The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-02-08

impotently ragged. His temper made him incoherent. He could see Rickard. cool and impersonal, adding to his points, and MacLean slowly won to the stronger side. Hardin, on his feet again, was sputtering helplessly at Babcock, when Rickard called for vote. The appropriation was carried. Hardin's face was swollen with rage.
 Rickard then called for a report on the clam-shell dredge being rushed at Yuma. Where was the machinery? Was it not to have been finished in February2
 "Why not get the machinery here7 Whats the use of taking chances?" de handed Rickard.
 Hardin felt the personal implication. He was on his feet in a second. There are no chances" He looked at Mac Lean. ''The machinery's done. It's no use getting 1t here until we're ready"
 There are always chances" inter- rupted his opponent eoolly. "We are going to take none. I want Mir. Har- din, gentlemen, appointed a committee of one to see that the machinery Is de- livered at once, and the dredge rushed"
 The working force was informally discussed. Hardin said they could de- pend on hobo labor. Rlckard agreed that they would find such help, but 1t would not do to rely on 1t. The big sewer system of New Orleans was about completed; he had planned to write there, stating the need. And there was a man in Zacatecas, named Porter
 Frank Porter7" sneered Hardin. "that-murderer?"
 His brother" Rickard answered pleasantly. "Jim furnishes the men for the big mines in Sonora and Sina- loa. He'll send us all the labor we want, the best for our purpose. When 1t gets red-hot, there's no one like a peon or an Indian.
 You'll be infringing on the interna. tional contract law" suggested Mac Lean.
 'No. The camp Is on the Mexican side" laughed Casey. "Td thought of that. We'll have them shipped to the nearest Mexican point, and then brought to the border. Mir. Estrada will help us.''
 The meeting had already adjourned. They were standing around the flat top desk. Estrada invited them all to lunch with him, in the car on the sid ing. MacLean said that he had to get back to Los Angeles. Mr. Babcock was going to take him out to Grants Heading in the machine. He had nev- CT been there. They had breakfasted late. He looked very much the colonel to Rfckard, his full chest and stiff car riage made more military by his trim uniform of khaki-colored cloth.
 May speak to you about your boy, Mir. MacLean?"
 Hardin caught slight that was not intended. He pushed past the group at the door without civility or cere- mony.
 The steady grave eyes of the big frame looked at Rickard inquiringiy.
 'He wants to stay out another yecr. hope you will let him. It's not disin- terested. shall have to take stenog- rapher to the Heading this summer. There Is girl here; I couldn't take her, and then, too, I'm old-fashioned: don't like women in offices. My posi- ton promises to be peculiar one. I'd like to have your son to rely on for emergencies a stenographer could not cover"
 MacLean's grave features relaxed as he looked down on the engineer, who was no small man himself, and sug- gested that his son was not very well up in stenography.
 That's the least of 1t" q hope that he will make a good stenographer! Good morning, gentle l men,
 At table, neither Estrada nor his guest uncovered their active thought which revolved around Hardin and his hurt. Instead, Rickard had questions to ask his host on river history. As they talked, it came to him that some i thing was amiss-Estrada was ac curate; he had all his facts. Was il enthusiasm, sympathy, he lacked? Pres ently he challenged him with it.
 Estrada's eyes dreamed out of the window, followed the gorge of the New river, as though out there. somewhere the answer lowered.
 Do you mean, do you doubt it?" ex claimed Rickard, watching the melan choly in the beautiful eyes.
 Estrada shook his head, but without decision. Nothing you'd not laugh at I can laugh at it myself, sometimes"
 Rickard waited, not sure that any thing more was coming. The Mexi cans dark eyes were troubled puzzle brooded in them. Its a purely mega tive sense that I've had, since I was { child. Something falls between m, and a plan. If I said 1t was a veil, f would be-something" His voice fel to ghost of tunefulness. And it's- nothing. A blank-I know then 1t, not going to happen. It is terribly finall It's happened, often. Now, wait for that-yefl. When it falls, know what 1t means"
 And you have had that-sens' about this river business?'
 Estrada turned his pensive gaze ol the American. 'fYes, often. I thought after fathers death, that that wa what If meant R11+ it cop,a aoo}n kept coming. I had it while you wer all talking, just now. don't speak o this. It sounds chicken-hearted. An