The Raymer enterprise. (New Raymer, Weld County, Colo.) 1910-19??, 1919-08-14
CHAPTER XIX.
More Oratory,


-Four men sat at a small table In
corner of the crowded hotel dining
room. In FL Centre. Their names
made their corner the psychological
center Of the room. Marshall was al
ways target Of speculation. Mac
Lean, straight and soldlerly In his
mustard-colored clothes. was, as usual,
the man Of distinction. Black start.
cd the whisper going that the dark
stranger was General de Ia Vega. the
Mexican commissioner.
What was he doing In that groupf
Babcock completed combination
which encouraged speculatlons and
head-shaklngs. The room was jammed
with valley men. The meeting Of the
ranchers and the several water com.
panles had been called for that after
noon, the summons signed by Fara.
day himself. Nothing else had been
talked OF for fortnight.
1t was known throughout the valley
that the work at the intake was not
yet begun; that Richard was waiting
there for orders; that Farnday and
She president Of the United States
we're involved in correspondence as to
the responsibility for the future con-
troll OF the river. Faraday's eagerness
to shift his burden was looked upon
as suspicious. 1t was In the air that
the officers Of the Overland Pacific
would demand a recall OF the damage
suits before they would complete the
protective works at the Heading. The
men OF long vision. members Of the
water companies. and Brandon.
through the valley Star. were pointing
out that the valleys salvation depend
ed on the immediate control Of the
river; that the railroad, only, had
power to effect II. These conservatives
were c0unseling caution. Only that
morning. the Star had issued an extra,
a special edition pleading for co-opera-
ton. III the river breaks out again."
warned Brandon's editorial, without
immediate force to restrain II, recla-
nation for that valley Is dream that
Is done. And the only force equal to
that emergency Is the railroad. Why
deliberately antagonize the railroadf
The Desert Reclamation company, Il
Is well known. Is bankrupt. For the
instant, tfs railroad has assumed the
responsibilities of the smaller organi.
cation. Apply the same situation to
individuals. Suppose private citizen
is In straits, and another comes for
ward to help him. Must every cred
itor assume that the Samaritan should
pay the crushed citizens bills? In the
present issue, self-interest should urge
consideration. Better small losA
today that tomorrow may amply ro-
fund. than total ruin In the future"
Hardin, from his morose unshared
table, could see the anxious curiosity
setting toward the railroad group.
Over glasses. heads were close -.
gether. Near him, the talk ran high.
Scraps OF inilammable speeches blew
his way from Barton's party.
Hardin's mouth wore set sheer.
water company talkw Black was
harangulng his comrades. "Stard out
against them. Don't let them bluff
you. Marshall will try to bluff you.
Stand togetherl" Barton's resonant
organ broke through the clatter.
Marshall is not going to bllfr u.s."
Grace and Black began to talk at once.
Hardin's lip grew rougher. Where. had
they all been II 1t had not been for
him? Why, he'd pulled them from
their little farms back East, whets
they were toIling-where they'd he
tolllng yet. They'd had the vision OF
sudden wealth-they hadn't the grit
to work for 1t. to walt for 1t! How
many years had he been struggling?
He was young man when. he'd gone
into this thing, and he was old now.
Coffee and cigars had been
reached OF the midday dinner. Bah
cock was nervously consulting his
watch. shouldn't we arrange the
meetingf" he asked for the third time.
The social and casual air of the meet.
Ing had teased him. What had the DO.
lItical situation In Mexico to do with
the important session confronting
them? His fussy soul had no polite
salons; office rooms every one of
them. MacLean looked to Tod Mar
shall to answer.
Il think It will arrange ITSELF" His
voice was silken. ut Is to be q dis
cusslon, conference. You can't slate
that"
I'VE could program" began Bah
cock. looking ut his watch again.
81 don't think we'll have to-" Mar
shall smiled across the table. you'll
find this meeting will run itself. There
Is not a man here who Is lot burning
to speak. Look ut them now! Drop
a paper In that crowd. and see the
blaze you'd get! You can open tho
meeting. Mr.. Babcock. aud J would