New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1919-03-14
p ~.

NHcl ltlck;ifu ltll tlt illhln me III
Imperial Junction the next afternoon
his ayes followed the train he was
deserving rather than the II tina,
was To carry him to his new lahors.
lie felt again the thrill of detachment
that invariably preceded his entrance
into II new country, With the pulling
up of the portcr'S grecn-carpeted stool,
the Slamming of the train gates, the
curtain fell on the Tucson set scene.
The long line of ears was pushing
off with its linen-covcrcd PullmanS
and diners, steamlng down grade
toward the Sink. the depression which
had been primeval sea and then deS-
ert, and was now sea again. Old
Beach, rechriSt"ncd Imperial junction
for railroad convenience, was itself
lower than the ancient sea line he
once the gulf had reached. Richard
knew he could find shells mt that des-
ert station should he look for them.
lie picked up his bag that the porter
had thrown ON the ground and faced
the rung-down curtain.
Its painted scene "a a yellow sta
tion house broiling under II desert
sun a large water tank beyond, ana
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
,pnbtu rnfriunrutnr aprs IA np rrV intn
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 oprnirN of II
new agricultural district in the heart
OF n dreaded desert opened their ears
to the vagary of the river which had
sportively made of Il part of that des-
crt an inland sea. Scientists were
rushing their spcculations into print;
would the sea dwindle by evaporation.
as it had done before? Or would the
overflow maintain the p~arudoXical
sen?
The food signs were apparent.
There cracks had split the desert
sand; here water assures had men
accd the track and to the south Il
fringe of young willows hid the path
of the Colorudo's dcbouch.
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 IA liquid, was the wilted
prctenSe 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. Richard saw b%uttonless
shirts, faded ovcralls. shabby hats
the somhrero of Mexico. The faces
under the broad -brimmed hats made n
leaping impression upon him of youth
and eagerncss. lie noted a significant
average of intelligence and alcrtness.
This was not the indolent group of
men which ll'lh'N II htl'llNc VI oCCu-
patton whenever IA train comes in!
"Going inn" asked a voice at his ear.
A pair of faded eyes set in II young
old face. whether early withered or
we'll preserved he had not time to de-
tcrmine. was staring ut him.
He assured his ~iutprlocutor that he
was going in. His mood isolated the
phrase; its significance vastly differ
ent from going on
"Buying:"
81 think not"
= at is Il good time to buy" Richard
suspected u real estate agent. For
land is low-rOck bottom prices on
account of the %uneaSincss 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
Richard asked what company he re-
to.
The y%oung-old face with the faded
eyes looked at him in surprise. The
y. II. company, Desert Reclamation.
brought us all here"
"ScampsT' The newcomers survey
Of the long line of naked mountains
and lean lands that formed the neck
Of the valley ave a snub Of casual
ness to the question.
"No. Fools" The answer was as
as a bullet. Though some
people think them worse than that.
don't go SO far: I'm willing to say
tried. I'll say that much. But
they haven't the knOw-hOw." |.
The window seats. Richard could
see. were filled before the cars halted.
by the experienced nes who had not
for the train to be made up.
In the scramble he spied a vacant ]
on the sunny side and made
for it. A stranger dropped into the
seat beside him. I
Every window in the car was open.
Each red velveted. dusty sea was
filed. A strong desert wind was blow
ing sand i,to their faces. discOlOring !
he seats and covering the floor.
The engineer turned to his cOmpan- {