcock and MacLean his wrongs, the
injustice that had been done him. Mar
shall had let that fellow Maitland con-
vince him that the gate was not prac-
ticable; had II not been for him the
gate would be In place now; all this
time and money saved. And the Matt
land dam, built instead Where was
lit Where was the money, the time,
put In that little toy1 S~ickening! His
face purpled over the memory. Why
was he allowed to begin again with
the gate? Answer me that. Why
was / allowed to begin again? It's all
chlld's play, that's what 1t Is. And
when / am in it again up to my neck
he pulls me on"
This was the real Hardin, the IN
couth, averaged Lawrence student /!
The new manner vas just a veneer.
Richard had been expecting it to wear
thin.
II think" INTERCEPTED Rickard, that
we all agree with Mr.. Marshall, Mr..
Hardin, that a wooden ~headgate on silt
foundation could lever be more than
a 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. II was a case Of any port IN
a storm. He has asked NE to report
my opinion"
"Why doesn't he give m.A a chance
to go ahead thenr growIsd the de-
posed manager. "Instesd If letting
the intake widen Until IL vin be an i'm
possibility to cOndne the II yer there
at all?"
$50 you do thir,k that II Htll be an
impossiblity to complete this gate as
planned1"
Hardin had run too fast I didn't
mean that" he stammered. 4 mean
1t will be difficult If We are delayed
much longer"
Have you the force t. :e-begin
work at oncel' demanded Rick ard.
81 had it," evaded Hardin. II had
everything ready to go sn-n,en, ma.
terial - when we stopped the last
time"
ANSWER my question, please"
II should have TO assemble them
again" admitted Hardin sulkiiy.
Richard consulted his notebook. 81
think we've covered everything. Now
l want 20 propose the laying of a spur
track from Humlin'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-
veIopment Of a quarry in the granite
hills back of Hamlin's," continued Rick
ard, not looking at Hardin.
Instantly Hardin was on his feet.
His fist Numbered on the table. IL
shall oppose that" he fiared. ut is alb
solutely unnecessary. We can't afford
it. Do you know what thar will cost,
gentlemen"
zone hundred thousand dollars I"
Richard interrupted him. al want an
appropriation this morning for that
amount. 1t is, in my opinion, abso-
lutely necessary II we are to save the
valley. We cannot afford not to do 1t,
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 IN inquisitive terrier.
Hardin spread out his hands in help
less desperation. you'll ruin u.s." he
said. "It's your money, tie o. P.'s,
but you're lending IL, not giving it to
US. You are going to swamp the Des-
throw funds away like that" One hun
dred thousand dolIarsl Why, he could
have stopped 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. p. 70 come in and
ruin US, but to stop the river; not to
throw money away in hog-wild fash
ION" He was stammering i~narticulate-
ly. There's no need OF a spur-track
il you rush my gate through"
~If." Richard nodded. Granted. II
we ran rush 1t through. But suppo e
il failsl Marshall said the railroad
would stand for no contingencies. The
interests at stake are too vital"
"InterestsI~ cried Tom Hardin.
what do you know Of the interest at
staker You or your railroadi Coming
In at the eleventh hour, what can you
knowf Did you promise safety to thou
sands Of families IL they made their
homes in this valleyf Are you RESPONSE
BILE! Did you get up this company, In
| duce your friends to put their money
In Il, promise to see them through?
| What do you know OF the interests at
stalker You want to put n hundred
thousand dollars into q rrill. God. do
you know what that e to my
company 1t ear ruin" Estrada