The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1919-04-12

Tucson--Rlckard's his name" His
whisper ran around the walls OF the
room, where other arrivals were tilt
ing their chairs. 1.-THE new general
managerl Ogllvie woozled for moth
ing. You should have seen his face y
ibid anyone know that he was com
ing?" Silent, the tnnned giant, spoke
THAT'S Marshall all over" said
Wooster bright-eyed and wlry. re-
moving his pipe. "He likes to move in
a mysterious way his wonders to per
form. (Used to sing that when ! was
n kidd No announcement. Simply
Enter Rickard.'"
"More like this" said Silent. Exit
Hardin. Enter ogilvie. Enter Rick
ard"
"And exit Ogilvie." cried MacLean.
"It's Add shame" burst out
Wooster. No one asked him what he
meant. Every man in the room was
thinking Of Hardin, whose shadow this
reclamation work was.
"what's Rickard doingr' asked the
infantile Hercules at the checkerboard.
The force called him Pete, which was
a short cut to Frederick Augustus
Bodefeldt.
Taking Ogilvie's measure"--this
from MacLean.
"Then he's doing something else by
this time. That wouldn't take him Ave
minutes unless he's gull" snapped
Wooster, who hated Ogilvie as a rat
does a snake.
The door opened and Rickard came
In. Almost simultaneously the outer
door opened to admit Hardin. Who
would introduce the new general man
ager to the dismissed one7 The
thought flashed from MacIean to ST.
lent. to the telegraph operator. .Bode-
feldt doubled over the eheckerbonrd.
pretending not to see them. Confu-
sion. embarrassment was on every
face. Nobody spoke. Hardin was
coming closer.
"Hello. Hardin"
"Hello, Richard"
1t appeared friendly enough to the
surprised Office. Both men were glad
that II was over.
Mice Offices" remarked Hardin, his
legs outspread. his hands in his pock-
cts.
"Ogilvie is satisfied with them"
The men rather overdid the laugh.
"FindIng the dust pretty tough p In
quired Hardin.
Il spent month In San Francisco
last summer" was the rejoinder.
'This Is a haven. though, from the
street. Thought I'd loaf for today"
Was Hardin game to do the right
thing, introduce him as the new chief
to his subordinates? Nothing, 1t de-
veloped, was further from his inten-
tion. Hardin. his legs outstretched,
kept before his face the bland, i'm
penetrable smile OF the oriental. II
was clearly not Richards move. The
checker players fidgeted. Richards
silence was interrogative. Hardin
still smiled.
The outer door opened.
The newcomer, evidently a favorite,
walked into noisy welcome, the
boys" embarrassment OVERRIDING 1t.
He was OF middle height, slender-a
Mexican with Castllian ancestry writ
ten in his hlgh-bred features, his grace
and his straight, dark hair"
Good morning, Estrada" said Har-
din with the same meaningless smile.
"Good morning, gentlemen" The
Mexican's greeting paused at Rickard.
'Mr. Estrada. Mr.. Richard"
Everyone In the Office saw Hardin
snub his other opportunity. He had
betrayed 10 everyone his deep hurt,
his raw wound. When he had
stepped down. under cover of reslE-
nation, he had saved his face by tell
ing everyone that a rupture with
Maitland. one Of the directors of the
reorganlzed company, had mnde Il
impossible for them to serve together,
and that Maitland's wealth and i'm
pOrtance to the company demanded his
own sacrifice. Two months before
richards appearance Maitland had
been discovered dead in his bath in a
Los Angeles hotel. Though no one
had been witless enough to speak OF
their hope to Hardin. he knew that
all HIS force was daily expecting his
reinstatement. Richards entrance
was another stab to their chief.
"The son of the general?" The new
manager held out his hand. General
Estrada, friend OF Mexican liberty,
founder of steamship companies and
father of the Imperial valley2'
"That makes me brother OF the
valley"-Estrada's smile was sensitive
and sweet.
Estrada looked at Hardin, hesltated.
then passed on TO the checker players
and addressed MacLean:
Il saw your father In Los Angeles.
He has been chosen to MI the vacancy
made by MaItIand's DEATH"
MacLean's eyes wavered toward
Hardin, whose nonchalance had not
faltered. Had he not heard, or did
ne know already