Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1919-06-20
Continued from Last Week.
CHAPTER Xxx.
The Dragon Scores.

siding. Marshall was at the frOnt
again; having made another of his
swift dasheS from Tucson. This time
he expected officially to close the gate.
Claudia was with him. She never left
the car, unless it were to step out to
the platform to see what she could
from there of the river work.
Hardin and Richard had been devOt-
ing anxious weeks. A heavy rainfall
and clOudburSt in the mountains Of
northern Arizona had swollen the feed
ers of the ella river which roared
down to the Colorado above Yuma
The erOding streams carried noun
tains in solution which settled against
the gate, a scour starting above and
below it. Relief had to be given on
the jump. A spur track was rushed
across the bypass above the gate, as
the closing of the Inflated gate with
the flashbOards was no longer possible.
A rock-fill was the only means of
closure In the distant quarries men
were digging out rock to fill the call
from the river.
Marshall came down to see the COM
pleted spur. Before he reached the
intake, the first rock train had moved
onto the spur track. The trestle had
settled, the train had been thrown
from the rails and wrecked.
Marshall came in from the damaged
trestle, bringing Richard and CrOthers.
Mrs. Marshall had invited Innes Har-
din to dine with them. lines fell to
flushing, and chilling, as a lithe-mus-
cled figure came directly to her. His
eyes-Where was the look she had
feared, of pOssessive tenderness? The
quizZical CLEAN was gone. On guard!
A solemn business loving, when you
know that it means-life! On guard
though, to her She pulled her fin
gers from his strong lingering clasp,
and Joined Mrs. Marshall.
Richard had his soldier look on. She
was watching him covertly as he
talked with his host and Crothers, as
though she were not there; as though
something were not waiting for him to
claim. How could he be talking, OBJ
except the river? Was that--loving?
Could she think of anything else when
ne was in the same room with her?
He was a soldier of the modern army.
1t came to her, a sort of tender divi-
nation, that he would not divide his
thoughts, even with her, with love, I'M
til his battle was won. Well, couldn't
she understand that? What her accu-
sation against Gerty? Sex honor
keep off the track! Wasn't that her
own notion? Oughtn't she to be proud
of him?
She had brought a nest of waspish
thoughts tumbling about her ears
Gerty He had loved Gerty. He
couldn't love her. if his thoughts had
ever fingered with that same serious
ly solemn look on the false little face
of her sister-in-law.
After dinner they were standing in
the shade of the Palmyra. 1t was a
soft still afternoon. The fierceness of
the savage desert had melted to her
days of lure. Beyond, the turbid wa
tiers of the Colorado bore a smiling sur
face. There was nothing to hint of
treachery.
It was minute of pleasant lassi-
tude, Snatched from the turmoil Rick
ard had succumbed to the sOftness of
the day and his mood. He was enjoy
ing the thought Of lines nearness,
though she kept her face turned from
III Il IL IxT4 Ja
those averted eyes that she was as
acutely conscious of his presence as he
was, restfully, of hers. Deliberately,
he was prolonging the instant.
A stir on the river had caught the
alert eye of Tod Marshall. He swore
q string of picturesque Marshallian
oaths. Richards eyes jumped toward
the bypass. The placid waters had
suddenly buckled. Majestically the
gate rose and went out. Months of
work swept away The gate drifted
hundred feet or more. Some unseen
obstruction caught it there, to mock
at the labors of man.
Innes, aghast, turned toward Rick
ard His face was expressionless.
There was a babel of excited voices
behind them, Bodefeldt, MacLean,
Tony, Crothers, Bangs, all talking at
once. Her eyes demanded something
OF Rickard. A fierce resentment rose
against his calmness. "He knew IT."
she rebelled. He's been expecting
this to happen. It's no tragedy to
hint" There was stab as OF physi-
cal pain; she was visualizing the blow
to Tom.
She heard Marshall's voice, speak
ing to Richard "Well, you're ready
for this" She did not hear the an