The Ordway new era., 1919-06-06

! suggest that you call on Mr.. De la
Vega first"
The eyes of the dining room fol-
lowed the party as they filed past the
buzzing tables. Faraday was not in
town; Marshall represented that pow
er. As he walked out, bowling right
and left, his right hand occasionally
extended in his well-known oratorical,
courteous gesture. His black tie was
stringing down his shirt front: his
black clothes were the worse for his
lunch. But no one, save the Eastern
girls, saw spots or tie. The future of
that valley lay In that mans hand. no
matter how Black or Grace might
harangue. In five minutes, the dining
room was emptied.
| AS snow gently falling, had gath
cred the first damage suits Of the
ranchers. The last flood had precipi-
tated a temperamantal storm. Men
were suing for the possible values Of
their farms, impossible values of
crops. Not alone the companies had
been blanketed with the accusing pa
pers. but against Mexico the white
drifts had piled up. Mexicol No one
knew better than Hardin how absurd
1t was to accuse the sister country Of
responsibility. A pretty pickle they
were inl Where was 1t all going to
endf
In the lobby, Hardin ran up against
Brandon. who was following a news
scent. Through the valley 1t was being
rumored that subscriptions were to be
asked for the completion of the work.
If this were the intention, there would
be hot meeting.
'You are going on the platformf"
assumed the newspaper man. "No?
Then will you sit with me7"
''If you will sit upstairs" scowled
Hardin, 'T don't want to be dragged
onto the platform"
Down in the orchestra. Black from
the Wistaria was haranguing group
of gestlculating ranchers. Phrases
climbed to the men on the balcony
seats. keep their pledges. Promise
makers. Let them look at our crops"
"H Marshall expects to coerce
those men. lose my guess. Then he's
no Judge of men," cried Hardin.
Look at those faces." The floor was
sea of impassioned features.
Something's going to drop" echoed
Brandon.
From the wings, Babcock's inquisi-
tive glasses were seen to sweep the
house. Hardin could catch the sum-
mons of an excited forefinger to the
group unseen. There was a minute
of delay. Then Babcock's nervous
toddle carried him onto the stage.
De Ia Vega followed Babcock.
There was a hush of curiosity. The
house did not know who he was. Be
hind him. soldierly. stir. stalked Mac
Lean. Marshall's entrance released
the tongues. There was an interval
of confusion on the stage. Babcock,
like a restless terrier, was swapping
at the heels Of the party. At last,
they were all fussily seated. De In
Vega was given the place of honor.
MacLean on the right.
Babcock raised his staccato gavel.
A hush fell on the house. His words
were clipped and sharp.
"You have left your plowing to come
here. You are anxious to hear what
we have to say to you. You cannot
afford to be Indifferent to it. You ac-
knowledge, by your presence, de-
pendence. a correlation which you
would like to deny. Irrigation means
cooperation, suffering together, strug-
Cling together, succeeding together.
You prefer the old individual way.
each man for himself. l tell you it
won't do. You belong in other coun-
/ fri hn nj nj n c ad
rain. You want to hear what we have
to say to you, the company who saved
the valley, the company you are suing.
But you have also suits against Mex
leo. There is gentleman here who
has a message from Mexico about
those suits. / have the honor, gentle
men, to introduce, Senior de Ia Vega"
Ladies'" bowed the Mexican. "Gen-
tlemen, Mr.. Chairman. 1t is with an
appreciation of the honor that ac-
cepted for today the invitation of Mr..
Marshall to speak before you, to speak
to you; must tell you first my
thought as 1 sat there and looked at
you. the youth, the flower of the Amer
lean people. A few years ago. we
were calling this the great Colorado
desert; now, the world calls 1t the
hothouse of America. This theater
is built over the bones of gold-seekers.
who dared death in this dreaded
desert to find what was buried in
those mountains beyond. The man,
1 say, who crossed this desert. took
the hazard of death. 1t was a coun-
tryman Of mine who piloted. fifteen
years ago. little band of men, across
the desert. Perhaps he camped on
this very spot. 1t is not impossible
1t is here. perhaps, that he got his