The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1919-08-01
CHAPTER ~.
The Blessing Of Aridity.

The Blessing Of Aridity.
When Richard left the main line at
Imperial Junction the next afternoon
dis eyes followed the train he was
deserving rather than the one that
was to carry him to his new labors.
He felt again the thrill of detachment
that invariably preceded his entrance
into Il new country. With the pulling
up Vt the porter's green-carpeted stool,
the ulamming of the train gates, the
curtin fell on the Tucson set scene.
The long line IT cars was pushing
off with it, linec.-cOvered Pullmans
and diners. steaming down grade
toward the Sink, the depression which
had been primeval sea, and then des-
ert. and WAS now sea again. Old
Reach. rechristened Imperial Junction
for railroad convenience. was itself
tower than the an1. ent sea line where
~nce the gull mad reached. Richard
knew he &,uld find shells at that des-
ert station should he look for them.
Hs picked up his bag that the porter
the rung-down curtain.
Its painted scene was yellow sta
ton house broiling under a desert
sun; a large water tank beyond. and
in the distance the inevitable card
board mountains. like property scene
shifts. fiat and thin in their unreal
hues OF FURNISHED pink and purple. A
dusty accommodation train was back
Ing and switching. picking up the
empty refrigerator cars to carry into
the valley for the early melon growers.
Already the valley had asserted its
.~austrial importance: the late ram
fNge Of the Colorado had made it
spectacular. Those who would pay
little attention to the opening OF a
s,ew agricultural district in the heart
of a dreaded desert opened their ears
90 the vagary Of the river which had
sport,vely made OF part of that des-
srt an inland sea. Scientists were
cushing their speculations into print ::
would the sea dwindle by evaporation.
as it had done before? Or would the
overflow maintain the paradoxical
xsa?
The flood signs were apparent.
There cracks had split the desert
sand; here water assures had men
sced the track; and to the south Il
fringe of young willows hid the path
81 the COlOrahO's debouch.
The men crowdiny the platform
wore the motley of the new country.
In Tucson the uniform Of. the male
citizens. with the exception of those
reckless ones who found inevitably
shat lotus is liquid. was the wilted
pretense of a gentle civilization: de-
spondent ducks and khakiS and limp
collars Imperial junction marked the
downfall of the collar. The rest of
the composite costuln. WAS Irregular,
,aaly Numbered and torn, faded and
~uuhurned: the clothes Of the desert
soldier Richard SAW huttunle>s
shirts. faded oyeiallS. shabby hats
she sombrero of Mexico. The faces
under the broad-brimmed hats made /,
lcapins impression upon him OF youth
and eagerness. He noted significant
average of intelligence and alertneSS
This was not the INDECENT group of
inen which makes Il pretenSe Of occu
patton whenever a train comes in.
"Going in?" asked voice at his ear
4 pair of faded eyes set III a young
Nd face. whether early wither"d OF
we'll preserved he had not time to de
t.ernine. was staring at him.
3le assured his interlocutor that 1t
WAS going in. His mood isolated tn.
phrase: its significance vastly differ
ent from going on"
"Buyinc?'
Il think not"
at is a good time to buy" Rickar'
suspected real estate agent. 70
iand is low-rock bottom prices or
account Of the unea>iness about tn
river. People are afraid. They wan
10 see the company redeem some o
ats promises before they come in; an,
the company isn't in much of
hurry"
Rickard asked what company he re
fired -.
The ouns-old face with the fade'
eyes looked ut him in surprise. 9TH
y. Il. company. Desert Reclamation
which brought us all here"
"ScampS? The newcomers Surve
1T the long line of naked mountain
and lean lands that formed the nee
If the valley gave a snub Of casual
ness to the question.
NO. Fools" The answer was a
swift n q bullet. Though som
people think them worse than that.
.tu.s- n - far: rIs willing - -