New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1919-03-28

$50 you do think that It Will be a
|1mpossitiity to complete the gate a
tlannedr'
Hardin had run too fast. II dldn'
mean that" he stammered. II meal
1t will be difficult II we are delaye'
much longer"
Have you the force to re-begiI
work at once?" demanded Richard.
II had it." evaded Hardin. II ha'
everything ready to go on-men. ma
terial when we stopped the las
time"
Answer my question, please"
Il should have to assemble then
again." admitted Hardin sulkily.
Richard consulted his notebook. "
think we've covered everything. Nov
l want to propose the laying Of a spul
track from Hamlln's Junction to tn
Heading" His manner cleared tn
stage Of supernumeraries; this wa!
the climax. Hardin looked ready Il
spring.
"And in connection with that the de
velopment Of n quarry in the granite
hills back of Hamlin's," continued Rick
ard, not looking at Hardin.
Instantly Hardin was on his feet
His fist Numbered on the table. ~
shall oppose that" he flared. 1T Is alb
solutely unnecessary. We can't afford
II In yynrr Hvnvy xr,hnt that ,,III oook
gentlemen"
"One hundred thousand dollars!'
Richard interrupted him. II want an
appropriation this morning for that
amount. 1t is, In my opinion, abso'
lutely necessary II we are to save the
valley. We cannot afford not to do it,
Mr.. Hardin
Hardin glared at the other men for
support he found MacLean's face a
blank wall; Estrada looked uncom.
Portable. Babcock had pricked up his
r at the sound Of the desired appro-
p%riatiOn; his head on one side. he
looked like an inquisitive terrier.
Hardin spread out his hands in help.
less desperation. you'll ruin u.s." he
said. "It's your money, the O. P.'s,
but you're lending it, not giving 1t to
us. You are going to swamp the Des-
ert Reclamation company. We can't
throw funds away like that" One hun
dred thousand dollarsl Why, he could
have stopped the river at any time If
he had had that sum once a paltry
thousand would have saved them II
didn't ask the O. p. to come in and
ruin us, but to stop the river; not to
throw money away in hog-wild fash
ion" He was stammering inarticulate-
ly. "There's no need of a spur-track
If you rush my gate through"
"If," Richard nodded. "Granted. If
we can rush 1t through. But suppose
it fails? Marshall said the railroad
would stand for no contingencies. The
interests at stake are too vital"
"I%nterests!" cried Tom Hardin.
"What do you know Of the interest at
stake? You or your railroad? Coming
in at the eleventh hour, what can you
know? Did you promise safety to thou
sands of families If they made their
homes in this valley? Are you RESPONSE
BILE? Did you get up this company, in
duce your friends to put their money
in it, promise to see them through?
What do you know Of the interests at
stake? You want to put n hundred
thousand dollars into n frill. God, do
you know what that means to my
company? 1t mean ruin ESTRADA
pulled him down in his seat.
Richard explained to the directors
the necessity in his opinion of the spur
track and the quarry. Rock in great
quantities would be needed; cars must
be rushed in to the break. He urged
the Importance of clenching the issue.
"If it's not won this time, it's a lost
cause" he maintained. IF 1t cuts q
deeper gorge. the Imperial valley is u
chimera /; so Is Laguna DAM"
The other men were drawn into the
BabcOck leaned toward Har-
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 i%mpersonal, adding to his
and MacLean slowly won to
stronger side. Hardin. on his feet
again, was suffering helplessly at
BabcOck, when Richard called for a
The appropriation was carried.
Hardln's fnce was swollen with rage.
Richard then called for q report on
clam-shell dredge being rushed at
Yuma. Where was the machinery?
Was it not to have been finished In
"Why net get the machinery here?
What's the use of taking c%hancesT de-
handed Richard.
Hardin felt the personal implication.
He was on his feet In a second. "There
ire 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-
'upted his opponent coolly. "We are
,Oing to take none. I want Mr.. Har-