The L'Anse sentinel., 1919-04-11


He was on his feet the next minute
with motion to complete the Hardin
headgate. Violently he declaimed to
Babcock and MacLean his wrongs. the
injustice that had been done him. Mar
shall bad let that fellow Maitland con-
vince him that the gate was not prac-
ticable; had 1t not been for him the
gate would be in place now; oil this
time and money saved. And the Matt
land dam, built instead! Where was
It? Where was the money. the time,
put In that little toy2 Sickening! His
face purpled over the memory. Why
was he allowed to begin again with
the gate? ANSWER me that. Why
was allowed to begin again? It's oil
child's play, that's what 1t is. And
when I am in 1t again up to my neck
he pulls me or ~
This was the real Hardin. the un-
couth, averaged Lawrence studenti
The new manner was just veneer.
Rickard had been expecting 1t to wear
thin.
II think" interjected Rickard, ."that
we all agree with Mr.. Marshall, Mr..
Hardin, that wooden headgate on silt
foundation could never be more than
makeshift. I understood that the
first day he visited the river with you
he had the idea to put the ultimate
gate. the gate which would. control the
water supply of the valley. up Mt the
Crossing on rock foundation. Mr.. Mar
shall does not expect to finish that In
time to be of first use. He hopes the
wooden gate will solve the immediate
problem. 1t was a case Of any port In
a storm. He has asked me to report
my opinion"
"Why doesn't he give me q chance
to go ahead then?" growled the de-
posed manager. "Instead of letting
the intake widen until it will be an i'm
possibility to confine the river. there
at all?"
$50 you do think that it will be an
iIspossiblity to complete the gate as
plannedY
| Hardin had run too fast. II didn't
mean that" he stammered. II mean
it will be difficult If we are delayed
much longer"
'Have you the force to re-begin
work at once" demanded Rickard.
II had It," evaded sHardin. Il had
everything ready to go on-men, ma.
teriol when we stopped the last
time"
ANSWER my question, please"
II should have to assemble them
again." admitted Hardin sulkily.
Rickard consulted his notebook. II
think we've covered everything. Now
I want to propose the laying Of spur
track from Hamlin's Junction to the
Heading" His manner cleared the
stage Of supernumeraries; this was
the climax. Hardin looked ready to
spring.
"And in connection with that the de-
velopment Of a quarry In the granite
hills back Of Hamlin's," continued Rick
ard, not looking at Hardin.
Instantly Hardin was on his feet.
His fist thundered on the table. II
shall oppose that" he flared. 1T is ab-
solutely unnecessary. We can't afford
1t. Do you know what that will cost,
gentlemenT
zone hundred thousand dollars !"
Richard interrupted him. II want an
appropriation this morning for that
amount. 1t is, In my opinion, abso-
lutely necessary II we are to save the
valley. We cannot afford not to do It,
Mr.. Hardin"
Hardin glared ut the other men for
support; he found MacLean's face a
blank wall; Estrada looked uncom.
Portable. Babcock had pricked up his
ears at the sound of the desired appro-
priation; his head on one side. he
looked like an inquisitive terrier.
| Hardin spread out his hands In help
less desperation. you'll ruin u.s." he
said. 'It's your money, the o. P.'s,
but you're lending 1t, not giving 1t to
u.s.. You are going to swamp the Des-
ert Reclamation company. We can't
throw funds away like that" One hun
dred thousand dollars! Why, he could
have stopped the river at any time II
he had had that sum; once paltry
thousand would have saved them II
didn't ask the o. p. to come In and
ruin us, but to stop the river; not to
throw money away in hoc-wild fash
ion." He was stammering inarticulate-
~. "There's no need of spur-track
IL you rush my gate through"
If" Rickard nodded. Granted. II
we can rush 1t through. But suppose
il fails? Marshall said the railroad
would stsnd for no contingencies. The
interests at stake are too vital"
Tnterestsw cried Tom Hardin.
"What do you know of the interest at
stake? You or your railroad? Coming
In Mt the eleventh hour. what can you
know? Did you promise safety to thou
sands of families II they made their
homes In this valley? Are you RESPONSE
bic? Did you get up this company, In
duce your friends to put their money
In II. promise to see them through
What do you know of the interests at
stake? You want to put one hundred
thousand dollars into frill. God, do
you know what that means to my
company? II means ruin" Estrada
4 a