The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-02-21
CHAPTER ~.
The RlsaaIno q ArIdIsy.

When Richard left the main line AZ
Imperial Junction the next afternoon
ais eyes followed the train he was
Deserving rather than the one that
was 10 carry him to his new iab0ra,
he feit again the thrill 81 detachment
shat Invariably preceded hts entrance
into new country With The pulling
40 II the porters green.carpeted stool,
she slamming ~ the. train gates, the
curtain feH pn the Tucson bet scene.
Tie long llne Of cars was pushing
OF with lts lineh.c0yered Pullmans
and diners. steaming down grade
toward tho sink, the depression which
had been pritneyal sea, and then aes-
ert, and was now sen again. Old
Beaeh. reehristeaed Imperial Junction
for. railroad convenience, was Itself
lower than the ancient sea line where
once tha gulf had reached. Rlcknrd
knew he GOULD and shells az that dess
rrt station should he look for them.
He picked up his bag Tint the porter
haa thrown on the ground aud faced
the Fupg down curtain
is painted scene was a yellow sta
tion house brolling under desert
sun large water tank beyond, aud
Ia the distance The inevitable card
hoard mountains. like property scene
shifts. giat aud thin IN their unreal
hues o. FURNISHED pink aud purple. A
dusty accommodation train was back-
iug ana switching. picking NJ the
empty refrigerator cars To carry into
abe valley for the early melon growers.
Already the valley had asserted It's
Industrial importance; the late RAM
page o. the Colorado had made II
spectacular Those who would pay
little attention 70 sihe opening Of a
new agricultural district hi the heart
o. dreaded desert opened their ears
90 the vagary Of the river which had
spoftlveIy made u part of that des-
ert an Inland sea. Scientists were
rushing their speculations ihto print ;
would the sea dwindlc by evaporation,
~ ii had done beforef or would the
overflow maintain the paradoxieal
seal
The Good signs were apparent
There cracks hnd split the desert
kands here water assures had men.
aeed the track and To the south a
fringe 81 young willows hid the path
Of The Celorado's dehouch.
The men crowdlng the platform
wore the motley o. the new country
IN Tucson The uniform uf the male
egfiuens, with the exception ~ those
reekiess ones who found Inevitably
that lotus Is liquid. was the wittet
pretense ~ gentle cisillxalions Dc
Epondent ducks and khatis and limf
cellars Imperial Junction marked th'
downfall ~ the collar The rest q
the composite costume. was irregular
badly laundcred and torn, faded an'
snhhnTned the clothes ~ the aeser
soiieH Rckafa saw bnttonles
shirts. faded oYerails, shabby hats--
the aulbrero IL Mexico. The faee
rnG the hroad.hrimmed hats made
bealang impression upon him " youtl
and raeerneSs lie noted a siknihean
average II intelligence and alertness
This waS not The inaoient group 9
men which makes 4 pFetense % oecu
patian whenever tFein comes ini
sGoing ipTa asked q voice az his eai
A PALS Il faded eyes SET 10 g0ung
old taeq. whether early wlthsred q
well preserved he had not time 70 d
termiag. was staring ii htln.
lie assufed his IntsrioeutnF that b
was Kelag Ia. Ills mood Isolated ii
phrase iss significance vastly diffe
sni from going ca.
-BuylngT
\ ialnk not"
III 5 good time 70 buy Riekpr
srss,sessd real ssiats Gseas ~
and i is1--roek kektom prices /
sessunt ~ ths unsNsiaess ahsat 4
river. People ere afraid They nal
10 So tlae ceIspaBY rrasfa egtae
is promises before nasy sqtsf IA -
the eoisPeny isat a mSsA -
hurry.
Riekard axkss Whist eensssF " !
feFrsd ~.
The yGangsaa faes NtfA gise $50
eyes lookee IL hia - sssgess 81
y. r. company Desert ksesaiiassil
which brought - 81 beFR~
aSeampsT The DsaI eepefs surg
Of the long iipe ~ naked mounssi
and lean lands hist formed ite ne
OF the valley gave d snab - eaeu
ness to the question.
@xo. Foolse The answer WIS
swift as bullet @Thoagh 50
ee9rle think them worse tban that
a.tf. 70 "a Gar pm willing to i