White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1921-04-03
CHAPTER XVI.
Time the Umpire.

The river was low; its yellow wa
tiers bore the look of oriental duplicity
Each day was now showing its prog
ress. The two ends of the trestle wer'
creeping across the stream from theil
brush aprons. A few weeks of work
at the present rate, and the Cup would
be closed, Hardin's big gate in 1t: th'
bypass ready; the trap set for TIL
Colorado. The tensity of a last spur
was In the air.
1t was inspiring activity, this pittlni
of mans cumulative skill against al
elemental force. No Caucasian mint
which did not tingle, feel the prlvi
legged thrill of 1t. To the stolid native
this day of well-paid toll was his mil
lennlum, the fulfillment of the
prophecy. His gods had SO spoken
Food for his stomach, liquor for his
stupefaction the white mans money
laid in n brown hand each Sunday
morning was what the great gods fore
spoke. The completion of the work,
the white mans victory, would be an
end OF the fat time. Hasten? Why
should they. end shorten their day of
opportunity
Between the two camps oscillated
Coronel, silently squatting near the
whites, ~jabbering his primitive Es-
peranto to the tribes. His friendship
with the white chiefs. his & and nat
ural leadership gave him a unique po-
sition in both camps. Assiduously,
Richard cultivated the old Indian who
crouched days through by the bank of
the river.
The engineers felt the whip of ex-
element. Never a man left the camp
In the morning who did not look to-
ward that span crawling across the
treacherous stream. measure that
widened bypass. Would the gate
stand? The Hardin men halloed for
the gate. but looked each morning to
see II 1t were still there. The Reclama-
tion Service men and the engineers OF
the railroad were openly skeptical;
Slsyphus outdone at his own game
Estrada and Richard looked furtively
ut the gate, with doubt at each other.
Hardin, himself. was repressed, an
eager live wire. His days he spent on
The river; his nights. long hours of
them, open-eyed. on his back, watching
the slow-wheellng, star-pricked dome
of desert sky. His was the suspense
Of the man on trial; this was his
trial; Gerry. Richard, the valley. his
Judge and jury. The gate grew to be
a symbol with him of restored honor,
an Obsession of desire. II must be ali
right
Richard was all over the place.
watching every piece OF rock that's
dumped In the river" complained
Wooster. Believe he marks them at
night I"
They We're preparing for the final
rush. In "a week or two. the work
would be continuous. night shifts to
begin when the rock-pouring COM
menced. Large lamps were being sus-
pended across the channel. acetylene
whose candelpower was that of an arc
light. Soon there would be no night
at the break. When the time for the
quick coup would come. the dam must
be closed without break or slip. One
mat was down, dropped on the floor
that had already swallowed two such
gigantic %mouthfuls; covered with
rock; pinned down to the slippery bot
tom with piles. Another mat was
ready to drop rock was waiting to be
poured owe 1t; the deepest place In
the channel was reduced from fifteen
to seven feet. Each day the overpour.
anxiously measured, increased. A third
steam shovel had been added; the rail-
road sent in several work trains fully
equipped for service; attracted by the
excitement, the hoboes were commenc-
Ing to come In.
It was a battle OF big numbers, a
duel of great force where time was
the umpire. Any minute hot weather
might fall on those snowy peaks up
yonder. and the released waters, rush.
ing down. would tear out the defenses
rs q wave breaks over a child's fort
made of sand. This was a race, and
all knew 1t. A regular train dispatch
system was In force that the inrushing
cars might drop their burden of rock
and gravel and be off after more. The
Dragon was being fed rude meals, IT.
appetite whetted by the glut of pour
Ing rock.
Tod Marshall came down from Tue
son In his car. The coming of tn
Palmyra and Claudia rippled the SO
cial waters ut the front for day
ahead. Gerry Hardin, too proud I
tell her astonished family that sf
wanted to desert the mess tent. shoe
herself from her injury. and did NJ
all her lingerie gowns. Mrs. Marsha
was not going to p~atronize her. eve
II her husband had snubbed Tom.
was hot. ironing In her tent. the doc
closed. Everything carried a still
those indoor hours. She was affair
with hot vanity. Twice, she h
openly encouraged Richard; twice,
had fiouted her. That was his kin