Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1919-03-28

argument. BaDcock leaned toward Hare
din's conservation. MacLean was ju-
dicial. Estrada upheld Richard. The
spur-track, in his opinion, was essen
tial to success. Hardin could see the
meeting managed between the new
conner and the Mexican, and his anger
impotently ragged. His temper made
him incoherent. He could see Richard,
cool and impersonal, adding to his
points, and MacLean slowly won to
the stronger side. Hardin, on his feet
again, was suffering helplessly at
BabcOck, when Richard called for
vote. The appropriation was carried.
Hardin's face was swollen with rage.
Richard then called for report on
the clam-shell dredge being rushed at
Yuma. Where was the machinery?
Was it not to have been finished in
February?
'Why not get the machinery here?
What's the use of taking chances?" de-
manded Richard.
Hardin felt the personal implication.
He was on his feet in second. "There
are no chances He looked at Mac
Lean. 'The machinery's done. It's no
use getting it here until we're ready"
''There are always chances" inter-
rupted his opponent cOolly. eve are
going to take none. | want Mr.. Har-
din, gentlemen, appointed committee
of one to see that the machinery is de-
OF I,o .
The working force was informally
discussed. Hardin said they could de-
pend on hobo labor. Richard agreed
that they would find such help, but it
would not do to rely On it. The big
sewer system of New Orleans was
about completed; he had planned to
write there, stating the need. And
there was man in Zacatecas, named
Porter
Frank Porter" sneered Hardin,
"that--murderer"
Ellis brother" Richard answered
pleasantly. "Jim furnishes the men
for the big mines in Sonora and Sina-
loa. He'll send us all the labor we
want, the best for our purpose. When
it gets red-hot, there's no one like a
peon or an Indian.
You'll be infringing on the interna-
tional contract law" suggested Mac
Lean.
mo. The camp is ON the Mexican
side," laughed Casey. I'D thought of
that. Wen have them shipped to the
nearest Mexican point, and then
brought to the border. Mr.. Estrada
will help u.s.
The meeting had already adjourned.
They were standing around the fiat
top desk. Estrada invited them all to
lunch with him, in the car on the sid
ing. MacLean said that he had to get
back to Los Angeles. Mr.. BabcOck
was going to take him out to Grants
Heading in the machine. He had new
er been there. They had breakfasted
late. He looked very much the colonel
to Richard, his full chest and stiff car
rage made more military by his trim
uniform of khaki-colored cloth.
MAY 1 speak to you about your boy,
Mr.. MacLean?"
Hardin caught slight that was not
intended. He pushed past the group
at the door without civility or cere-
mOny.
The steady grave eyes of the big
frame looked at Richard inquiringly.
'He wants to stay out another year.
I hope you will let him. It's not disin-
terested. / shall have to take stenog-
rapher to the Heading this summer
There is girl here; I couldn't take
her, and then, too, Tn old-fashioned /
don't like women in offices. My posi-
ton promises to be peculiar one I'd
like to have your son to rely on for
emergencies a stenOgrapher could not
cover"
MacLean's grave features relaxed as
| he looked down on the engineer, who
was no small man himself, and sug-
gested that his son was not very we'll
up in stenography.
"That's the least of it,
81 hope that he will make a good
stenographer! Good morning, gentle
men,"
At table, neither Estrada nor his
guest uncovered their active thought
which reyOlved around Hardin and his
hurt. Instead, Richard had questions
to ask his host on river history. AS
they talked, it came to him that some
thing was amiss-Estrada was ac-
curate; he had all his facts. Was it
enthusiasm. sympathy, he lacked? Pres
emily he challenged him with it.
Estrada's eyes dreamed out of the
window, followed the gorge of the New
river, as though out there. somewhere.
| the answer lowered.
'Do you mean, do you doubt it?" ex-
claimed Richard, watching the melan-
chOly in the beautiful eyes.
Estrada shook his head, but without
decision. Nothing you'd not laugh at,
can laugh at it myself, sometimes"
| Richard waited, not sure that any,
| thing more was coming. The Next
cans dark eyes were troubled; puzzle
| brooded in them. "It's a purely mega
[ hot 10 n;o r