The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1919-04-15


watch. "Shouldn't we arrange the
meeting?" he asked for the third time.
The social, and casual air of the meet,
ing had teased him. What had the po-
litical situation. in Mexico to do with
the important , session confronting
them? His fussy soul had no polite
salons; office rooms every one Of
them. MacLean looked to Tod Mar
shall to answer. e.. ...
. II think it will arrange ITSELF" His
voice was silken. 1T is to be a dis
cussion, conference. You can't slate,
that" -. .... ....
; "We could program" began Bah
cock, looking at his watch again.
"I don't think wen have to-" Mar
shall smiled across. the table. "You1l
find this meeting will run itself. There
is not a man here who is not burning
to speak. Look at them now! Drop
a paper in that crowd, ana see the
blaze you'd get!.. You can open THE
meeting, Mr.. Babcock, and would
suggest that you call on Mr.. De la
Vega first" y 49,.
The eyes Of the dining room fol-
lowed the party as they filed past the
buzzing tables. Faraday was not in
town; Marshall represented that pow!
er. AS he walked out, bowing right
and left, his right hand occasionally
extended In his well-known oratorical,
courteous gesture. His black tie was
stringing down his shirt front; his
black clothes were the worse for his
lunch. But NO one, save the Eastern
girls, saw spots or tie. The future of
that valley lay In that mans hand. no
matter how Black or Grace might
harangue. 1n-five minutes, the dining
room; v-::.s emptied. .." ''
4 As snow gently falling, had gath
cred the first damage suits OF the
snchers. The last flood had precipi-
,tated a tempera1nental storm. Men
were suing for the possible valnes OF
their farms, %impossible values OF
crops. = Not alone the companies had
been blanketed with the accusing pa
pers, but. against Mexico the white
drifts had piled up. Mexico! No one
knew better than Hardin how absurd
1t was to accuse the sister country OF
responsibility. A pretty pickle they
were in! Where was it all going to
end? .''.. :
In the lobby, Hardin ran up against
Brandon, who was following news
scent. Through the valley it was being
rumored that subscriptions were to be
asked for~the completion Of the work.
If this were the intention, there would
be hot meeting. .,&. '.
':%"You are going on the platform"
assumed the newspaper man. "NoF
Then will you sit with me?"
"If you. will sit upstairs. scowled
Hardin, 'T don't want to. be dragged
onto the platform"
Down in the orchestra, Black from
the Wistaria was haranguing a group
of gestlculating ranchers. Phrases
climbed to the men on the balcony
seats. "Keep their pledges. Promise
makers. Let them look at our crops!"
'If Marshall expects to coerce
those men, I lose my guess. Then he's
no Judge of men," cried Hardin.
'Look ut those faces" The floor was
. sea Of impassioned features.<
Something's going to drop" echoed
Brandon. =
From the wings, Babcock's inquisi.
tive glasses were seen to sweep the
house. Hardin could catch the sum-
mons Of an excited forefinger to the
group unseen. There was minute
of delay. Then Babcock's nervous
toddls carried him onto the stage.
De Ia Vega followed Babcock.
There was a hush Of curiosity. The
house did not know who he was. Be
hind him, soldierly, stiff, stalked Mac
Lean, Marshall's entrance released
the tongues. There was an interval
Of confusion on the stage. Babcock,
like "a restless terrier, was swapping
at the heels of the party. At last,
they were all fussily seated. De la
Vega was given the place Of honor.
Marshall, Babcock put on his left
MacLean on the right.
Babcock raised his staccato gaveL
A hush fell on the house. His words
were clipped and sharp.
"You have left your plowing to come
here. You are anxious to hear what
we have to say to you. You cannoi
afford to be, Indifferent to it. You ac-
knowledge, by your presence, de-
pendence, correlation which you
would like to deny. Irrigation means
cooperation, suffering together, strug
Cling together, succeeding together
You prefer the old individual way,
each man for himself. I tell you it
won't do. You belong in other coun'
tries, the countries Of old-fashioned
rain. You want to hear what we have
| to say to you, the company who saved
| the valley, the company you are suing
| But you have also suits against Mex