New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1919-03-28

write there. stating the need. AMI
there was a man in Zacatecas, named
Porter
"Frank Porter?" snecred Hardin.
"that-murderer?"
His brother" Richard answered
pleasantly. Jim furnishes the men
for the big mines In Sonora and Sina-
lOa. He'll send us all the labor we
want, the best for our purpose. When
1t gets red-hot. there's no one like a
peOn or an Indian.
you'll be infringing IN the interna-
tlonal contract law" suggested Mac
Lean.
mo. The camp is on the Mexican
side" laughed Casey. "I'd thought of
that. Wen have them shipped to the
nearest Mexican point, and then
brought to the border. Mr.. Estrada
will help u.s."
The meeting had already adjourned.
They were standing around the fiat
top desk. Estrada invited them all to
lunch with him, In the car on the sid
ing. MacLean said that he had to get
back to Los Angeles. Mr.. Babcock
vas going to take him out to Grants
Heading in the machine. He had new
err been there. They had breakfasted
late. He looked very much the colonel
to Richard, his full chest and stiff car
riage made more military by his trim
uniform of khaki-colored cloth.
May I speak to you about your boy,
Mr.. MacLean"
Hardin caught Il slight that vas not
intended. He pushed past the group
ut the door without civility or cere-
mOny.
The steady grave eyes Of the big
frame looked at Richard inquiringly.
HE wants to stay out another year.
I hope you will let him. It's not disln-
terested. l shall have to take a stenog-
rapher to the Heading this ummer.
There is a girl here; l couldn't take
her, and then, too, I'm Old~-fashioned I
don't like wOmen In offices. My posi-
ton promises to be n peculiar one. I'd
like to have your son to rely on for
emergencies a stenographer could not
cover"
MacLean's grave features relaxed as
he looked down on the engineer, who
was no small man himself, and sug-
gested that his son was not very well
up in stenography.
THAT'S the least of it,"
II hope that he will make a good
stenographer! Good morning, gentle
men,"
AT table, neither Estrada nor his
guest uncovered their active thought
which revolved around Hardin and his
hurt. Instead, Richard had questions
to ask his host on river history. AS
they talked, it came to him that some
thing was amiss-Estrada was ac-
he had all his facts. Was 1t
enthusiasm, sympathy, he lacked? Pres
emily he challenged him with it.
Estrada's eyes dreamed out of the
window, followed the gorge of the New
river, as though III there. somewhere.
the answer lowered.
"DO you mean. do you doubt it?" ex-
claimed Richard, watching the melan-
chOly In the beautiful eyes.
Estrada shook his head, but without
decision. Nothing you'd not laugh at.
| can laugh at 1t myself, sometimes"
Richard waited, not sure that any,
thing more was coming. The Next
dark eyes were troubled a puzzle
)roOded in them. "It's a purely mega
tive sense that I've had, since l was a
child. Something falls between me
md a plan. If l said it was a veil, it
would be-something!" His voice fell
20 a ghost of tunefulness. And It's
nothing. A blank-I know then it's
1Ot going to happen. 1t Is terribly
It's happened. often. Now. l
wait for that-veil. When 1t falls. l
know what it means"
"And you have had that-sense
lbOut this river b~usiness?"
Estrada turned his pensive gaze on
he American. "Yes, often. l thought,
fathers death. that that was
What 1t meant. But it came again. 1t
lept coming. l had it while you were
Ill talking, just now. I don't speak of
his. 1t sounds chicken-hearted. And
IN in this with all my soul-my IA
her-I couldn't do it any other way.
)ut-"
you think we are going to fall"
Il can't see 1t finished" was Estra.
las mOurnful answer. He turned
gain to stare out of the window.
who are the river men In the val
cyl" demanded the newcomer. q"
want to meet them. to talk to them"
"Cor'nel, he's an Indian. He's worth
to. He knows its history, its
Perhaps some of 1t is his
|.
"Where's he to be found?" |.
you'll run across him |! Whenever
nything's up, he Is on hand. He senses
And then there's Matt Hamlln." A.,
"Tll see him. Of course. Has he ,
cen up the riverT D.,
mo, but I'll tell you two who have. a.
laldOnadO. a half-breed. who lives ,
ONE twenty miles down the river
rom Hamlin's. He knows the ella as !
hough he were pure Indian. The !
HAS tricky! Maldonado's GRANDPA ;
her was a trapper, his great-erandfa- =
her. they say, a priest. The women $
'ere oil Indian. He's smart. Smart !
nd bad" :
Estrada's japanese servant came I
ack into the car to offer tea, freshly I
ed.