Gilpin observer., 1919-07-10

Says they have to be In bed by ten
O'Clock, or some such hour on Satur-
day and Sunday nights. It's strike,
their answer. That's what his monkey
| ing has brought down on u.s."
They're not going to quit?"
"They've sent word they won't work
on Mondays, and they will go to bed
when they choose Saturday nights.
Losing one day weekl We can't
stand for that. Luck's been playing
into his hands, but this will show him
ap. Thisll show Marshall his pet
clerk. Tell Casey there'll be no In
dians tomorrow" He sputtered an
grily out of the office.
Rickard seemed pleased when Mac
Lean made the announcement q few
hours later.
His secretary was Weighing him.
what do you intend to do about 1t ~
"Call their bluff." grinned Casey,
showing teeth tobacco had not had a
chance to spoil. Boycott them"
MacLean found Wooster at the river
bank with Tom Hardin. The two men
were watching pile-driver set a re-
bellious pile. Two new trestles were
to supplement the one which had been
bent out of line by the weight Of set
tling drift. Marshall's plan was being
followed, though jeered at by reclama-
ton men and the engineers Of the D.
r. company.
"StOp the mattress weaving and
dump like hell!" had been his orders.
Boycott the Indians, well Tn
blowed," the beady eyes sparkled a,
Hardin. "Now he's cut his own
throat"
by the eternall" swore Hardin.
MacLean left the two engineers match
ing oaths.
There was an ominOus quiet the nexl
day. Not an Indian offered to work at
the river. A few stolid bucks came to
their tasks on Tuesday morning; they
were told by Rickard himself that
there was no work for mem. Rickar0
appeared ignorant of the antagonisn
Of the engineers.
An unfathered ruInOr started that
Rickard was in with the Reclamation
Service men; that he wanted the work
to fail; to be adopted by the Service
MacLean broke lance or two against
the absurd slander. He was making
the discovery that a mans friendship
for man may be deeper than a mans
love for a woman. He was Rickar6
man. He was made to feel the re-
proach Of it.
Wednesday not an Indian reported
Coronel passed from camp to camp
his advice unpopular. Scouts sent out
to watch the work on the river report.
ed it was crippled. The white mar
would be sending for the Indian soon
The waiting braves sat on theil
launches, grinning and smoking their
pipes.
Saturday night the camp went
gloomily to bed. On the Indian side
there was no revel. no feasting OF
dancing.
Rickard did not turn in until afte,
midnight, planning alternatives. he
was sleeping hard when MacLean, at
dawn, dashed into his tent.
"Quick, what does this mean?"
1t was a splendid spectacle, and
staged superbly. For background, the
sharp-edged mountains flushing tc
pinks and purples .gainst a one-hued
mel uniting them blotting out miles Of
desert into fiat scene. On the op
posite bank of the New r'-er, five
hundred strong, lined up formidably,
their faces grOtesque and ferOcious
with paint, were the seven tribes. The
suns rays glinted up from their fire
arms, shotguns, revOlvers, into a mot
ley Of defiance! Cocopahs, with
streaming hair, blanketed Navajos,
short.haired Pimas, those in front rein.
ing in their silent pinto ponies, and all
motionless. silent in that early morn
ing light.
"What does 1t mean?" whispered
MacLean. Rickard did not answer. He
had one nauseous instant as he looked
toward Innes' tent. Then he broke suto
laughter.
"See, the white horse, no, in frcpt-"
"By jove," MacLean slapped his
thigh. "Coronel! They had me buf.
faloed. What do you think it ISL"
Rickard stepped out into the wash
Of morning air and waved solemn
salute across the river. Gravely IL
was returned by Coronel.
"What does 1t meanY demanded
MacLean.
1T means we've won." chuckled his
chief, coming back into his tent.
An hour later Coronel led In picked
group of the tribes. II the white chief
would recall the boycott the Monday
strike was over. The white mans sil.
yer had won.
tTO BE CoNTINuED.)