Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1919-02-19

he's a raw dancer, always starts off
too quick. begins on the wrong foot.
Oh. YES. he has reasons. lots of them,
that fellow. but. as you say. they're
not reasonable. He never waits to get
ready"
Why was it that the face of the
half-Slster came to Richard then. with
that look of sensitive high breeding
and guarded reserve? And she Har-
din Sister to the lUud-spilling mouth /!
Queer cards nature deals And pretty
cards Marshall was trying to deal out
to him. Go down there and finish
Hardin's job, show him up to be the
fumbler he was. give him orders. give
the husband of Gerty Holmes or
ders-l
ut was Hardin who came to me.
but not until he'd tried everything
else. They'd worked for months try
ing to dam the river with a few lace
handkerchiefS. and perhaps chiffon
veil :" Marshall was twinkllng over
his own humor Hardin did put up
good talk. 1t was true, rs he said !;
we'd had to move our tracks three.
no, four times at Salton. 1t was true
that it ought to be one of the richest
districts tapped by the Q. f. But he
clenched me by clever baltic put
out Il spur in Mexico which would
keep any other railroad off by n fifty
mile parallel. and there the sandhills
make a railroad impossible.
"The government must eventually
come to the rescue. Their works at
Laguna hang ON the control of the
river down at the heading. Once, he
told mel don't know how much
truth there was in 1.-THE service, rec
lamation service, did try to buy up
their plant for a paltry sum, He
wouldn't SELL The short is. l recon-
mended long-sighted assistance to
Faraday. / promised to turn that
river, save the district. We expected
before the year was out to have the
government take the responsibility off
our hands"
Richard made an impatient shrug.
A nice problem Marshall had taken
unto himself. He wanted none of It,
Hardin-the thing was impossible
lie met laggardly Marshalls story.
He heard him say: agreed with Far
aday. The Desert Reclamation com
pany was as helpless as swaddled
infant. We made the condition that
we reorganize the company. | was
put in Hardin's place as president of
the corporation. and he was made gen
eral manager. OF course we had TO
control the stock. We put up two
hundred thousand dollars - Hardin
had estimated 1t would cost us less
than half that! It's cost us already
la million. Things haven't been going
right Faraday's temper burst out.
and Hardin a while back was asked
TO resign"
"And 1t is Hardin's position that
you want me 10 flip" His voice
sounded queer to himself--dry, mock
ing, as If anyone should know what
an absurd thing he was being asked
to do. He felt Marshall's sharp In
dian eyes on him, as If detecting pet
tiness. Well, he didn't care how Mar
shall interpreted it. That place wasn't
for him.
II want you in control down there"
Richard knew he was being appraised,
balanced all over again. 1t made no
difference
I'm sorry" he was beginning, when
Marshall cut in.
Good Lord, you are not going to
turn it DOWN."
He met Marshalrs incredulous
stare. ITS job I'd jump at under
most circumstances. But / can't go.
sir"
Tom Marshall leaned back the full
swing of his swivel chair. blankly
astounded His eyes told Richard
that he had been found wanting-he
had white blood In his veins.
at is good OF you to think of me-
pshaw! 1t is absurd to say these
things. You know that | know IL is
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