White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1921-02-27
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mad horse back on Its launches. Ii
was kicking back.
"They are short-handed up there.
They need help"
Dynamite" cried Silent and Har-
din antiphonally. They happened to
be standing near.
I'VE must have dynamite bawled
Hardin. Are the wires down between
here and Brawley? We must get a
wire somehow to Los Angeles. to rush
1t down here this morning"
Its here. There is a carload on
the siding" yelled Silent.
Hardin did not need to ask By
whose orders 1t was there. An angry
scowl spoiled his face.
Put some on the machine" he
was turning away.
Silent called after him. Did Mr..
Hardin think It was safe? There was
no road between the towns and Fas-
sets. The night. the expiosiye-should
they not walt till morning? The ques-
ton threw his late chief into q rage.
did I ask you to take it," 1t was
the opening for his fury. Safe, Will
the towns be safe IL the river cuts back
here? The channel has got TO be
widened, and you talk of your W
precious skin Wait till I ask you to
take ii. Get ont the machine. I'll take
Ii to Fassett's myself"
Silent left the leyee, smarting. He
backed the machine out Of the shed
and sped through the darkness toward
Mexieali. where the car of explosives
was isolated.
Hardin. buttoned up to the ears, his
soft hat pulled tight over his forehead,
was waiting impatiently. Here was
something to be done; he coveted the
activity.
II thought you were never coming"
he grumbled.
. Let me take itr' pleaded the en-
gineer.
Nonsense, there is no danger" Har-
din saw personal affection In the plea.
lie put his hand a~ffectionately on the
mans shoulder.
"You go home and catch a nap; this
is my job" lie was standing on the
step. Crank her"
There was nothing for Silent to do
but TO get out. Hardin pointed the
long nose of the car into the darkness.
She vas Off like the greyhound she
suggested. missing a telegraph pole by
half an inch.
"Who is In charge here?' a woman's
voice was piercing the racket of wind
and wave.
The dawn was breaking. Down the
New river he could see the wind whip
ping the water Into whitecapped fury.
"Vicious," he muttered. ''Those heavy
waves play the Old Harry with the
leyee."
"Where Is my brotherl"
Miss Hardin !" cried Silent.
"Where is hef" demanded Innes.
Her hair streamed away from her face.
Her cheeks were blanched. Her yellow
eyes, peering into the dusk, looked
owlish. Her wind-spanked skirts chung
to her limbs. To Silent. she looked
boyish, as though clipped and trou-
sered. 'Where Is my brother?' she re-
peated.
Silent told her without reservations
where he had gone and why. There
was no feminine foolishness about
that sister of Hardin's. A chip Of the
old block. Funny. the men all thought
of her as Hardin's daughter ON &C.
count Of the difference Of age. AS to
q comrade. proudly. he Dragged of the
taking of the dynamite over that road
less waste.
"Whom did he leave 10 his placer
Silent knew. only, that he himself
was not in charge! Hardin had or.
dered him to bed.
Maybe Mr.. Estrada" she haz.
arded.
"He Is not here, he went down the
road to look after the track. Hardin
went off IN such a hurry, I guess he
told nobody" chuckled the engineer.
still glowing.
"Then I'm IT." cried lines Hardin.
"will you take my orders, Silent?"
"Sure." he chuckled again.
Through the rush of the wind and
water came the whistle of a locomo.
tive.
"A special !" cried Silent. Hardln's
sister and his friend looked at each
other, the same thought In mind:
Rickard. In from the Heading!
On her face Silent saw the same
spectacular impulse which had flashed
over Hardin's features a short time
before.
She put her hand on his arm. "Si-
lent. you're his friend. Stralghten this
out. We can't have him come back
spying-and find this" She waved her
hand toward the disorganized groups.
I'D take ORDERS" suggested
the engineer.
Then. send a third Of them home,
tell them to come back tonight at six.
Send away the other third, tell them
to come back at noon. Keep the other
shift. Say you'll have coffee sent
from the hotel. tell them Hardin saws
70 stop wasting stun. Tell them. OH