The Elbert County tribune., 1919-02-28
CHAPTER III.
The Blessing Of Aridity.

Nut1 ttlChdTu lelL tue 1udln llue Ut
tmperiaI Junction the next afternoon
Gls eyes followed the train he was
deserting rather than the one that
was to carry him to his new labors.
He felt again the thrill OF detachment
that invariably preceded his entrance
into 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 long line of cars was pushing
of 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. Rickard
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 fdced
the rung-down curtain.
Its painted scene was q yellow sta
tion house broiling under desert
in che 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
ing and switching, picking up the
empty refrigerator cars to carry into
the valley for the early melon growers
Already the valley had asserted its
industrial importance the late ram
page i2f the Colorado had made 1t
spectacular. Those who would pay
little attention to the opening of
new agricultural district in the heart
Of dreaded desert opened their ears
to the vasary of the river which had
sportively made of a part of that des-
ert an inland sea. Scientists were
rushing their speculations into print;
would the sea dwindle by evaporation,
as it 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 a
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 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 Rickard saw buttonless
shirts. faded overalls. shabby hats
the sombrero of Mexico. The faces
under the broad-brimmed hats made
'eaping impression upon him of youth
and eagerness. He noted 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 inl
"Going in?' asked voice at his ear.
pair of faded eyes set in a young
bid face. whether early withered or
well preserved he had not time to de-
tevrnine. was staring at him.
He assured his interlocutor that he
was going in. His mood isolated the
phrase; its significance vastly differ
ent from ''going on"
"Buying?"
81 think not"
ut is good time to buy" Richard
inspected real estate agent. For
land Is low-rock bottom prices on
account of the uneasiness about the
river. People are afraid. They want
TO see the company redeem some of
Its promises before they come in; and
the company isn't in much of
hurry"
Rickard asked what company he re-
ferred to.
The young-old face with the faded
eyes looked at him in surprise. 'The
D. Il. company. Desert Reclamation,
which brought us all here"
"Scamps?" The newcomers survey
of the long line of naked mountains
and lean lands that formed the neck
of the valley gave a snub of casual
ness to the question.
'.No. Fools !" The answer was as
swift as bullet Though some
peorle think them worse than that.
d1r-'. ro SO far: I'm willing to say