The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-02-04
CHAPTER w,
The Desert Ao&e1-

when the twin towns were called. lie had expected to see a Mexican town, or at least a Mexican influence, as the towns hugged the border, but 1t was as wildly American as was Im- perial or Brawley. There was the vel low-painted station of the Overland Pacific lines, the water tank, the eager American crowd. Railroad sheds an- nounced the terminal of the road. Backed toward the station was the in- evitable hotel bus of the country town, painted sign hanging over its side advertising the Desert hotel. Before he reached the step the vehicle was crowded.
 "Wait, gentlemen, I'm coming back for a second load" called the darky who was holding the reins
 "If you wait for the second trip you won't get room" suggested a friend ly voice from the seat above.
 Rickard threw his bag to the grin ming negro and swung onto the crowd ed steps.
 Leaving the railroad sheds he ob- served a building which he assumed was the hotel. It looked promising. attractive with its wide encircling ve- randa and the patch of green which distance gave the dignity of lawn. But the darky whipped up his stolid horses. Richards eyes followed the patch of green.
 The friendly voice from above told him that that was the office of the Desert Reclamation company. His next survey was more personal He saw himself entering the play as the representative of a company that was i distrusted if not indeed actively hated by the valley folk. It amused him that 1 his entrance was so quiet as to be sur. i reptitious. It would have been quIeter l had Marshall had his way. But he 1 himself had stipulated that Hardin should be told of his coming. He had seen the telegram before it left the an unfamiliar role in this complicated 1 drama of river and desert, but 1t was l not to be as an eavesdropper.
 The heavy bus was blowing slowly i through the dust of the street. Rick i ard was given ample time to note the limitations of the new town. They 1 passed two brick stores of general merchandise, lemons and woolen goods, stockings and crackers disport- ing fraternaliy in their windows. A board sign swinging from the over hanging porch of the most pretentious i building announced the post office { From a small adobe hung & brass l plate advising the stranger of the Bank Of Calexico. The 'dobe pressed ! close to another tw0-storied structure of the desert type. The upper floor supported by posts, extended over the l sidewalk. Melted wire screened away the desert mosquito and gave the over hanging gallery the grotesque appear ance of a huge fencing mask. From the street could be seen rows of beds as in hospital wards. Calexico, it wal seen, slept out of doors.
 Desert hotel" bawled the darky refining in his placid team.
 "Yes, sah, I'll look out for your bag
 Got your room? The hotels might! sure to be full. Not many women vi
 down this away. All the mel mostly lives right heah at the hotel" Rickard made dive from a swirl 0
 dust into the hotel. The long line h.
 anticipated at the desk was not there
 He stopped to take in valley innova
 ton. One end of the long counter hal been converted into a soda-Water bal
 The high swivel stools in front of tn
 white marbled stand, with it's towerin
 silver fixtures, were crowded with dust parched occupants 0Y the bus. A white coated youth was pouring colore sirups into tall glasses; there was clinking of ice; a sizzling of siphons. That's q new one on me-" grinne Rickard, turning toward the des where a complacent proprietor stoo
 waiting to announce that there was bu
 one room left.
 with bathT'
 Bath right across the hall. Onl
 room left in the house." The proprieto
 awarded him the valley stare. "Goin
 to be here lOng?" He passed the las
 key on the rack to the darky staggel
 ing under a motley of bags and sui
 cases. Rickard recognized his, and fo
 lowed.
 T may get you another room tomol
 row." called the proprietor after hil
 as he climbed the dusty stairs.
 The signals of a new town wer waving in the dining room. The ms | jority of the citizens displayed thei shirt sleeves and unblushing suspend
 CTS. One large table was surrounde
 by men in khaki; the desert soldier engineers. The full blown waitresse y elaborately pompadoured, were pusi | ing through the swing-doors, carryin heavy trays. Coquetry appeared to b
 serving, the diners accepting both varit
 ties of attention with appreciation. Tn . supremacy of those superior maiden was menaced only by two other won
 en who sat at a table near the doc
 Rickard did not see them at first. Tn il room was as masculine as restaurar c in a new mining town.
 Rickard left his indoor view to loo Il through the French windows openin e on side street. He noticed a slende
 but regular procession. All the me n passing fell in the same direction. l, Cocktail route," explained one ( q his neighbors, his mouth full of boile o | hanf