The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-05-02

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 quit?"
"Theyye sent word they won't work
on Mondays, and they will go to bed
when they choose Saturday nights.
Losing one day a week. 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 there1l be no In
dams tomorrow" He sputtered an
grily out of the Office.
Richard seemed pleased when Mac
Lean made the announcement a few
hours later.
His secretary was weighing him.
''What do you intend to do about it?"
Call their bluff" grinned Casey,
showing teeth tobacco had not had a
chance to spoil. Boycott them"
MacLean found Wooster at the river
bank with Tom Hardin. The two men
were watching a pile-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 reelama-
ton men and the engineers of the d.
r. company.
"Stop the mattress weaving and
dump like help had been his orders.
Boycott the Indians, well I'm
bowed" the beady eyes sparkled at
Hardin. Nov he's cut his own
throat"
"By the eternall" swore Hardin.
MacLean 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 stolid bucks came to
their tasks on Tuesday morning; they
were told by Richard himself that
there was no work for mem. Richard
appeared ignorant of the antagonism
of the engineers.
An unfathered rumor started that
Richard was in with the Reclamation
Service men; that he wanted the work
to fail; to be adopted by the Service.
MacLean broke lance or two against
the absurd SANDER. He was making
the discovery that a mans friendship
for man may be deeper than a mans
love for woman. He was Richard
man. He was made to feel the re-
proach of it.
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 it was crippled. The white man
would be sending for the Indian soon.
The waiting braves sat on their
launches, grinning and smoking their
pipes.
Saturday night. the camp went
gloomily to bed. On the Indian side
there was no reyel, no feasting or
dancing.
Richard did not turn in until after
midnight, planning alternatives. He
was sleeping hard when MacLean, at
dawn, dashed into his tent.
Quick, what does this mean?"
1t was a splendid spectacle, and
staged superbly. For background, the
sharp-edged mountains flushing to
pinks and puppies .gainst one-hued
sky; the river-growth of the old chan
mel uniting them, blotting out miles of
desert into fiat scene. On the op-
posite bank of the New river, five
hundred strong, lined up formidably,I
their faces grotesque and ferocious
with paint, were the seven tribes. The
suns rays glinted up from their fire.
arms, shotguns, revolvers, into q mot
ley of defiancel Cocopahs, with
streaming hair, blanketed Nayaios.
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 it mean?" whispered
MacLean. Richard did not answer. He
had one nauseous instant as he looked
toward Innes' tent. Then he broke into
laughter.
See, the white horse, no, in 'front.'"
by jove," MacLean slapped his
thigh. "Coronel! They had me buff
faloed. What do you think it ISL"
kickard stepped out into the wash
OF morning air and waved a solemt~
salute across the river. Gravely it
was returned by Coronel.
What does it meanY demanded
MacLean.
1t means We've won,' chuckled hiS
chief' coming back into his tent.
An hour later Coronel led in 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.
CTO BE CONTINIIED