Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1919-04-03
CHAPTER XII.
Hardin's Luck.

H4foln'o LUCK.
Two days later there was shock of
earthquake, so slight that the tapping
Of the water In Richards bath was his
1ntimation of the earth's uneasiness.
In the dining room later he found ev-
eryone discussing it. "Who could re-
Tbe FIRST shake"
During the morning, unfathered, as
rum0rs are born, the whisper of dis
aster somewhere spread. Their own
slight shock was the edge Of the con-
vulsiOn which had been serious else
where, no one knew quite where, or
why they knew 1t Mt all. The men
who were shoveling earth on the levee
began to talk of San Francisco. Some
one said that morning that the city
Tas badly hurt. No one could confirm
che rumor, but Il grew with the day.
Richard met 1t at the Office late in
the afternoon. He went direct to the
telegraph operators desk.
::Get Los Angeles, the o. p. Office.
And be quick about It."
In ten minutes he was talking to
Babcock. Babcock said that the dam
age by the earthquake to that city was
not known, but 1t was afire. San Jose
had confirmed it. Oakland had report
ed the flames creeping up the resi-
dence hills of that gay Western city.
Cinders We're already falling In the
transbay town.
Richard dropped the receiver.
''Where's Hardin?"
Tom Hardin emerged from q knot
OF men who were talking in corner
by the door.
"Where's that machineryT
"What machinery?"
Richard saw the answer to his cues
ton In the others face.
"The dredge machinery. Did you
attend to that? Did you send for it?"
"Oh. yes, that's all right It's all
right"
SIS 1t here?
Hardin attempted POPULARITY. II
didn't know as you wanted it here. I
ordered it sent to Yuma"
us 1t at Yuma?'
Hardin admitted that it was not vet
1t Yuma; it would be there soon; he
had written: oh, it was all right
"When did you writer"
Hardin Redeemed under the cate
s:hism Of questions. He resented be-
Ing held up before his men. The 9TH
ers felt the electricity in the air. Har-
slim and his successor were glaring at
each other like belligerents.
II asked when did you writer"
Yesterday"
Yesterday" Richard ripped out
nm oath. Yesterday. Why at all, I'd
like to know? Did you understand
that you were ordered to get that
here?. Now. it's gone"
"GoneY The others crowded up.
San Francsico's burning" He
walked into his inner office, mad clear
through. He was not thinking of the
ruin of the gay young city; not
thought ye: did he have of the human
tragedies enacting there; of homes,
hves, fortunes swept into that huge
bonfire. AS 1t affected the work at the
river, the first block to his campaign,
the catastrophe came home to him. He
had q picture of tortured. twisted
iron, Of ruined machinery, the ma
chinery for his dredge. He saw 1t lying
like a spent LAGOON, ,writhing in its
last struggle. He blamed himself for
leaving even such small detail as the
hastsning of the parts to Hardin's
care. for Hardin wasn't at to be trust
ed for anything. No one could tell
him now the man was unlucky; he
was q fool. A month wasted, and
days were precious. A month"; Months.
Hardin's luck. Oh, hell!
Then he began to speculate as he
cooled over the trouble up yonder. A
whole city burning1 They would sure
II get It under control. He began to
think OF the isolation; the telegraph
wires all down. That might happen
anywherel He walked to the door
and looked thoughtfuily at the com
pany's big winter tower. That wasn't
inch q bad idea! He picked up his
hat and went out.
cHAPTER xiii.
The Wrong Man.
MA Hardin heard from every