The Arvada enterprise. (Arvada, Colo.) 1908-1970, 1919-06-26
CHAPTER ~.
m 0lssslns Of ArIdity.

CHAPTER ~.
-
The 0leeslns o. Aridtty.
When Richard left the main line at
fppesial Junction the next afternoon
die eyes followed the train he was
DESERVING rather than the one that
Was to carry him to his new labors.
as felt again the thrill Of detachment
that Invariably preceded his entrance
Into q new country. With the pulling
up Of the porter's green-carpeted stool.
the slamming Of the train gates. the
curtain fell on the Tucson set scene.
20 The long line Of cars was pushing
% with it, linen-covered Pullmans
and diners, stsaming down grade
toward the Sink. the depression which
had been primeval sea, and then des-
ert. and was now sea again. Osd
Beach, rechristened Imperial Junction
tor railroad conveuience, was itself
towe9 than the ancient sea line where
ence the gulf had reached. Richard
knsW be could hnd shells at that des-
sft station should he look for them.
Hs picked up his bag that the porter
haA thrown on the ground and faced
he runs- down curtain.
lts painted scene was . yellow sta.
tioa hosse broiling under Q desert
sun; = large water tank beyond, and
II he distance the inevitable card
board mountains. ike property scene
shifts. nat and thin In their unreal
huss Of Furnished pink and purple. A
dusty accommodation train was back
Ing and switching. picking up the
smpey refrigerator cars to carry into
he valley for the early melon growers.
ALREADY ~ valley had asserted IL
Industrial importance: the late ram
page = he Colorado had made II
speetseular. Those who would pay
little attention to the opening Of q
NV agricultural district In the heart
u . dreaded desert opened their ears
70 Tie vaSayy Of The river which had
sportivsly made Of . part Of that des-
eft an lnland sea. Scientists were
rushing thsir speculations into print:
would he 20 dwindls BY evaporation.
% It had dose beforei Or would the
overflow maintain the paradoxical
seaf
The nSod signs were apparent.
There cracks had split the desert
sand: here water assures had men.
iced the track: and to the south a
fringe Of young willows hid the path
u the Colofado's debouch.
HkA vn~A Aen~~Alns hA ~I~AHOpxv,
wore the motley Of the new country.
In Tucson the uniform Of the male
:itisens, with the exception Of those
reckless ones who found inevitably
that lotus 10 Q liquid. was the wilted
pretense Of . Esatle 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 laundered and torn. faded and
sunburned the clothes Of the desert
colder. Richard raw buttOnlcxs
Shirts. faded overalls, shabby hats
the sombrerO Of Mexico. The faces
Dnder the broad.brimmed hats made .
kaping impression upon him Of youth
and sagerness. He noted . significant
average Of Intelligence and alertnexs.
This was not the indolent group Of
nee which makes = pretense Of Occu.
oation whenever \ train comes int
-Soing inr' asked . voios at his ear.
\ pair Of faded eyes set In . young
Nd face. whether early withered or
veil preserved he had not time to de-
termine, WINS staring At him.
He assured bis intcriocutor that he
sas going In. His mood isolated the
ehr.s~: It's Significance vastly differ.
MT from "eoins On"
"Ruyingr'
II think not"
"lt IL = good time to buy" Richard
inspected . real estate agent. "For
hnd 10 low-rock bottom prices on
eccovnt of the uneasiness about the
liver. People arr afraid. They want
70 see the company redeem some Of
M promises before they come In: aud
the company isn't 10 much Of =
bury"
Ricksrd asked what company he re-
ssrred to.
The youns-oid face with the faded
eyes looked II him In surprise. ''The
b. X. company. Desert Reclamation.
which brought US all here"
"Scampsf" The newcomers survey
n the long line of naked mountains
cad lean lands that formed the neck
q the valley rave 4 snub Of casual.
A.