Jerome County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1919-1920, 1919-07-24
CHAPTER XIX.
More oratory.

N''A cut 1T a NllAll luDlt III u
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 soldierly in his
inustard-colored clothes. was. as usual,
the man of distinction. Black start
cd the whisper going that the dark
stranger was General de la Vega, the
Mexican commissioners
What was he doing In that group?
BnOcock completed combination
which encouraged spcculatons and
Understandings. The room was jammed
with valley men. The meeting Of the
ranchers and the several water com
panies had been called for that after
noon. the summons signed by Fara-
day himself Nothing else had been
talked Of for fortnight.
II was known throughout the valley
that the work at the intake was not
yet begun; that Richard was waiting
there for orders; that Faraday and
the president OF the United States
were involved Ia correspondence as to
the responsibility for the future con-
troll Of the river. Fnraday's eagerness
TO shift his burden was looked upon
AS suspicious II was In the air that
the officers OF the Overland Pacific
would demand 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. We're pointing
out that the valleys salvation depend
ed on the immediate control of the
river; that the railroad, only, had
power 10 effect IL. These conservatives
were counseling caution. Only that
morning. the Star had issued an extra
a special edition pleading for co-opera.
tion. III the river breaks out again,
warned Brandon's editorial, 'withoui
/ Immediate force to restrain II. recla
nation for that valley Is a dream that
I is done. Aud the only force equal q
/ that emergency is the railroad why
I deliberately antagonize the railroad
/ The Desert Reclamation company. II
/ IS well known. is bankrupt. For the
instant. the railroad has assumed tn,
responsibilities OF the smaller organi
zation. Apply the same situation Il
individuals. Suppose a private either
Is In straits. and another comes for
ward to help him. Must every cred
. =. uhAff1f
pay the crushed citizens bills? In thu
present issue, self-lnterest should urge
consideration. Better small loss
today that tomorrow may amply re
fund. than total ruin in the future
Hardin. from his morose unshare'
table. could see the anxious curiosit!
setting toward the railroad group
over glasses, heads were close to
gether. Near him, the talk ran high
Scraps OF infammable speeches blew
his way from Barton's party.
Hardin's mouth wore a set sneer
"water company talk" Black wa
haranguing his comrades. "Stand on
against them. Don't let them blui
YOU. Marshall will try TO bluff yot
Stand together" Barton's resonan
organ broke through the clattel
Marshall is not going TO blum us.
Grace and Black began TO talk at once
Hardin's lip grew rougher. Where ha
they all been II Il had not been 70
him? why. he'd pulled them fror
their little farms back East wher
they we're tollihg-where they'd b
toiling yet. They'd had the vision q
sudden wealth-they hadn't the gr
TO work for It, to wait for IL Ho'
many years had he been struggling
He was a young man when he'd gon
into this thing. and he was old now.
!. Coffee and cigars had bee
reached Of the midday dinner. Bal
i cock was nervously consulting h
:. witch. shouldn't we arrange tn
meeting?" he asked for the third tim
The social and casual air of the NEE
ing had leased him. What had the ~
/ utical situation In Mexico TO do wit
the important session confrontir
them? His fussy soul had no poll
: SALONS; office rooms every one O
tbem. MacLean looked TO Tod Ma
shall to answer.
. 81 think It will arrange Itself II
: voice was silken. ut is to be oil
: cussion. conference. You can't sla
that"
| 1--WE could program" began Ba
| cock. looking at his watch again.
| 81 don't think wen have to- Ma
shall smiled across the table. you
snd this meeting will run itself. The
Is NOT n man here who is not burnt
| 20 sneak. Look at them now Dr'
naper in that crowd, and see Il
Iihozs you'd get You can open Il
| meeting. Mr.. Babcock, and won
snr,cst that you call on Mr.. De
vega first" ..
The eyes of the dining room ft
lowed the party as they filed past u
hnzzlng tables. Faraday was not
t.,I An