The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1919-05-31
CHAPTER XIX.
More Oratory.

made their corner the psychological
center of the room. Marshall was al
ways n target of speculation. Mac
Lean, straight aud soldierly In his
mustard-colored clothes, was, as usual
the man of distinction. Black start
cd the whisper going that the dark
stranger was General de In Vega, the
Mexican commissioner.
What was he doing In that groupi
Babcock completed combination
which encouraged speculutlons and
head-shakings. The room was iammed
with valley men. The meeting of the
ranchers and the several water com
panies had been called for that after
noon, the summons signed by Fara-
day himself. Nothing else had been
talked of for n fortnight.
1t was known throughout the valley
that the work at the intake was not
yet begun; that Richard was waiting
there for orders; that Faraday and
the president of the United States
were involved in correspondence as to
the responsibility for the future con-
troll of the river. Faraday's eagerness
to shift his burden was looked upon
as suspicious. 1t was In the air that
the officers of the Overland Pacific
would demand recall of the damage
suits before they would complete the
protective works at the Heading. The
men Of long vision, members of the
water companies, and Brandon.
through the valley Star, were pointing
out that the valleys salvation depend
ed on the immediate control of the
river; that the railroad, only, had
power to effect it, These conservatives
were counseling caution. Only that
morning, the Star had issued an extra,
a special edition pleading for co-opefa-
tion. "If the river. breaks out again."
warned Brandon's editorial, without
immediate force to restrain 1t, sreeia.
nation. for that valley Is dream that,
is done. And the only force equal to 4
that emergency is. the RAILROAD. Why
deliberately antag6nize fife railroad rs
The Desert ResfahA ton ,.companS,+ II
Is well knownr ls2ban3srupt. ..Epr tho
instant, the railroad has ASSUMED the
responsibilities OF the smaller ofga6l- ]
zation. Apply. the same SITUATION, te.
individuals. Suppose private citizen
is In straits, and another comes for
ward to help him. Must every cred-
itor assnme that the Samaritan should,
pay. the crushed citizens bills? In the |
present issue. self-interest should urge |
consideration. Better d small loss
today that tomorrow may amply re-
fund. than total ruin In the future"
Hardin, from his morose unshared
table, could see the anxious curiosity
setting toward the railroad group.
Over glasses, heads were close to-
gether. Near him, the talk ran high.
Scraps of infiammable speeches blew
his way from Barton's party.
Hardin's mouth wore a set sneer.
Water company talk |" Black was
haranguing his comrades. "Stand ou:
against them. Don't let them bluff
you. Marshall will try to bluff you.
Stand togetherw Barton's resonant
organ broke through the clatter.
Marshall is not going to bluff u.s."
Grace and Black began to talk at once.
Hardin's lip grew rougher. Where had
they all been II II had not been for
him? Why, he'd pulled them from
their little farms back East, where
they were toiling-where they'd be
folling yet. They'd had the vision of
sudden wealth-they hadn't the grit
to work for It, to wait for I'll How
many years had he been struggling?
he was a young man when he'd gone
nto this thing, and he was old now. 1
Coffee and cigars had sbeen
cached of the midday dinner Bah {
'ock was nervously consulting his
watch. Shouldn't we arrange the
neetingT" he asked for the third time. ]
The social and casual afr of the meet [
ng had teased him. What had the DO I
iticai situation In Mexico to do with
he important session confronting 4
hem? His fussy soul had no polite ,
salons; Office rooms every one of {
hem. MacLean looked to Tod Mar |
hall to answer. 4
Il think 1t will arrange itself" His v
oice was silken. 1T is to be a dis d
ussion, conference. You can't slate I
hat"
I'VE could program" began Bah. Il
ock, looking at his watch again. Il
II don't think Wen have to-" Mnr- v
hall smiled across the table. "YouII h
nd this meeting will run itself. There n
not man here who Is not burning II
speak. Look at them now! Drop II
paper in that crowd, and see the ri
aze you'd get 4! You can open the ii
Getting, MIR. BabcOck, and would Y
lggest that you call on Mr.. De la lie
ega first" III
The eyes OF the dining room fol tn
wed the party as they filed past the tr
izzing tables. Faraday was not I'm cl
wn; Marshall represented that pow %