Gilpin observer., 1919-06-05

whinnying Of frightened Aorses. 6oma
one recalled the flashes Of light they
had seen on leaving town. "What
were those nghts-signalsT
"From the water-tower." MacLean's
voice split the wind. 'The wires are
all down between the Crossing and the
towns. Coronel was on the tower-he
got the signal from the Headlng-he's
been there each night for a weeki"
This was great night-for his chief,
Rickardi
Gerty Hardin caught the thrill of
his hero-worship. How splendid, how
triumphant!
LINES found herself in her brothers
buggy. His horse, under the whip,
dashed forward. Suddenly he pulled
1t back on its launches, narrowly
averting jam. where's Mac
Leanr
The boy rode back. "who's cali
ing mer
"Give me your horse" demanded
Hardin. "You take my sister home"
Gerty Hardin's party was torn like
UOW VI uoClcSS AucIys dCluk Tie
wind now. no one could talk; no one
wanted to talk. Each was threshins
out his own thoughts: personal ruin
stared them in the face. Every man
was remembering that reckless eI
posed cut of Hardin's; pinning theil
hope to that ridiculed levee. The
horses broke into reckless gallop
the buggies lurching wildly as they
lodged one another. The axlef
creaked and strained. The wind tore
away the hats Of the women. rent
their pretty chiffon wells.
The dusty road was peopled with
dark formless shapes. The signals
had spread the alarm; the desert
world was docking to the gorge of the
New river, to the levee.
The women were dumped without
ceremony on the sidewalk, under the
screened bird cage Of the Deser
hotel. Shivering, her pretty teetf
chattering, Gerty Hardin usheret
them into the deserted hall. The
Chinese cook snored away his vigil ir
an armchair by the open fire. The
men had rushed away to the levee.
"Women must watt" Gerty's laugh
was hysterical. I'VE can do no good
down there" She threw herself. con
scious Of heroineship, into the ordeal
Of her spoilt entertainment.
1t was always an incoherent dream
to Innes Hardin, that wild ride home
ward. the lurching scraping buggies
the apprehensive silence, this huddlins
of women like scared rabbits around
table that had else been gay. The
women's teeth shivered over the ices
Their faces looked CHASTITY by the ligh,
| shed by Gerty's green shades. She
wished she were at the levee. She
simply must go to the levee. I'm so
ing to get a wrap" she threw to Gerty
as she passed. 81 left it in the hall"
| She stole through the deserted of
| flee, past the white and silver sod,
fountain, and out into the speeding
blur of the night. Formless shapes
soft-footed, passed her. AS she spec
past the French windows of the din
ing room she could get view of tn.
shattered party.
Innes made dive into the darkness
There was dim outline of hastenint
figures in front of her. She coult
hear some one breathing heavily b,
her side. They kept apace, stumbling
occasionally, the moving gloom betray
ing their feet. A man came runnin,
back toward the town. Its cutting
backw He cried. Nothing but th.
levee will save the towns"
The levee!
The harsh breathing followed her
AS they passed the wretched hut Of
Mexican gambler. a sputtering ligh'
shone out. Innes looked back. Sh.
saw the wrinkled face Of Coronel, wht
had left his water tower. His blacl
coarse hair was streaming in tn.
wind, his mouth, ajar, was expires
sionless. though the fulfilment of tn.
Great Prophecy was at hand. Beneath
the cheek-splotches Of green and rec
paint rested a curious dignity. TIL.
Indian was to come again into his own
What was his own, she questioned
as her feet stumbled over loosenet
boarding. ditch crossing she had no
seen. More corn, perhaps more fer,
stuff to wash down the corni Nor.
white mans money in the brown
mans pocket-that. his happiness
Why should he not thank the gods
His gods were speakingl For wher
the waters Of the great river ran bacl
to the desert. the long ago outraged
gods were no longer angry. The town,
might go, but the great Indian godi
were showing their good will
| She Joined group at the levee
winding her veil over mouth and fore
head. Dark shapes swayed near her
The wind was making havoc of thu
mad waters rushing down from tn,
channel. The noise Of wind and wa
ters was appalling. Strange LOUD
AhHoa