The Raymer enterprise., 1919-06-26
CHAPTER III.
The Blessing Of Aridity.

ttpy4rlal Junction the next afternoon
dis eyes followed the train he was
deserving rather than the one that
was 10 carry him TO his new labors.
lie 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 slammlng of the train gates, the
curtain fell on the Tucson set scene.
The long line OF cars was pushing
on with its lnen-coyered Pullmans
aud 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
Tor railroad convenience, was itself
lower than the ancient sea line where
nnce the gulf had reached. Rlckard
knew he could find shells at that des-
ert station should he look for them.
lie picked up his bag that the porter
tad thrown ON the ground and faced
the ngdown curtain.
Its painted scene was a yellow sta
tioh house broIllng under desert
sun; large water tank beyond. and
IN the distance the inevitable card
hoard mountains, like property scene
Shlfts, fat 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 n the Colorado had made II
spectacular. Those who would pay
iltlle attention to the opening Of n
new agricultural dlstrie: In the heart
Of n dreaded desert opened their ears
to the yaBary OF the river which had
sportIvely made Of part of that des-
ert an inland sea. Scientists were
rushing their speculations into print I;
would the sea dwindle by evaporation.
~ II had done before? Or would the
sverfiow maintain the paradoxical
seaf
The flood signs were apparent.
There cracks had split the desert
sand; here water assures had men-
iced the track; and to the south a
fringe OF young willows hid the path
Of the Coiorado's debouch.
The men crowding the platform
wore the motley OF the new country.
In Tucson the uniform OF the male
,ltizens, 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 laundered and torn, faded and
iunburned; the clothes of the desert
soldier Riekard saw buttonless
thlrts. faded overalls, shabby hats
he sombrero of Mexico The faces
,nder the broad-brlmmed hats made
ieaping impression upon him of youth
Ind eagerness. He noted significant
average Of intelligence and alertness.
This was not the lndolent group OF
ner which makes pretcnse of oecu-
patton whenever train comes In
"Going inT asked voice at his ear.
4 pair of faded eyes set In II young
iId face. whether early withered or
wen preserved he had not time to de-
.ermine, was staring at him.
He assured his interlocutor that he
was going In. His mood Isolated the
phrase; Its significance vastly differ
bnt from going on
"Buyingi'
II think not"
1T Is a good time to buy" Rickard
inspected a real estate agent. "For
land Is low-rock bottom prices on
account Of the uneasiness about the
-iver. People are afraid They want
20 see the company redeem some OF
Its promises before they come in and
the company isn't In much of
hurry"
Aickard asked what company he re-
ferred to.
The young-old face with the faded
eyes looked at him In surprise. "The
b. II. company. Desert Reclamation,
which brought us oil here
"Scamps7" The newcomers survey
sf the long line Of naked mountains
and lean lands that formed the neck
Of the valley gave snub Of casual
ness to the question
"N0. Fools" The answer was as
swift a. a bullet. Though some
people think them worse than that. !
.~-. ~ 60 far: I'm willing to say