The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1919-05-24

an hunt him up for you"
,"Why, they are letting II get ahead
! of them I" Babcock's manner sug-
gcsted that he was nggrleved thnt -rch
cnrelcssness TO his Tevered co.. a.,
should go unpunished. Somethi Il,
told MncLean, might have been 81,
before the situation got as b ~
! thlsl
His excited stride carried IT..
across the dividing ditch, whic 50
was carrying no water. into Me =.
MacLean had to lengthen his to
keep pnce with him. The havoc zone
TO the Mexican village excited Bab-
cock still more.
Estrada, just In from his submerged
tracks, was lounglng ngnlnst an adobe
wnlI. His penslve gaze was turned
upstream. The posture Of exhaustion
suggested lnzineSs to Babcock, who
wns on the hunt for responsibility. lie
was more thnn ever convinced that
the right thing was not being done.
ESTRADA |"
Estrada took his eyes from the river.
BabcOck looked like n swapping ter
rlcr taking the ditch Mt bound. Mac
Lean. Jr, n 1.-The greyhound, followed.
"What the devil are you doing to
stop tbis?" A nervous hand indicated
the Mexican station cleaning in It's
fresh cont of paint; to the muddy wa
ter undermining It's foundation.
Estrada drew cigarette out Of his
| pocket; lighted II before answering.
Not thing. What do you sug-
gcst2"
A big wave struck the bank. The
cur on the siding trembled.
Another wave like that and that
cnr1l 70 over" cried Babcock, lump
Ing, mad. why don't you do some
thing? Why don't you hustle-ali of
your" He would report this incompe-
tency.
Down the stream cnme mass of
debris, broken timbers, ravaged brush.
wrcnched fence post, n chicken coop.
A red hen, clinglng to Its swaying
ship. took the rapids.
"lIustle-whntT murmured Es-
trada.
Bnbcock giared nj him. then at the
river His eye caught the approach
Ing wreckage. Men came running
with their poles The cnving bank wns
too far gone. The instant the drift
ing mass struck II, there was a shud-
der of falling earth, the car toppled
toward the food waters, the waves
breaking into clouds of spray.
Human responsibility fell 20 cipher.
The rivers might was magnificent.
Even Babcock, come 10 carp. cnugbt
the excitement. "Come. MacLenn.'
he cried. "Watch this The stations
gajngr lie Joined Estrada by the
adobe wall.
"Have cirarette?" murmured
Eduardo.
His eyes glued to the lurching sta
tion-housc. Babcock took n brown
paper.rolcd cigarette from the prof
fered box.
'Look," he cried. "rhere. she'l so.
See that"
There was splash of splintcring
timber; Niagara Of spray AZ the
building fell into the food. A minute
later, wrcckage OF painted boards
was 1oatlng downstream.
At table Babcock resumed his cam
paign. '"rhc trouble with you all,
you haze cold feet. You're all scared
Off too soon"
Wooster, up from his nap. looked
across the table. Cold feet? So
you'd have If you had been up for
nights wottlng your feet on the levee.
as some of US have. as Hardin has.
Mine are cold all right" lie lifted an
amazed foot. "Coldl Look here,
boys, they're wet - The men looked
10 find the water creeping in--Bab-
cock climbed ON his chair.
This means the station" cried
Wooster. Every man jumped. II the
waters had got to them, II wouldn't
be long before they were reaching the
o. =. depot The tracks would go
They were plllng out of the door
when the telephone caught them. IT
was message from ltlckard. A car
was to be rlgged up, papers, tickets I,
and express matter taken from the /
SiuNlOH. lHe TINPT WIS cutting CiOSe
to the track. The car would be the
terminal, half-milc from town.
The situation looked black. Coul-
ter, Eggers, began 10 pack their stock. !
The levee, II was said. would not hold
half of Mcxlcnli was gone. Calcxico
would 20 next. Richards Indians
were kept siolldly piling brush and
stuffed sacks on the levcc. This. the
word ran, would be the fierce night
no one expected to sleep.
They were preparing for the big
battle. the final struggle, when the
grade recession passed the town. u
Spectacular as was Its coming, there
was an anticllmax In lis retreat. The
water reached the platform OF the
depot, and halted. The town held It's
breath. There was some sleep that
night.
The next day. the nerves OF the val
ley relaxed. The river was not cut.
ling bacL Tho man at tha lava.