Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-05-02
share the plaudits his wonderful voice

LIS eyes we're on neT now, Sne Knew,
questioning, not quite sure of her. She
had worried him yesterday because
she would not pledge herself to marry
MIN If he sued for his divorce. She
had told him to ask her that after the
courts had set him free. She could
not have him sure of her.
An exclamation from him recalled
her. She found that he was no longer
staring at her; his eyes were fixed on
the trembling structure over which a
"battleship," laden with rock, was
creeping.
Il want to stay with you. YOU know
that dearest. But it doesn't feel right
to see them all working like niggers
and me loafing here. You don't mind?"
Oh, no, Gerty did not mind! She
was tired, anyway! She was going
back to her tent
He thrust yellow paper into her
hands. 81 sent that off today. Per-
haps you will be glad?"
She flung another of her inscrutable
smiles at him., and went up the bank,
the paper unread in her hands.
The long afternoon wore away. They
were now dynamiting the largest rocks
on the cars before unloading them.
The heavy loads could not be emptied
quickly enough. Not dribbled, the rock,
but dumped simultaneously, else the
gravel and rock might be washed
down stream faster than they could be
put together. Many cars must be I'M
loaded at once; the din on Silent's
train was terrific. His crew looked
| like devils, drenched from the spray
which rose from the river each time
the rock-pour began; blackened by the
smoke from the belching engine. THE
river was ugly in its wrath. 1t was
humping itself for its final stand
against the absurdity of human inten-
tloni its yellow tail swished through
the 5ents of the trestle.
The order came for more speed
Rickard moved from bank to raft;
knee deep in water, screaming orders
through the din; directing the gangs
speeding the rock trains. Hardin oscil-
lated between the levee and dams, TAX
ing orders, giving orders. His energy
was superb. 1t had grown dark, but
no one yet had thought of the lights,
the great Wells burners stretched
acroas the channel. Suddenly, the
lights flared out brightly.
Not one of those who labored or
watched would ever forget that night.
The spirit of recklessness entered
even into the stolid native. The men
of the Reclamation forgot this was not
their enterprise; the Hardin faction
jumped to Richards orders. The
watchers on the bank sat tense,
thrilled out of recognition of aching
muscles, or the midnight creeping chill.
No one would go home.
To Innes, the struggle was vested
in two men, Rickard running down
yonder with that light foot of his, and
Hardin with the fighting mouth tense.
And somewhere. she remembered.
working with the rest, was Estrada.
Those three were fighting for the justi-
fcation of a vision-an idea was at
stake, hope for the future.
Richard passed and repassed her.
those hours would he think of her, NOT
until the idea failed, or was trium-
phant, would he turn to look for her.
Visibly, the drama moved toward its
climax. Before many hours passed the
river would be captured or the idea
forever mocked. Each time a belchins
engine pulled across that hazardous
| Onl IL fo -iI 10
Each time the waters, slowly rising
hurled their weight against the creak-
ing trestles where the rock was thin
point was gained by the militant riv
er. Its roar sounded like the last cry
of q wounded animal in lines ear
the Dragon was a reality that night as
it spent its rage against the shackles
of puny men.
Molly Silent had seen her husband.
train pull in. She watched for it Il
go out again. The whistle blew twice
Something was wrong. She left hel
place in time TO see Silent, his fac,
shining ghastly pale under the SCOT
: pull himself up from the 'battleship
, where he had been leaning. Estrada
, sent by Rickard to find out why tn
train did not pull out, saw him tn
same instant as did Molly. Silen
i swayed, waving them back unseeingly
like man who is drunk.
"God, man, you can't go like that !!
cried Estrada.
l. .tWho's going?" demanded Silent, hi
tongue thick with thirst and eXhaus
ton. The whistle blew again.
81 will ~ The train moved out O
the trestle, as the whistle blew angril
q twice. Only Molly and Silent saw F.
w trada go. Silent staggered unseeingl
1t up the bank toward the camp, Mol
a following.
The river was humping out yOnder
N the rolling mass came roaring, flanl
on, against the dam.
"Quick, for Gods sake, quick
yelled Rickard. His signals sounde
short and sharp. dump it on, thrO
the cars in!' Marshall was dancin
ne his mouth full of oaths, on the ban
I'd edge. Breathlessly all watched tt
d. rushing water fling itself over the daI
IN For several hushed seconds the stru
ut ture could not be seen. When IL
)n foam fell, a cheer went up. The da
N. was standing. Silent, it was suppose
s. was bringing in his train.
Above the distant Jagged line
sp mountains rose q red ball. A new ds
ed began. And again the Dragon rose;
re mountain of water came rolling 3aI
lis ward
en- Three trains ran steaming on Il
rails.
es, Don't stop now to blast the b
TX. ones. Pour 'em onv' ordered Rickar
A There was a long wait before al
lc- rock fell. Marshall and Richard wa
Id ed for the pour. The whistles BILE
lc- again. Then they saw what W
er. wrong. The morning light showed
rock weighing several tons which w
t." resisting the efforts of the pressi
IN crew. Out of the gloom sprang 9th
figures with crowbars. The rock t
lie tered, fell. The river tossed it
m. though it were q tennis ball, sent