Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1919-02-26
CHAPTER III.
.
The RIessIna of AridIty.


4 imperial Junction the next afternoon
his eyes followed the train he was
deserving rather than the one that
wac TO carry him to his new labOrs.
He felt again the thrill of detachment
/ that invariably preceded his entrance
into a new country. With the pulling
up of the porter's green-carpeted stool,
the slamming OF the train gates, the
curtain fell on the Tucson set scene.
The lo1g line of cars was pushing
off with its linen-cOvered Pullmans
and diners, steaming down grade
toward the Sink, the depression which
had been primeval sea, and then des-
ert, and was now sea again. Old
Beach, rechristened Imperial Junction
for railroad convenience, was itself
lower than the ancient sea line where
once the gulf had reached. Richard
knew he could find shells at that des-
ert station should he look for them.
\ He picked up his bag that the porter
had thrown on the ground and faced
the rung-down curtain.
Its painted scene was yellow sta
tion house broiling under a desert
sun; large water tank beyond, and
In the distance the inevitable card
board mountains, like property scene
shifts, fiat and thin in their unreal
hues of FURNISHED pink and purple. A
dusty accommodation train was back
tng and switching, picking up the
4 empty refrigerator cars to carry into
Ghe valley for the early melon growers.
Already the valley had asserted its
industrial Importance; the late ram
page of the Colorado had made it
spectacular. Those who would pay
little attention to the opening of
new agricultural district in the heart
of a dreaded desert opened their ears
to the vagary of the river which had
sportively made part of that des-
ert an inland sea- Scientists were
rushing their speculations into print;
would the sea dwindle by evaporation.
Asdt had done before? Or would the
overflow maintain the paradoxical
sea?
The flood signs were apparent.
There cracks had split the desert
sand; here water assures had men,
aced the track; and to the south
fringe of young willows hid the path
Of the Colorado's debouch.
The men crowding the platform
wore the motley of the new country.
In Tucson the uniform of the male
citizens. with the exception of those
reckless ones who found inevitably
that lotus Is liquid. was the wilted
pretense of a gentle civilization; de-
spOndent ducks and khakis and limp
collars. Imperial Junction marked the
downfall of the collar. The rest of
the composite costume was irregular.
badly Numbered and torn, faded and
sunburned; the clothes of the desert
soldier. Richard saw buttonless
shirts, faded overalls, shabby hats
the sombrero of Mexico. The faces
under the broad-brimned hats made a
leaping impression upon him of youth
and eagerness. He noted a significant
average of intelligence and alertness.
This was not the indolent group of
men which makes a pretense of occu-
patton whenever a train comes in!
"Going in?" asked voice at his ear.
A pair of faded eyes set in a young
cid face. whether early withered or
well preserved he had not time to de-
.er1nina, was staring at him.
He assured his interlocutor that he
was going in. His mood isolated the
phrase; it's significance vastly differ
-snt from going on"
"Bhying?"
al think not"
at is a good time to buy" Rickarf
suspected a real estate agent. "Fo
land is low-rock bottom prices or
account of the uneasiness about the
liver. People are afraid. They want
to see the company redeem some of
ats promises before they come in; and
che company isn't in much of a
hurry"
Richard asked what company he re-
ferred to.
The young-old face with the faded
eyes looked at him in surprise. "The
D. r. company. Desert Reclamation,
which brought MS all here"
"Scamps?" The newcomers survey
of the long line of naked mountains
and lean lands that formed the neck
of the valley gave snub of casual
ness to the question.
"No. Fools!' The answer was as
swift as a bullet. Though some
neople think them worse than that.
don't go so far; I'm willing to say
they've tried. III say that much. But
they haven't the know-how."
-'he window seats. Richard could
sec. were filed before the cars halted
By the experienced ones who had not
waited for the train to be made up
In the scramble he spied a vacant
window on the sunny side and made
for it. A stranger dropped into the
seat beside him
Every window in the car was open.
Each red velveted, dusty seat was
allied. A strong desert wind was blow
Ing send into their faces. diseoloring
+be seats and covering the floor.
qbe engineer turned TO his compan-
ian. wse wss coughing.