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SYNOPSIS. CHAPTER I?K. C. Rlckard, an engl neer of the Overland Pacific, Is called t< the office of President Marshall In Tuc on, Ariz. "Casey" Is an enigma to th< office force; he wears "dude" clothes but he had resigned a chair of engineer lng in the East to go on the road as { fireman and his promotion had been spec tacular. While waiting for Marshall Rickard reads a report on the ravages of the Colorado, despite the efforts of Thomai Hardin of the Desert Reclamation company. This Hardin had been a studenl under Rlckard and had married Gertj Holmes, with whom Rlckard had fancied uo was UX IUYC. CHAPTER II?Marshall tells Rlckarc the Overland Pacific has got to step !r to save the Imperial Valley and sendi him to the break. Rlckard declines because he docs not want to supplant Hardin, but Is won over. "Stop the rlverv damn the expense," sags. Marshall. CHAPTER in?Rlckard Journeys tc Calexlco, sees the Irrigated desert ani learns much about Hardin and his work. CHAPTER IV?At the hotel he meet! Mr. and Mrs. Hardin and Innes Hardin Hardin's half sifter. Disappointed In hei husband and an Incorrigible coquette Mrs. Hardin sets her cap for her formei lover j&pd Invites him to dinner. (Continued From Last Friday CHAPTER V. A Game of Checker*. The uneasy mood of the desert, the wind-blown sand, drove people Indoors the next morning. Rickard was served a' substantial, Indifferently cooked Ki*o?Woof In fho rilnfncp fAnm nf tho Desert hotel, whose limitations were as conspicuous to the newcomer as they were nonexistent to the other men. They were finding It a soft contrast to sand-blown tents, to life In the open. Later he wandered through the group of staring Idlers in the office, past the popular soda stand and the few chair-tllters on the sidewalk, going on, as If without purpose, to the railroad sheds, and then on, down to the offices of the Desert Reclamation company. He discovered it to be the one engaging spot In the hastily thrown-together town. There were oleanders, rose and white, blooming In the patch of purple blooming alfalfa that stood for a lawn. Morning-glories clambered over the supports of the veranda, and on over the roof. Rickard's deductions led him to the Harding. What school of experience had so changed the awkward country fellow? He had resented his rivalry, not that he was a rival, but that he was a boor. His kisses still warm on her lips, and she had turned to welcome, to coquet with Tom Hardin! The woman who was to be his wife must be steadier than that! It had cooled his fever. Not for- him the aspen who could shake and bend her pretty boughs to each rough breeze that blew! Iiiien tossea mio a aeserr, ngnung ro keep a foothold, do not garland their offices with morning-glories! Was it the gracious quiet influence of a wife, a Gerty Hardin? The festive building he was approaching was as unexpected?as Captain Brandon! RIckard walked on, smiling. He was fairly blown Into the outer room, the door banging behind him. Every one looked up at the noisy interruption. There were several men in the long room. Among them two alert, clean-faced youths, college graduates, or students out on furlough, the kind of stuff In his class at Lawrence. Thre< of the seasoned, road-coached typ< were leaning their chairs against thf cool thick walls. One was puffing a1 a cigar. The other, a big, shy giant was drawing clouds of comfort from ? pipe. There was a telegraph operator at work in one end of the room, hei instrument rapidly clicking. In an op poslte corner was a telephone ex/ change. A girl with a metal band around her forehead was punchini connections between the valley towns, RIckard lost the feeling of having gone Into a remote and isolated region. The twin towns were on the map. One of the older men returned his nod. The young men returned their hastily withdrawn attention to their game of checkers. The other smoker was watching with cross-eyed absorption the rings his cigar was sending 4-V _ _ t_ T> I 3 I _V 1. 1 I uiiu uie air. AiiKuru migiu nut iiavt been there. One of the checker players looked up. "Anything I can do for you? Do you ant to see anyone in particular?" "No," It was admitted "No one in particular. I was just looking round." 'It's the show place of Calexlco. I'll take you around. It la the only place In town that Is comfortable when it's hot, or when the wind blows, and that's the program all summer. Take my place, Pete." Pete, the young giant with the face of his infancy enlarged rather than l&atured, slipped into the vacant chair. Ha had. been the first to discover the itranger, bat ha had evaded the i? dtocaibility. The puna taonflAtalf mii ! 3CVXV* / QfJP | EDNAH # AIKEN <5> Twrooeat-sfowu- cosfpAw "Tt's nif?p here." reDeated the young fellow, leading the way. They were followed by a few idle glances. I Rickard looked with approval at the ? tan slim figure which was assuming ; the courtesy of the towns. The fine i handsome face was almost too girlish, ; the muscles of the mouth too sensitive > yet for manly beauty, but he liked the ? type. Lithe as a young desert-reared I Indian, his manner and carriage told r of a careful home and rigid school dis1 cipline. , . . j He was ushered into a large cool . , room. The furnishings he Inventoried: i a few stiff chairs, a long table and a j | typewriter desk, closed for the Sabbath. "The stenographer's room," an ? ? J '*??> oln , IIULLUeeU LUtS 1UU oupciuuuuoijr. "Whose stenographer" | "General property now. Everyone ( has a right to use her time. She used : to be Hardin's, the general manager's. , She is his still, in a way. But Ogilvie keeps her busy most of the time." Rlckard had not heard of Ogilvie. He made a mental register. "When did Hardin go out?" He ' knew the date himself. He expected , the answer would trail wisps of other | Information. He had a very active cuI rioslty about Hardin. The man's fall* ' I ures had been spectacular. The young fellow was thinking i aloud. "The dam went November i 29th. Hardin was given a decent in> terval to resign. Of course he was fired. It was an outrage?M He remembered that he was speaking to a stranger and broke off suddenly. Rlckard did not question him. He made another note. Why was it an outrage j or why did It appear so? In perspeo \ tlve, from the Mexican barranca, , where he had been at the time, the ran ore or tnat aam nao oeen aaouier bar sinister against Hardin. > 1 "I see that yon are from the Unlver- i sity of California?" Blckard Bald, and ( nodded at the pin of gold and blue ( enamel. "Out for a year," glowed the lad. ( "Dad wanted me to get some real stuff ( In my head. He said the Colorado would give me more lessons?more real ? knowledge in a year than I'd get in 1 six at college. I kicked up an awful row?" ' The older man smiled. "Of course. ! You don't want to go back now" s The boy made a wry face. "He ex- 3 pects me to go back in August. Says I must" "You did not tell me your name," 1 was suggested. i "MacLean, George MacLean," said t the young man rather consciously. It was a good deal to live up to. He always felt the appraisement which fol- ( lowed that admission. George Mac- 1 Lean, elder, was known among the ] railroad circles to be a man of iron, , one of the strongest of the heads ol the Overland Pacific system. He was Tint tho cnrt of man a son could eneak ( Hgbtly of disobeying. "or course everyone calls me Junior." "I guess you'll go back If he wants you to," smiled Rlckard. "Oh, but what a rotten trick It would be!" exclaimed the son of the man of iron. "To throw me out of college?I was daffy to finish with my class, and to get me here, to get me Interested?and then after I've lost my place to pull me back. Why, there are things happening every day that are a liberal education. They are only just 1 beginning to understand what they are bucking up against. The Colorado's an unknown quantity; even old engl neers are right up against It There are new problems coming np every day. The Indians call her a yellow dragon, but 6he's a tricky woman, she's an eel; she's giving us sums to * break our teeth on." c "Who has the next room?" t "Used to be the general manager's. Ogilvie uses it now." "And who did you say was Ogilvie?" They turned back Into the t room. t "You can go In. He's not here. He is the new auditor, an expert accountant from Los Angeles. Put in by the x O. P. when it assumed control last year. He used to come down once 0 a month. After Hardin went out he ^ came down to stay." . "Whose say-so?" '1 don't know. The accounts were rotten, that's no office secret The world knows that Hardin is blamed for it It isn't fair. Look at Bather's stone palace in Los Angeles. Look at Hardin's tent, his shabby clothes." o *Td like to meet Ogilvie," observed n the general manager. "Oh, he's not much to meet A pale, white-livered vegetarian, a iheoeophiet You've teen 'em. Loe Angeles Is full of 'em. He was here when Hardin was fired. You could see him see hie opportunity. His cheat swelled lfr..ge looked as tf U ha4 iuisd neat for the llrsf time? He" thought Jiat he could woozle Into the empty jlace! He went back to Los Angeles, :onvinced them that the andltor should be here, protect the company's nterests. It sounded mysterious, sleuthlike, as if he had discovered something, so they let him bring the jooks down here. He is supposed to >e ferreting. But he's 'woozling.' He lsed to be in the outer office. Said :he noise made his head ache, so he noved in here. All the committee neetings are held here, and occasionilly the directors' meetings. Water lompanies', too. Ogilvie's taking notes ?wants to be the next general manager; it sticks out all over him." "What's the derivation of woozle?" :his with deep gravity. "Wait till you see Ogilvie!" laughed lis entertainer. Then as an after:hought, "This is all public gossip. 3e's fair game." Tne door opened oemna tnem, ana Rlckard saw the man whose description had been so deftly knocked off. Ele recognized the type seen so frejuently in southern California towns, :he pale, damaged exile whose chance )f reprieve is conditioned by stern ules of diet and sobriety. It was the temperament which must perforce xanslate a personal necessity into a eligious dogma. "This gentleman's just?is just ooking around," stammered MacLean, )lundering, confused. The vegetarian nodded, taking off lis felt sombrero and putting It on a ihalr with care. By this time it was apparent that 10 one save Hardin knew of his comng. He wap ahead of Marshall's let:ers. He did not like the flavor of his mtrance. "What provision Is being made for the new general manager?" ? (To be Continued Friday.) LEAGUE TO BE SAVED BY UNITED STATES Union Will Fall if This Government Fails and Chaos and Disorder Will Prevail Throughout the World? Republicans Said to Be Uneonvinced After Conference. Washington, Feb. 26.?President Wilson told members of the concessional foreign relations committees tonight that unless the United States entered the league of nations ;he league .would fall and chaos and iurmoil beyond description would remit in Europe. Views of Republican members opposing the league :onstitution as reported to the peace * ? - i_ :onterence apparently were not changed by the conference. The president was said to have stated that it was necessary that the United States stand to the support )f the Czfecho-Slovaks, the Jugoslavs, Poland and other weak and struggling peoples made free as the result of the great war. Discussion of the constitution as presented to the peace conference, vas said to have been quite general ind th president was questioned ilosely, especially by Senator Brandigee of Connecticut, Republican Leader Lodge and Senator Knox of Pennsylvania, former secretary of state, took very little part. The president, after making an >pen explanatory statement, answerid all questions freely and specifi:ally, emphasized that his guests vere free to discuss the conference md all its information with newspa)er men or others. One question on which much time vas spent was whether a nation once n the league could withdraw, raisid by Senator Brandegee. The presilent was said to have held that any :ountry could withdraw hut Senator Brandegee contended this would be mpossible under the constitution as low drafted. Mandatory Not Compulsory. President Wilson denied that the eague plan would interfere with the donroe doctrine, declaring that the loctrine would be guaranteed by all he member powers in the world so iety. The president was said to have held hat the mandatories in the constituion were not compulsory, but retired the consent of the nation to phich the mandatory was assigned. Senators said he expressed the pinion that the United States would lesire io beccme a mandatory for, Lrmenia. CARD OF THANKS. We take this means of thanking ur friends in Abbeville for the' (vany acts of kindness shown us at| he death of our mother, Mrs. Ella; fcllwaine. Mrs. Ollie Muller, Miss Orene Mcllwaine, J. E. Mcllwaine, Will Ifrflwaino. / We have won the war; we must keep our army equipped to help enforce peace. War bills must be met. Lend your money to the government. Buy War Savings Stamps. After all\ the vitality of the car depends on the battery> IP the ignition is not absolutely right, no part of the car can function properly. Many a car stays in the old* age class while in reality its L life is barely half spent?be* _ cause its nerves are paralyzed ^ by a failing battery. The Eveready Storage Battery has proved a veritable fountain of youth for thousands of such cars. The gaarantee is exceptional?but the performance of the Eveready makes it easy for us to make good. Yes, a year and a half. CITY GARAGE Official EvereadyServiceStation Free Testing j Courteous Service and Guaranteed Repair* I on all standard makes of Storage Batteries. I REAL E city property. These House and Lot?In City of Abbeville, about one-half mile from Court House, on South Main Street, near Cotton mill. Lot about one acre? house has store 21x72 feet j and 12 rooms with all modern conveniences; also two-room tenant house, warehouse, % stables, feed and carriage IB house. $4,000 Also the stock of general merchandise in the above store. SUBURBAN LOTS?Am offering several lots in the southern section of the city of Abbeville at exceptional bar156 ACRE TRACT?Located 4 S miles Southeast of Abbeville I S. C. Six room dwelling, 3? room tenant house, barn. B About 2-horse farm rented g for this year. Good bottom B land, plenty ashe wood and I timber. Price $4,400. ORGANIZING FOR PEACE. The Abbeville Red Cross Executive Committee held a meeting Wednesday afternopn at which plans were made for the work of the chapter now that peace has come. Many of the committees which were so active during the war will soon pass out of existence and the home service work will be stressed. This work will consist of welcoming the returning soldiers, looking after their families and furnishing headquarters at which all Red Cross information can be disseminated. Two! rooms will be rented which will be for the use of the secretary, and for a reception room for the use of returned soldiers. At the meeting Wednesday there were present, Mr. J. S.Cochran, chairman of the Home Service, Mrs. Coleman, Secretary, and Mr. J. S. Morse, Mrs. F. B. Gary, Mrs. Otto Bristow, Rev. H. W. Pratt, Miss May Robertson, Dr. McMurray, Mr. Wm. M. Barnwell and Mrs. Dendy Miller. Mrs. Colenian, as secretary, will be sent to the Red I Cross Training Institute, at Jackson-j ville, Fla., for a six weeks course, la FARM FOR Si 87 ACRES?12 mil McCormick Co of W. D. Morrs 1 40 ACRES?About ville, no impro^ and timber. 79 3-4 ACRES?3 rr one settlementon place. Plent running throug 227 1-2 ACRES?: ville. This is a s erty. A lot of sa 1 100 1-2 ACRES?: ville. Good resi ings. Well ater and timber. ] 189 1-4 ACRES? ville. A splen< provemerits, ab torn lands. 1 541 ACRES?1-2 n mile from Call: farm being ope Lies well, is we abundance of ^ P Can Arra R0BER1 FERT1I I represent the Works, of Charlestc hand a good stock, hard to get a little la in supplying your ne ROBT. jTATL S are good investments TWO GOOD RESIDENCES? on North Main Street, for sale. Ask for prices. ACRE LOT?In Fort Pickens. Good location. Price $600. 231 1-2 ACRES?7 miles South of Abbeville, two tenant houses, barn, well; 15 acres bottoms, 150,000 feet sawtimber. Two horse farm already rented for 1919. Price per acre $25.00 6-ROOM RESIDENCE?On S. Main St., containing 4 acres, more or less. Good bam, 1 tenant house, rat proof crib, with branch running through property. Cheap at $2,100.00 120 ACRE TRACT?With good residence, tenant house, barn 11 miles from Abbeville, South. 5 miles from Troy. Price $3,000.00. Jno. F. Si Abbeville, LANDS \LEL.. es from Abbeville, in unty, adjoining lands th. Price, $30.00 per acre. ; six miles from Abbe/ements, all in wood Price, $25 per acre. liles from Abbeville? . ?two horse farm open y wood, and stream h place. Price, $2,000.00. LI miles from Abbeiplendid piece of prop,w timber on this place Price, $17.50 per acre. 12 miles from Abberlcmno cinH nn+ Vkiiilrl ed and plenty wood 3rice, $30.00 pei" acre. 10 miles from Abbeiid farm but no imout 50 or 60 acres botPrice, $18.00 per acre. nile from Hester, one ioun Falls. 15 horse irated on the place. 11 watered and has an rood and timber. rice, $40.00 per acre. nge Terms f S. LINK f LEERS Ashepoe Fertilizer >n, S. C., and have on Fertilizers may be iter on, so don't delay ieds. S. LINK. I er for immediate sale allowing country and ?Ask About Them We have several rtacts of land and city property for sale. The owners asked not to advertise. We will be glad to show vnn nrnnert.v wp Viavp i for sale any time you ask to I see it. 1 * I TWO STORY DWELLING?6- ft room, hall, electric lights and I sewerage, 5 minutes walk from square. Bargain at $1,250.00 ! 120 ACRES?Four miles South S East of Abbeville, dwelling, j tenant house, well, 500 cords ?j wood, some saw timber. R Cheap at $17.50 per acre. H 166 ACRES?6 miles from Ab- ? beville. Good dwelling, barn ffi tenant house, located in Leb- | anon section, close to school and church. Price per acre _$30.00 itherland South Carolina