The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1919-06-28
CHAPTER NIX.
The prannn scores.


Tho rrinyrn was once ngnln on lty
siding Marshall wns at the front
again: ilving made another III his
swift dniIrs from Tucson. This time
he expected officially Ia close the gate.
Claudia was with him. She never left
the cur. unless II were to step out 10
the platform a. see whnt she could
from there ~ the river work.
Hardin aud Rlcknrd had been dcyot-
ing anxious weeks. A heavy rainfall
and cloudburst In the mountains az
northern Arizona had swollen the feed.
crs of the Gila river which ronred
down "a the Colorado nbo,c Yuma.
The erodlng streams carried noun
tains IN solution which settled against
the gate. y scour starting above and
below H. Relief had to he given on
the jump. A spur trick was rushed
across the bypass above the gnte. ns
the closinE of the Inflated gate with
the nashboards was no longer possible.
A rock.nil wnn the only means OF
closure. In the distant qunrrics men
were digging out rock 10 fill the cnll
from the river.
Marshall came down 10 see the COM
pleted spur. Before he reached the
intake. the FIRST rock train had moved
onto the spur truck. The trcstle had
settled. the train had been thrown
from the rails ant wrecked.
Marshall cnme In from the damaged
trestlc. bringing hickani aud Crothers.
Mrs. Marshall had invited Innes IIar-
din "a dine with them. Innes fell To
flushing. and chilling. ms n lithe-mus-
cled 6gurc cnme directly to her. His
eyes-where was the look she had
feared. of posscssiye tendernessf The
quizzlcal CLEAN wns gone. On guard
A solemn business, loving. when you
know That II mcnns-llfel on guard.
though. Ia her. she pulled her nm.
gers from his strong lingering clasp.
nnd Joined Mrs. Marshall.
Rlcknrd had his soldier look on. She
wis watching him covcrtly M he
talked with his host aud Crothcrs. ns
though she were not there: M though
something were not waiting for him %
rlnlin. How could he be talking. oh
Iivious ~ everything else In the world
except the river1 Wus that-lovlngi
Gould she think Of anything else when
he was In the same room with herr
lie was soldier Of the modern army.
" came 10 her. n sort Of tender divl-
nation, ihnt he would not divide his
thoughts. even with her. with love, un-
til his battle was won. Well. couldn't
she understand thntf What her accu-
sntion against Gerty2 Sex honor
keep on the trnck Wasn't that her
own notlonf Oughtnt she 10 he proud
OF him7
She had brought a nest Of wasplsh
thoughts tumbling about her ears.
Gertyl He had loved Gerty. lie
couldn't love her. II his thoughts had
ever fingered. with that same serious
" solemn look on the false little face
Of her sister.in-iaw.
After dinner they were standing In
the shade Of the Palmyra. II was q
soft still afternoon. The nerceness OF
the savage desert had melted 70 her
days Of lure. Beyond. the turbid wa.
ters sf the Colorado bore Q smlllng swr-
face. There was nothing 10 hint Of
treachery.
II was q minnie Of pleasant lassi-
tude. sustched from the turmoil. Rick
ard had snccumbea 70 the softuess Of
the day and his mood. lie was enjoy
Ing the thought OF Innes' nearnsss.
though shs kept her fsos turned from
him. He knew by the persistence of
those averted eyes that she was m
acutely conscious OF his presence us he
was, restfully. of hers. Deliberately.
he was prolonging the instant.
A stir on the river had caught the
alert eye of Tod Marshall. lie sw0re
a string Of picturesque Marshallian
oaths Richards eyss tnmpsd toward