The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-02-24
(COn1puedS


 me eyes or the aiming room fol lowed the party as they filed past the buzzing tables. Faraday was not in town; Marshall represented that pow er As he walked out, lowing right and left, his right hand occasionally extended in his well-lnown OratOricaL courteous gesture. His black tie was stringing down his shirt front; his black clothes were the worse for his lunch. But no one, save the Eastern girls, saw spots or tie. The future of that valley lay in that mans hand, no matter how Black or Grace might harangue. In five minutes, the dining room was emptied.
 As snow gently falling, had gath cred the first damage suits of tn" ranchers. The last flood had precipl- lated a temperamentai storm. Men were suing for the possible values of their farms, impossible values of crops. Not alone the companies had been blanketed with the accusing pa- pers, but against Mexico the white drifts had piled up. Mexico, No one knew better than Hardin how absurd # was to accuse the sister country of responsibility. A pretty pickle they were in! Where was it all going to end?
 In the lobby, Hardin ran up against Brandon, who was following a news scent. Through the valley it was being rumored that subscriptions were to be asked for the completion of the work. If this were the intention. there would be a hot meeting.
 You are going on the platform ?' assumed the newspaper man. No? Then will you sit with me?'
 If you will sit upstairs" scowled Hardin, "I don't want to be dragged onto the platform
 Down in the orchestra, Black from the Wistaria was harangulng a group of gestlculating ranchers. Phrases climbed to the men on the balcony seats. Keep their pledges. Promise makers. Let them look at our crops !''
 If Marshall expects to coerce those men, lose my guess. Then he's no judge of men," cried Hardin. Look at those faces" The floor was a sea of impassioned features. Something's going to drop,' echoed Brandon.
 From the wings, Babcock's inquisi- tive glasses were seen to sweep the house. Hardin could catch the sum- mons of an excited forefnger to the group unseen. There was a minute of delay. Then Babcock's nervous toddle carried him onto the stage.
 De Ia Vega followed Babcock. There was a hush of curiosity. The house did not know who he was. Be hind him, soldierly, stiff, stalked Mac Lean. MarshaII's entrance released the tongues. There was an interval of confusion on the stage. BabcOck like a restless terrier, was snapping at the heels of the party. At last they were all fussily seated. De la Vega was given the place of honor. Marshall, Babcock put on his left MncLean on the right.
 Babcock raised his staccato gavel A hush fell on the house. His words were clipped and sharp.
 You have left your blowing to come here You are anxious to hear what we have to say to sou. You cannot afford to be indifferent to it. You ac. knowledge, by your presence, a de pendence, a correlation which you would like to deny. Irrigation means cooperation. suffering together, strug gling together, succeeding together You prefer the old individual way each man for himself. I tell you it won't do. You belong in other coun' tries, the countries of old-fashiOneC rain. You want to hear what we have to say to you, the company who saved the valley, the company you are suing But you have also suits against Mex leo. There is a gentleman here who has a message from Mexico about those suits. I have the honor, gentle men, to introduce, Senor de la Vega
 Ladies" bowed the Mexican. "Gen tlemen, MT. Chairman. It Is with ar appreciation of the honor that l ac cepted for today the invitation of Mir Marshall to speak before you, to speal to you; must tell you first m! thought as I sat there and looked a you, the youth, the flower of the Amer ican people. A few years ago, WI were calling this the great Colorado desert; now, the world calls it tn hothouse of America. This theate is built over the bones of gOld-seekers who dared death in this dreaded desert to find what was buried il those mountains beyond. The man I say, who crossed this desert, tool the hazard of death. It was a coun tryman of mine who piloted, tifteel years ago, a little band of men, acros the desert. Perhaps he camped ol this very spot. It is not impossible It is here, perhaps, that he got his inspiration. He saw a wonderful ter ritory; he dreamed to quicken it witt the useless waters of the Colorado You will all agree that 1t was Gull eermo Estrada who dreamed the drean that has come true; that it wa through him that some of your coun trynen secured their privilege to re claim this land. Later, when one of you countrymen found he could not fulfil his promise to you, the promise to de liver water to your ranches, he cam to my nation and got permission to GU