The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-03-07
(GnttnuedJ

Ing ANXIOUS weeks. A nedVy FalDIalI and cloudburst In the mountains of northern Arizona had swollen the feed CTS of the GiIa river which roared down to the Colorado above Yuma. The eroding streams carried noun tainS in solution which settled against the gate, a SCOUT starting above and below it. Relief had to be given on the jump. 4 spur track was rushed across the bypass above the gate. as the closing of the iIl-fated gate with the flashbOards was no longer possible. closure. In the distant quarries men were digging out rock to fill the call from the river.
 Marshall came down to see the con- pleted spur. Before he reached the intake, the first rock train had moved onto the spur track. The trestle had settled, the train had been thrown from the rails and wrecked.
 Marshall came in from the damaged trestle, bringing Rickard and Brothers. Mrs. Marshall had invited Innes liar din to dine with them. Innes fell to flushing, and chilling, as lithe-mus-
 
 eyes-where was the look she had feared, of possessive tenderness? The quizzlcal glean was gone. On guard A solemn business, loving, when you know that it means-life! On guard, though, to heri She pulled her fin- gers from his strong lingering clasp, and joined Mrs. Marshall.
 RIckard had his soldier look on. She was watching him covertIy as he talked with his host and Brothers. as though she were not there; as though something were not waiting for him to claim. How could he be talking, ob- livious of everything else in the world except the river? Was that-loving? Could she think of anything else when he was in the same room with herr He was q soldier of the modern army It came to her, a sort of tender divi- nation. that he would not divide hls thoughts, even with her, with love, un- til his battle was won. Well, couldn't she understand that? What her accu- sation against Gerty? Sex honor keep off the track! Wasn't that her own notion? Oughtn't she to be proud of him?
 She had brought a nest of waspish thoughts tumbIing about her ears. Gerty! He had loved Gerty. He couldn't love her. if his thoughts had ever fingered, with that same serious ly solemn look on the false little face of her sister-in-law.
 After dinner they were standing in the shade of the Palmyra. It was a soft still afternoon. The ferceness of the savage desert had melted to her days of lure. Beyond, the turbid wa ters of the Colorado bore smiling sur face. There was nothing to hint of treachery.
 It was minute of pleasant 1assi- tude, snatched from the turmoil. Rick ard had succumbed to the softness of the day and his mood. He was enjoy ing the thought of Innes' nearness, though she kept her face turned from him. He knew by the persistence of those averted eyes that she was as Rcutely conscious of his presence IS he was, restfully, of hers. Deliberately, he was proIonging the instant.
 A stir on the river had caught the alert eye of Tod Marshall. He swore a string Of picturesque MarshalIian oaths. Richards eyes jumped toward the bypass. The placid waters had suddenly buckled. Majestically the gate rose and went out. Months of work swept away! The gate drifted q hundred feet or more. Some unseen obstruction caught it there, to mock at the labors of man.
 Innes, aghast, turned toward Rick ard. His face was expressfonless. There was a babel of excited voices behind them, Bodefeldt, MacLean, Tony, Brothers, Bangs, all talking at once. Her eyes demanded something of Rickard. A fierce resentment rose against his calmness. He knew it." she rebelled. Hes been expecting this to happen. It's no tragedy to him !" There was a stab as of physi- cal pain she was visuaIizing the blow to Tcm.
 She heard Marshalrs voice, speak ing to Rickard. "Well, you're ready for this" She did not hear the an swer, for already Rickard was heading