The Raymer enterprise., 1919-09-04
CHAPTER xxx.


e8--A@
siding. Marshall was at the front
again; having made another Of his
swift dashes from Tucson. This time
he expected ofilcially to close the gate.
Claudia was with him. She never left
the car. unless 1t were to step out to
the platform to see what she could
from there Of the river work.
Hardin and Richard had been devot-
Ing anxious weeks. A heavy rainfall
and cloudburst In the mountains Of
northern Arizona had swollen the feed
ers Of the ella river which roared
down to the Colorado above Yuma.
The eroding streams carried noun
tains In solution which settled against
the gate, q scour starting above and
below Il Relief had to be given on
the jump. A spur track was rushed
across the bypass above the gate. as
the closing Of the Inflated gate with
the flashboards was no longer possible.
A rock-6ll was the only means Of
closure. In the distant quarries men
were digging out rock to oil tho call
from the river.
Marshall came down to see the COM
pleted spur. Before he reached the
Intake, the nrst rock train had moved
onto the spur track. The trestle had
settled. the train had been thrown
from the rails and wrecked.
Marshall came In from the damaged
trestle, bringing Richard and Crothers.
Mrs. Marshall had invited lines Har.
din to dine with them. lines fell to
flushing. and chilling. a. q lithe-mus-
cled figure came directly to her. His
eyes-where was the look she had
feared, Of possessive tendernessf The
quizzical CLEAN was gone. On guard !!
A solemn business. loving. when you
know that It means-lifei On guard,
though, to herl She pulled her I'm
gers from his strong lingering clasp.
and Joined Mrs. Marshall.
Richard had his soldier look on. She
was watching him covertly a. he
talked with his host and Crothers, a.
though she we're not there: as though
something were not waiting for him to
claim. How could he be talking, OBJ
livious Of everything else In tn world
except the riveri Was that-lovingi
Could she think Of anything else when
he was In the same room with heri
He was soldier of the modern army.
1t came to her. sort Of tender divi.
nation, that he would not divide his
thoughts, even with her, with love, un-
til his battle was won. Well. couldn't
she understand thatf What her accu-
sation against Gertyf SEX honor
keep of the tracki Wasn't that her
own notioni Oughtn't she to be proud
of himf
She had brought q nest Of wasplsh
thoughts tumbling about her ears.
Gerry! He had loved Gerry. He
couldn't love her. II his thoughts had
ever fingered. with that same serious
~ solemn look on tho false little face
Of her slster-ln-law.
After dinner they were standing In
the shade Of the Palmyra. 1t was q
soft still afternoon. The fierceness Of
the savage desert had melted to her
days Of lure. Beyond, the turbid va
tiers Of the Colorado bore q smiling sur.
face. There was nothing to hint Of
treachery.
It was q minute Of pleasant lassi-
tude, snatched from the turmoil. Rick.
ard had succumbed to the softness Of
the day and his mood. He was enjoy.
Ing the thought Of Innes' nearness,
though she kept her face turned from
him. He knew BY the persistence Of
those averted eyes that she was as
acutely conscious Of his presence @ be
was, restfully. Of hers. Deliberately.
be was prolonging the instant.
A stir on the river had caught the
alert eye Of Tod Marshall. He swore
string Of picturesque Marshalllan
oaths. Richards eyes jumped toward
the bypass. The placid waters had
suddenly buckled. Majestically the
gate rose and went out. Months Of
work swept away! The gate drifted
hundred feet or more. Some unseen
obstruction caught 1t there, to mock
at the labors Of man.
Innes, aghast. turned toward Rick.
ard. His face was expressionless.
There was q babel Of excited voices