Gilpin observer., 1919-07-10
CHAPTER xxx.
The Dragon Scores.

The Dragon Scores.
The Palmyra was once again on its
siding. Marshall was at the front
again; having made another of his
swift dashes from Tucson. This time
he expected officially 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 Rickard 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, a scour starting above and
below it 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 wss no longer possible.
A rock-fill was the only means of
closure. In the distant quarries men
were digging out rock to fill the call
from the river.
Marshall came down to see the COM
pleted spur. Before he reached the
intake, the first 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 Rickard and Crothers.
Ia h0H
din to dine with them. Innes fell to
flushing, and chilling, as lithe-mus-
cled figure came directly to her. His
eyes-where was the look she had
feared, of pOssessive tenderness? The
quizzical CLEAN was gone. On guard
A solemn business, loving, when you
know that 1t means-lifei On guard,
though. to her! She pulled her fin
gers from his strong lingering clasp,
and Joined Mrs. Marshall.
Rickard had his soldier look on. She
was watching him covertly as he
talked with his host and Crothers, as
though she were 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 river? Was that-loving?
Could she think of anything else when
he was in the same room with her?
He was soldier Of the modern army.
1t came to her, n 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 that? What her accu-
sation against Gerty? Sex honor
keep Off the track! Wasn't that her
own notion? Oughtn't she to be proud
of him?
She had brought a nest of waspish
thoughts tumbllng about her ears.
Gerty! He had loved Gerty. He
couldn't love her, II his thoughts had
ever fingered, with that same serious
ly solemn look on the false little face
Of her sister-ln-law.
After dinner they were standing in
the shade Of the Palmyra. 1t was
soft still afternoon. The fierceness of
the savage desert had melted to her
days of lure. Beyond, the turbid wa
ters OF the Colorado bore q smiling sur
face. There was nothing to hint of
treachery.
It was 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 as he
was, restfully, Of hers. Deliberately,
he was prolonging the instant.
A stir on the river had caught the
nlert eye Of Tod Marshall. He swore
n string Of picturesque Marshallian
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
ut the labors Of man.
Innes. aghast. turned toward Rick.
ard His face was expressiopIess
There was babel of excited voices