The Ordway new era., 1919-06-27

kindergarten orders TO the lnOidnS.
Says they have to be In bed by ten
o'clock, or some such honr on Satur-
day and Sunday nights. It's strike.
their answer. That's what his monkey
ing has brought down on us"
"They're not going to quit2"
'They've sent word they won't work
on Mondays. and they will go to bed
when they choose Saturday nights.
Losing one day a weekl We can't
stand for that. Luck's been playing
into his hands, but this will show him
ap. This'n show Marshall his pet
clerk. Tell Casey there1l be no In
dams tomorrow" He sputtered an
grily out of the Office.
Rickard seemed pleased when Mac
Lean made the announcement few
hours later.
His secretary was weighing him.
"What do you intend to do about it?"
"Call their bluff," grinned Casey,
showing teeth tobacco had not had a
chance to spoil. Boycott them"
MacLean found Wooster at the river
bank with Tom Hardin. The two men
were watching pile-driver set re-
bellious pile. Two new trestles were
to supplement the one which had been
bent out of line by the weight Of set
tling drift. Marshall's plan was being
followed, though jeered at by reclama-
ton men and the engineers Of the D.
r. company.
"StOp the mattress weaving and
dump like !" had been his orders.
Boycott the Indians, well I'm
bowed" the beady eyes sparkled al
Hardin. "Now he's cut his own
throat"
by the eternalw swore Hardin.
MacLean left the two engineers match.
ing oaths.
There was an ominous quiet the next
day. Not an Indian offered to work at
the river. A few stolid bucks came to
their tasks on Tuesday morning; they
were told by Rickard himself that
there was no work for mem. Rlckard
appeared ignorant Of the antagonisn
of the engineers.
An unfathered rulnOr started tha,
Rickard was in with the Reclamation
Service men; that he wanted the work
to fail; to be adopted by the Service.
MacLean broke a lance or two against
the absurd SANDER. He was making
the discovery that a mans friendship
for man may be deeper than mans
love for woman. He was Rickard
man. He was made to feel the re-
proach Of 1t.
Wednesday not an Indian reported
Nnrnnnl no 30
his advice unpopulor. Scouts sent out
to watch the work on the river report
ed 1t was crippled. The white man
would be sending for the Indian soon
The waiting braves sat on theii
launches, grinning and smoking theii
pipes.
Saturday night the camp went
gleomily to bed. On the Indian side
there was no revel, no feasting OF
dancing.
Rickard did not turn in until aftel
midnight, planning alternatives. HI
was sleeping hard when MacLean, al
dawn, dashed into his tent.
"Quick. what does this meanr'
1t was a splendid spectacle, and
staged superbly. For background. the
sharp-edged mountains flushing tc
pinks and purples .gainst one-hued
sky; the river-growth of the old chan
mel uniting them, plotting out miles Of
desert into a fiat scene. On the op
posite bank of the New r'-er, five
hundred strong, lined up formidably,
their faces grotesque and ferocioui
with paint. were the seven tribes. The
SUMS rays glinted up from their fire
arms. shotguns. revolvers. into a mot
ley of defiance! Cocopahs, with
streaming hair, blanketed Nava1os
short-haired Plmas. those in front rein.
Ing in their silent pinto ponies, and all
motionless. silent In that early morn.
ing light.
"What does 1t meanT whispered
MacLean. Richard did not answer. HI
had one nauseous instant as he looked
toward Innes' tent. Then he broke into
laughter.
"See. the white horse. no, in frcnr-r
"By jove." MacLean slapped his
thigh. "Coronel! They had me but.
faloed. What do you think it is7"
Rickard stepped out into the wash
Of morning air and waved a solemn
salute across the river. Gravely II
was returned by Coronel.
"What does 1t meanT demanded
MacLean.
1T means we've won." chuckled hi,
chief, coming back into his tent.
An hour later Coronel led in a picked
group OF the tribes. If the white chief
would recall the boycott the Monday
strike was over. The white mans ali.
yer had won.
CTo BE coNTINuED.)
"out Of the Mouths Of Babes.