Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-02-01

/ did he ever give you any reason"
frowned Riekard reminiscently, "any
reasonable reason why he made that
cut without any head gate?"
mo moneyw shrugged Marshall.
getting out another cigar. Il told you
he's raw dancer. always starts off
too quick. begins on the wrong foot.
Oh, yes, he has reasons, lots of them,
that fellow, but, as you say, they're
not reasonable. He never waits to get
ready"
Why was 1t that the face Of the
half-sister came to Rickard then, with
that look of sensitive high breeding
and guarded reserve? And she Har-
din! Sister to the loud-spilling mouth!
Queer cards nature dealsl And pretty
cards Marshall was trying to deal out
, to him. Go down there and finish
Hardin's job, show him up to be the
fumbler he was, give him orders, give
the husband of Gerty Holmes or
ders-!
ut was Hardin who came to me,
but not until he'd tried everything
Eelse. They'd worked for months try
ing to dam the river with a few lace
handkerchiefs, and perhaps a chiffon
veil" Marshall was twinkling over
his own humor. Hardin did put up
good talk. 1t was true, as he said;
we'd had to move our tracks three,
no, four times at Salton. 1t was true
that it ought to be one of the richest
districts tapped by the O. ?. But he
clenched me by clever bait-to put
out Il spur in Mexico which would
keep any other railroad off by fifty
mile parallel, and there the sandhills
make railroad impossible.
'The government must eventually
come to the rescue. Their works at
Laguna hang on the control Of the
river down at the heading. Once, he
told mel don't know how much
truth there was in 1.-THE service, rec
lamatlon service, did try to buy up
their plant for a paltry sum. He
wouldn't sell. The short is, recon-
mended long-sighted assistance to
Faraday. l promised to turn that
river, save the district. We expected
before the year was out to have the
government take the responsibility off
our hands,"
Rickard made an impatient shrug.
A nice problem Marshall had taken
unto himself. He wanted none Of it.
Ilardin-the thing was impossible.
He met laggardly Marshall's story.
He heard him say: agreed with Far
aday. The Desert Reclamation COM
pany was as helpless as swaddled
infant. We made the condition that
we reorganize the company. l was
put in Hardln's place as president of |
the corporation, and he was made gen.
eral manager. OF course we had to |
control the stock. We put up two
hundred thousand dollars - Hardin
had estimated it would cost us less
than half that! It's cost us already
a million. Things haven't been going
right. Faraday's temper burst out,
and Hardin while back was asked
to resign"
"And it is Hardin's position that
you want me to fill?" His voice
sounded queer to himself-dry, mock
ing, as If anyone should know what
an absurd thing he was being asked
to do. He felt Narshall's sharp In
dian eyes on him, as If detecting pet
tiness. Well, he didn't care how Mar
shall interpreted it. That place wasn't
for him.
Il want you in control down there"
Rlckard knew he was being appraised,
balanced all over again. 1t made no
difference
''Pm sorry" he was beginning, when
Marshall cut in.
Good Lord, you are not going to
turn it DOWN."
He met Marshals incredulous
stare. "It's Job I'd jump at under
most circumstances But l can't go,
sir"
Tom Marshall leaned back the full
swing Of his swivel chair, blankly
astounded. His eyes told Rickard
that he had been found wanting-he
had white blood In his veins.
ut is good Of you to think of me-
pshaw! 1t is absurd to say these
thRgs. You know that / know it is
an honor to be picked out by you for
such a piece of work. I'd like to-
but I can't"
The president Of railroads, who /,
knew men, had been watching the K
nm m