White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1921-02-06


he had supplanted. The thought
crossed his mind that perhaps Hardin
had taken TO drinking. It made his
answer curt.
Il don't know
you don't know -
Il have no report to make, Mr.. Har-
din, until | see the gate"
"And you went 10 the Crossing with
out going down to the headgateT" Har-
din did not try TO conceal his disgust.
Il did not 90 to the Crossing"
Didn't GO" Hardin's mouth was
agape. Then he rudely swiyeled his
chair. The door slammed behind Rick
ard.
Hadn't been to the Crossing? Then
where in Hades did he go? lie halted
MacLean who was passing him.
Are you going TO the Crossing to-
morrow Hardin knew he should be
too proud to betray his eagerness. but
the words ran away with him.
"Not tomorrow. Mr.. Richard just
told me he might not be able to get of
until next week.
Hardin's anger sputtered. Next
week. Why does he rush so? Why
doesn't he 60 next year? The Colo
radios so gentle. it'd walt for him, I'm
sure. Next week It's n put-up Job,
that's what it is. oh, | can see through
n fence with n knothole as big as your
head. lie doesn't want TO finish the
headgate. lie wants to put off going
until its too late to go on with 1t; |
know him. He'd risk the whole thing,
and all the money the @. 7. has
ehueked Into it, just TO start with a
clean slate. TO get the glory of stop
ping the river himself. 1t turns my
stomach its a plot" The lower lip
shot out.
MacLean's attention was deferentlal.
lie had always liked Hardin all the
fellows did. But he was jumping off
wrong this time. He'd brought Ii oil
on himself.
He said something about a levee for
the towns. Hes got to investigate that
before he goes to the 'front.'
"A levee? Well, wouldn't that Jar
your Hardin addressed the stenog.
rapher in the transparent shlrtwalst.
docs he think we're going to have
another flood this season. Thinks It's
going TO reach the hotel and wet his
clothes? Take the starch out of hi,
shirtsf' He flung out of his chair
throwing the papers back into thu
drawer.
He stamped out OF the office, mac
clear through. To this crisis they hae
sent down a dandy, a bookman who
wanted to build a leyee. Oh, hell
They'll come crawling after me [,
help them after this fellows burie,
himself under river mud, come callin,
to me as they did after Maitland failed
Please. Mr.. Hardin. won't you com,
back and flash your gatef I'll Sc,
them dead first. No, I'll be fool enough
to do 1t. l can't help myself. I'm
Hardin. have 10 finish what I've be
gum"
1t was not because this was n ne
enterprise, the great work of his life
that he must eagerly eat humble Die
take the buffets, the falls, and com
whining back when they whistled I
him. He told himself 1t was because O
his debt to the valley, to the rancher.
The c~olonists were about desperat,
Who could blame them7 The last year
floods had worked havoc with theI
crops; this year had been q horror
The district they called No. @ was
screaming irony of ruin. The last d,
bauch OF the river had made gres
gashes through the ranches. ha
secured deep gorges which had undeI
mined the canals on which the waite
, supply for No. 9 depended. The sui,
: were piling up against the ID. r., dan
age suits, and they hold up his gat
: while he gets the curses of the va
ley. And Mr.. Richard thinks he
build a leveel
, He flung himself on the couch In n
, tent. Gerty was laying n caref,
cloth for supper. A brave. determine
smile was arranged on her lips. III
. noon storm had passed. She hummed