The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1919-02-21
CHAPTER III.
The BLESSING of Aridity.

me Blessing OF Hrloity.
When Rickard left the main line at
Imperial Junction the next afternoon
his eyes followed the train he was
deserting rather than the, one that
was to carry him to his new labors.
He felt again the thrill of detachment
that invariably preceded his entrance
into a new country. With the pulling
up of the porter's green-carpeted stool,
the slamming of the train gates, the
curtain fell on the Tucson set scene.
The long line of cars was pushing
off with it's lfnen-covered Pullmans
and diners, steaming down grade
toward the Sink, the depression which
had been primeval sea, and then des-
ert, and was now sea again. Old
Beach, rechristened Imperial Junction
for railroad convenience, was itself
lower than the ancient sea line where
once the gulf had reached. Richard
knew he could find shells at that des-
ert station should he look for them.
He picked up his bag that the porter
had thrown on the ground and faced
the rung-down curtain.
Its painted scene was yellow sta
tion house broiling under a desert
sun; large water tank beyond, and
in the distance the inevitable card
board mountains, like property scene
shifts, fiat and thin in their unreal
hues Of FURNISHED pink and purple. A
dusty accommodation train was back
ing and switching, picking up the
empty refrigerator cars to carry into
the valley for the early melon growers.
Already the valley had asserted its
industrial Importance; the late ram
page Of the Colorado had made it
spectacular. Those who would pay
little attention to the opening Of q
new agricultural district in the heart
of dreaded desert opened their ears
to the vagary Of the river which had
sportiyely made Of part of that des-
ert an inland sea. Scientists were
rushing their speculations into print; |;
would the sea dwindle by evaporation,
as it had done before? Or would the
overflow maintain the paradoxical
sea?
The food signs were apparent.
There cracks had split the desert
sand; here water assures had men-
aced the track; and to the south a
fringe Of young willows hid the path
Of the Colorado's debouch.
The men crowding the platform
wore the motley Of the new country.
In Tucson the uniform Of the male
citizens, with the exception Of those
reckless ones who found inevitably
that lotus is liquid, was the wilted
pretense Of a gentle civilization; de-
spondent ducks and khakis and limp
collars. Imperial Junction marked the
downfall OF the collar. The rest of
the composite costume was irregular,
badly Numbered and torn, faded and
sunburned; the clothes of the desert
soldier. Rickard saw buttonless
shirts, faded overalls, shabby hats
the sombrero Of Mexico. The faces
under the broad-brimmed hats made q
Ieaping impression upon him Of youth
and eagerness. He noted a significant
average Of intelligence and alertness.
This was not the indolent group of
men which makes pretense of occu-
patton whenever a train comes in!
"Going int" asked voice at his ear.
A pair Of faded eyes set In a young
old face, whether early withered or
well preserved he had not time to de-
ter1nine, was staring at him.
He assured his interlocutor that he
was going in. His mood isolated the
phrase; its significance vastly differ
ent from "going on"
"Buying?;'
II think not"
ut is good time to buy" Rickard
suspected real estate agent. ''For
land is low-rock bottom prices on
account Of the uneasiness about the
river. People are afraid. They want
to see the company redeem some Of
Its promises before they come in; and
the company isn't in much Of a
hurry"
Rickard asked what company he re-
ferred to.
The young-old face with the faded
eyes looked at him in surprise. "The
ID. r. company, Desert Reclamation,
which brought. US all here"