Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1919-05-02
CHAPTER XIV.
On the L-eVee.

Hardin diU lot go nome that night.
He was feeling 70 the quick the irony
of his position; his duty now to pro-
tect the levee he'd ridiculed now the
only hope of the towns The integrity
of the man never faltered. though his
thoughts ran wild. Like the relentless
hounds of Actaeon. they pursued him,
barking at his vanity.
He started the anxious ranchers at
sacking sand BOdefeldt ran up to tell
him that there was hill of filled
sacks over in Mexicali. "Rickard had
a bunch OF Indians working for a
week.
The confusion of the shy fellow did
not escape Hardin. Oh, lie knew what
Bodefeldt was thinking, what every
one was saying They were all laugh
Ing at him. The coincidence CT this
extraordinary flood had upheld Rick
ards wild guess, haloed his judgment.
1t was all a piece of his Internal luck.
Sickening that's what it was! His
orders scattered. He ran up and down
the levee, giving orders; recalling
them when be found he was repeating
Richards.
This new humiliation, coming on the
heels of the dredge fiasco, put him in
execrable temper. He shouted his or
ders over the noises of the night. lie
rated the men, bullied them. No one
did anything right! Lord, what he
had to put up with! The other men,
the ranchers and engineers, saw in
his excitement certainty of the valleys
doom.
The wind and the darkness con-
tributed to the confusion. Eager
shovels were tossing up earth before
anyone could tell where the danger
point would be. The water was not
yet high enough to determine the place
of battle. Sacked sand was being
brought over from Mexicali. Fifty
pair of hands made short work OF
Richards chill" Lanterns were flash
ing through the darkness like restless
firefles. The wind and rushing water
deadened the sound of the voices. 1t
was a battle of giants against pyg-
mics. In the darkness, the giants
threatened to conquer.
At three in the morning, a horseman
rode in from Fassett's, one of the big
ranches to the north, cut by the New
river.
'The river is cutting back" he
called through the din, cutting back
toward the towns"
A turn in the gorge, a careless
dump-pit had pulled the river like d
mad horse back on it's launches. II
was kicking back.
'"rhey are short-handed up there
They need help"
Dynamite" cried Silent and Har
din antiphonally. They happened tC
be standing near.
1--WE must have dynamite" bawlet
Hardin. "Are the wires down between
here and Brawley? We must get 9
wire somehow to Los Angeles, to rusf
it down here this morning"
"It's here. There is carload or
the siding" yelled Silent.
Hardin did not need to ask BY
whose orders it was there. An angry
scowl spoiled his face.
"Put some on the machine" Ht
was turning away.
Silent called after him. Did Mr.
Hardin think it was safe? There wa:
sett's. The night, the explosive-shoulC
they not wait till morning? The ques
ton threw his late chief into rage.
did ask you to take it?" 1t wa
the opening for his fury. Safe! VIII
the towns be safe if the river cuts bacl
here? The channel has got to b.
widened, and you talk Of your owl
precious skin! Wait till / ask you t.
take it, Get out the machine I'll TAX
it to Fassett's myself"
Silent left the levee, smarting. H
backed the machine out of the she,
and sped through the darkness towar'
Aiexicali, where the car of explosive
was isolated.
Hardin, buttoned up to the ears, nj
soft hat pulled tight over his forehead
was waiting impatiently. Here wa
something to be done; he coveted tn
activity.
81 thought you were never coming,
ne grumbled.
"Let me take it % pleaded the en-
gineer.
Nonsense, there is no danger" Har
din saw personal affection in the plea
He put his hand affectionately on tn
mans shoulder.
'You go home and catch nap; thi
is my job" He was standing on tn
step. Crank her"
Yhnrn ,x.nr r,nthincr for Gilnnt 70 a