The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-05-22

one recalled the flashes Of light they
had seen on leaving town. What
we're those lights-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 Heading-he's
been there each night for a weekI !"
This was a great nizht-for bis chief,
Rickardi
Gerty Hardin caught the thrill Of
his hero-vorship. How splendid, how
triumphant
Innes found herself in her brothers
buggy. His horse, under the whip
dashed forward Suddenly he pulled
II back on Its launches, narrowly
averting jam where's Mac
LeanY
The boy rode back. "who's cali
ing meY
Give me your horse" demanded
Hardin. "You take my sister home
Certy Hardin's party was torn like
a bow Of useless finery. Facing the
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 mar
was remembering that reckless ex
posed cut Of Hardin's; plnnins THEN
hope to that ridiculed levee. The
horses broke into a 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 --es peopled with
dark formless shapes. The signals
had spread tie alarm; the desert
world was fiocking to the gorge Of the
New river, to ne levee. W
The women were dumped without
ceremony on the sidewalk. under the
screened bird cage of the Desert
hotel. Shivering. her pretty teeth
chattering, Gerty Hardin ushered
them into tbs deserted hall. The
Chinese cook snored away his vigil in
an armchair by the open fire. The
men had rushed away to tie levee.
"Women must watt" Gerty's laugh
was hysterical. 1--WE can do no rood
down there" She threw herself. con-
scious Of herolneship. into the ordeal
Of her spollt entertainment.
II was always an incoherent dream
to Innes Hardin, that wild ride home
ward, the lurching scraping buggies.
the apprehensive silence, this budding
Of women like scared rabbits around q
table that had else been gay. The
women's teeth shivered over the ices.
Their faces looked ghastly by the light
shed BY Gerty's green shades. She
wished she were at the levee. She
simply must 60 to the ievee. I'm 60
Ing to get q wrap" she threw to Gerty
as she passed. II left It in the hall"
She stole through che deserted Of
nee, past the white and silver soda
fountain. and out Into the speeding
blur Of the night formless shapes,
soft-sooted. passed Ler. Al she sped
past the French windows Of the din
ing room she could get q view CT the
shattered party.
lnnes made dive into the darkness.
There was dim outline Of Fastening
figures in front Of her. She could
hear some one breathing heavily by
her side. They kept apace, stumbling,
occasionally, the moving gloom oetray.
ing their feet A man came running
back toward the town. TITS cutting
back" He cried. Nothing but the
levee will save the towns!"
The levee!
The harsh breathing followed her.
As they passed the wretched hut of {
Mexican gambler, a sputtering light
shone out Innes looked back. She
saw the wrinkled face Of Coronel, who
had left his water tower. His black
coarse hair was streaming in IN.
wind, his mouth. ajar, was express
sionless. though the fulfilment of the
Great Prophecy was at hand. Beneath
the cheek-splotches Of green and red
paint rested a curious dignity. INT
indian was to come again into his own.
What was his own. she questioned.
as her feet stumbled over looseped
boarding. ditch crossing she had no:
seen. More corn. perhaps more fiery
stun to wash down the corn! More
white mans money in the brown
mans pocket-that. his Happiness.
Why should he not thank the godsf
His gods were speakingl For wner
the waters of the great river ran bach
to the desert. the long ago outraged
gods were no longer angry. The towns
might go, but the great Indian god
were showing their good will
She Joined group at the leyee
winding her veil over mouth and fore.
head. Dark shapes swayed near her
The wind was making havoc of tho
mad waters rushing down from the
channel. The noise of wind and wa.
tiers was appalling. Strange loud
voices came through the din. of IL
dians. Mexicans; cultural sounds. Men
= hnR -