Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-02-14
CHAPTER III.
The Blessing Of ArIdIty.

When Richard left the main line at
Imperial Junction the next afternoon
his 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
Off 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 faced
the rung-down curtain.
Its painted scene was a yellow sta
tion house broiling under a. desert
sun; large water tank beyond, and
in the 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
afnr.fv rof,.iooro to,. ooro 70 oor,.x, into
the valley for the early melon growers.
Already the valley had asserted its
Industrial importance; the late ram
page of the Colorado had made it
spectacular. Those who would pay
little attention to the opening of a
new agricultural district in the heart
of q dreaded desert opened their ears
to the vagary 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 sen dwindle by evaporation.
as 1t had done before? Or would the
overflow maintain the paradoxical
seat
The flood signs were apparent.
There cracks had split, the desert
sand; here water assures had men.
aced the track; and to the south O
fringe OF young willows hid the path
Of the Colondos 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 q liquid, was the wilted
bretense Of a gentle civilization; de
spondent ducks and khakis and limr
collars. Imperial Junction marked the
downfall OF the collar. The rest OF
the composite costume was irregular
badly Numbered and torn, faded ant
sunburned; the clothes of the desert
soldier. Richard saw buttonles.
shirts. faded overalls, shabby hats
the sombrero Of Mexico. The face.
under the broad-brimmed hats made {
lcnping impression upon him of you'll
and eagerness. He noted a significan
average OF intelligence and alertness
This was not the indolent group o
men which makes pretense Of occu
patton whenever train comes lni
"Golng int" asked a voice at his ear
A pair OF faded eyes set in young
old fucc. whether early withered o
well preserved he had not time to de
termine, was staring at him.
Ho assured his interIocutor that h
was going in. Ills mood isolated tn
phrase; It's significance vastly differ
ent from "going on" .~p
''Buying2"
IT think not"
at Is a good time to buy" RIcknr
suspected real estate agent. "Fo
land is low--rock bottom prices o
account Of the unenslness about tn
rlvcf. People are afrnid. They war
TO aec the company redeem some c
Its promises before they come in; an
thu company isn't In much of
hurry"
Rickard asked what company he r,
frred to.
The young-old face with the fade
Eyes looked Mt him In surprise. "Tt
b. ,R. company. Desert Reclamation
which brought us all here"
"ScnmpsTT The newcomers survt
Of the long line OF naked mountain
and lean lands that formed the nee
OF the valley gave q snub of casua
ness to the question.
"No Foolsr'. The answer was ,
swift as bullet. Though son
people think them worse than that.
don't go so far; I'm willing to 81
they've tried. I'll say that much. B
they haven't the know-how."
The window seats, Rlckard cou
see, were filed before the cars halle
by the experienced ones who had n
waited for the train to be made I
In the scramble he spied vaca
window on the sunny side and ma
for II. A stranger dropped into {
seat beside him.
Every window In the car was opC
Each red velveted. dusty seat W
filled. A strong desert wind was bio
ing sand into their faces. discolori
the seats and covering the floor.
Tho engineer turned to his compt
Ion. who was coughing.
do you mind this window bel
OpenP
"rd mind II II were not. It's alwI
bad at the Junction. When we
into the cultivated country you v
nee whal the valley will be like WI
It Is all planted. The wind is !
bad when 1t blows over grain or
falfa. II Is the desert dust that nj
one" He coughed again. "Going ii
Rickard said he was going in.
"Are you going to settle in the '
leyr' The inquisitor was a man
about fifty, Rickard decided. with
desert tan OF apparent health.
face was clear cut and intelligent.