The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1919-04-17
CHAPTER xw
The Dragon scores

The Dragon scores.
The Palmyra was once again on Its
siding. Marshall was at the front
again; b, wing 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. st.
Hardin and Rickard had been deyot-
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, 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 fashboards was no longer possible.
4 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
rom the rails and wrecked.
Marshall came in from the damaged
kestie, bringing Rickard and Crothers.
Mrs. Marshall had invited Innes Har-
din to dine with them. Innes fell to
Anshing, and chilling, as lithe-mus-
cled figure came directly to her. His
eyes--where was the look she had
feared, of possessfve tenderness? The
quizzical CLEAN was gone. On guard
A solemn business, loving, when you
know that it means-lifel On guard,
though, to herl She pulled her fin
gers from his strong lingering clasp,
( and Joined Mrs. Marshall.
Rickard had his soldier look on. She
was watching him coyertly 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
livfous of everything else in the world
except the river? Was that-loving2
Could she think of anything else when
he was In the same room with her?
he was soldier OF the modern army.
It came to her, sort Of tender divi-
nation, that he would not divide his
thoughts, ever with her, with love, un-
til his battle was won. Well, couldn't
she understand thatf What her accu-
sation against Gertyf Sex honor
keep of the track! Wasn't that her
own notionf Oughtn't she to be proud
of himf a'
She had brought nest Of waspish
thoughts tumbling about her ears.
Gertyl He had loved Gerty. He
couldn't love her, If his thoughts had
ever fingered, with that same serious
" 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 turhsd wa.
ters of the Colorado bore smiling sur.
face. There was nothing to hint Of
treachery. 5Nas
It was q 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 Innes' nearness,
though she kept her face turned from
him. He knew by the persistence Of
those averted eyes that she was as
scuteiy conscious of his presence an he
was, restfully, of hers. Deliberately,
he was prolonging the instant.
A stir en- the river had caught the
slert eye of Tod Marshall. He swore
a 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 ot
work swept awayl 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 e1pressionless
There was babel Of excited voices
behind them. Bodefeldt, MacLean,
Tony, Crothers, Bangs, all talking a,
once. Her eyes demanded something
of Rickard. A fierce resentment rose
q ! ga.rst mis- ealmness. "He knew it, T"
she rebelled. "He's been expecting
+h,s to happen. Its no tragedy tc