The Winning of Barbara Worth

by Harold Bell Wright

  CHAPTER XIV.

  MUCH CONFUSION AND HAPPY EXCITEMENT.

  As the trying months of the semi-tropical summer approached, the greatDesert, so awful in its fierce desolation, so pregnant with the life itwas still so reluctant to yield, gathered all its dreadful forces towithstand the inflowing streams of human energy. In the fierce windsthat rushed through the mountain passes and swept across the hot plainslike a torrid furnace blast; in the blinding, stinging, choking,smothering dust that moved in golden clouds from rim to rim of theBasin; in the blazing, scorching strength of the sun; in the hard, hotsky, without shred or raveling of cloud; in the creeping, silent,poison life of insect and reptile; in the maddening dryness of thethirsty vegetation; in the weird, beautiful falseness of theever-changing mirage, the spirit of the Desert issued its silentchallenge.

  It was not the majestic challenge of the mountains with their unsealedheights of peak and dome and impassable barriers of rugged crag andsheer cliff. It was not the glad challenge of the untamed wildernesswith its myriad formed life of tree and plant and glen and stream. Itwas not the noble challenge of the wide-sweeping, pathless plains; northe wild challenge of the restless, storm-driven sea. It was thesilent, sinister, menacing threat of a desolation that had conquered bycruel waiting and that lay in wait still to conquer.

  With grim determination, nervous energy, enduring strength and a doggedtenacity of purpose, the invading flood of humanity, irresistiblydriven by that master passion, Good Business, matched its strengthagainst that of the Desert in the season of its greatest power.

  Steadily mile by mile, acre by acre, and at times almost foot by foot,the pioneers wrested their future farms and homes from the dreadfulforces that had held them for ages. Steadily, with the inflowing streamof life from the world beyond the Basin's rim, the area of improvedlands about Kingston extended and the work in the Company's town wenton. By midsummer many acres of alfalfa, with Egyptian corn and othergrains, showed broad fields of living green cut into the dull, dunplain of the Desert and laced with silver threads of water shining inthe sun.

  Save for occasional brief business trips to the city, Jefferson Worthdid not leave Kingston. In the most trying of those grilling days ofheat and dust, when a man's skin felt like cracking parchment and hiseyes burned in their sockets and it seemed as though every particle ofmoisture in his body was sucked up by the dry, scorching air, Barbara'sfather gave no sign of discomfort. He accepted the most nerve-rackingsituation with the even-tempered calmness of one who had foreseen itand to whom it was but a trivial incident, inevitable to hisfar-reaching plans. When others--their tempers tried to the breakingpoint--cursed with dry, high-pitched, querulous curses the heat, theland, the sun, the dust, the Company and their fellow-sufferers,Jefferson Worth's cool, even tones and unruffled spirit helped them toa needed self-control and gave them a new and stronger grip on things.And many a baffled, discouraged and well-nigh beaten settler, ready togive up, found in the man whose gray, mask-like face seemed soincapable of expression, fresh inspiration and new courage; while thestore continued its policy of helping the worthy, hard-pressed rancherswith necessary material assistance.

  And so it was that while James Greenfield and his fellow-capitalists ofThe King's Basin Land and Irrigation Company were taking their muchneeded vacations and seeking relaxation and rest from business cares attheir seaside and mountain retreats, the desert pioneers were comingmore and more to Jefferson Worth for advice and counsel, for strengthand courage and help to go on with the work. By fall the financier'sposition in the life of the new country seemed to be securely won.Perhaps only Jefferson Worth himself, alone behind his gray mask, knewthe real value of his apparent victory.

  The Company's thoughtful Manager went out--as the pioneers had come tosay of those who left the Basin--for over a month, and for the rest ofthe summer spent only a part of his time in Kingston. But the Company'schief engineer refused to leave even for a week. To a pressinginvitation from Greenfield to join him on his vacation, Holmes answeredthat he could not get away. All through the June rise of the river,while the settlers, ignorant of the danger that threatened them throughthe Good Business policy of the Company, were risking everything thatCapital might gain its greater profits, the engineer lived in his campat the intake. Day and night, as he watched the swelling yellow torrentthat threw its weight against his work, he remembered the words of thedesert-bred surveyor: "When the Gila and the Little Colorado go on thewarpath and come down on top of a high Colorado flood, you'll catchhell." It had come in the past, Abe had declared, and it would comeagain.

  But the flood waters of the Gila and the Little Colorado did not comedown on top of the larger river that year and the promoter's estimatework stood. When the danger was past and the engineer was free again tomake Kingston his headquarters, his acquaintance with Jefferson Worthgrew into something like friendship. It became, indeed, an establishedcustom for Mr. Worth, Abe Lee and the chief engineer of the Company tosit at the same table in the shack restaurant and, during their mealsof canned stuff, to talk over the work that held them from the comfortsand pleasures of civilization.

  But little work toward extending the Company system could be undertakenduring the hot summer months. It was difficult for Holmes to hold evenenough men to maintain that which was already in operation. ButJefferson Worth did not fare so badly. Abe Lee was steadfast, ofcourse, while Texas, Pat and Pablo would, as the Irishman said, "havefried thimsilves on the coals av hell" before they would quit theirjob. Were there not letters every week from Barbara with messages tothe surveyor and his three helpers? Pablo said truly that "there was noSenorita in the Company." So through Abe's leadership, Texas Joe'sdiplomacy, Pat's wisdom and Pablo's influence with his countrymen, theWorth enterprises did not suffer for lack of laborers but went steadilyahead.

  In Kingston the different buildings for the power plant and lightingsystem were nearly completed and several cottages were underconstruction on lots owned by Jefferson Worth, while men and teams werebusy excavating and hauling materials for a large ice plant. InFrontera, a little town that "just happened" to grow from a supply campin the southern end of the Basin, a hotel and a bank building werebeing erected, while between the two communities poles for a telephonesystem were being placed.

  Thus far very few women had come into the desert. When the torridsummer was past, the first crops on the new ranches harvested and morecomfortable homes prepared, they would come with the children to jointhe men-folks. Until then the new country would continue a man'scountry--the poorest possible kind of a country, the men themselvesdeclared.

  Therefore when, late in September, The King's Basin Messenger, with anextraordinary blare of trumpets, announced the birth of a child andthat the first-born of the new country was a boy, the news was receivedwith the greatest excitement. In Kingston, in Frontera, at gradingcamps and ranches, as the word was passed, there were wild and joyouscelebrations. Such a crowd of male visitors closed in on the humbletent home to beg for a look at the little pink stranger that thematter-of-fact pioneer parents were heard to express the wish that theythemselves had never been born. Had the baby been forced to carrythrough life all the names that were suggested he would undoubtedlyhave echoed the parents' wish at an early age.

  Then came the terrible word to Kingston, brought by Texas Joe, that thebaby was ill. Tex, returning to town from a trip to Frontera, hadturned a mile aside to bring the latest news of the baby. It was earlyevening and the light yet lingered in the sky back of No Man'sMountains, when the citizens, relaxing after the heat of the day andthe evening meal, looked up to see him coming, riding like a mad man,his horse white with foam.

  Jefferson Worth, with Abe and Holmes coming from the restaurant, hadpaused a moment in front of the store before separating when Texasleaped from his staggering mount. One thought flashed into the mind ofeach: "The intake! The river!" Holmes went white under his tan; Abe'sjaws came together with a click; Jefferson Worth's slim fingerscaressed his chin.

  As the
word passed quickly through the town, the crowd that followedMr. Worth and Texas Joe into the store grew until it over-flowed thebuilding and filled the street. Over all there was a solemn hush, savefor low-spoken words of inquiry, or explanation, and of advice. What todo was the question. What could they do? There was no doctor nearerthan Rubio City and men who pioneer in a desert land are not menexperienced with sickness.

  On a high shelf in one back corner of the store there was a smalldust-covered stock of assorted patent medicines. Desperately theypulled the bottles down and studied the labels and directions, but onlyto their further confusion and doubt. At last, his pockets laden witheverything that seemed to promise a possible relief, Texas Joe set outon a fresh horse, the first one handy, to be followed later by a springwagon drawn by four fast broncos and carrying four women. The entirefemale population of Kingston had been mustered by Abe Lee, whom theladies declared then and there to be the only man of sense in all TheKing's Basin.

  For the first evening since his arrival Jefferson Worth left his officein the store to mingle with the restless crowds on the street that, inever-changing knots and groups, discussed in fearful voice this publiccalamity. No one dreamed of retiring. No one had thoughts for sleep,nor indeed for anything save the little sufferer in the tent house tenmiles out on the Desert. They smoked and talked and swore softly inhushed tones and waited the return of Texas Joe.

  It was after midnight when he came again. Before he could dismount, thecrowd of silent men hemmed him in. From the saddle the old plainsmanlooked down into their eager solemn faces and that slow smile brokeover his sun-blackened features.

  "Boys" he drawled, "I'm sure proud to bring you-all the unanimousverdict of the female relief expedition sent out by our illustriousfellow-citizen, Abe Lee. The kid's better and is headed straight forgood health and six or eight square meals a day."

  When the joyous chorus of yells that would have startled a coyote twomiles away subsided, Tex dismounted and approached Jefferson Worth."Mr. Worth, them women commanded me also to return to you with theircompliments and gratitude the various and sundry bottles with whichsame my clothes is full. One of them angels of mercy, it seems, went tothe scene of action loaded with a flask of castor oil."

  Just before retiring that night Mr. Worth said to his superintendent:"Abe, I'm going out in the morning. You had better push the work onthat largest cottage as fast as possible. I'll ship in an outfit offurniture and things as soon as I get to the city. Let me know when thehouse is finished and the goods arrive. You can stack the furniture upon the porches or anywhere until I get back. The hot weather is aboutover and the hotel will open up next week."

  "All right, sir," the surveyor answered quietly and made no comment onthis unexpected move of his employer, though his nerves tingled at theevident purpose of his instructions. Abe Lee could not know how theevents of the evening had awakened in Jefferson Worth memories ofanother baby in the desert-memories that stirred the child-hungry heartof the lonely man and drove him to his daughter without an hour's delay.

  Did Abe Lee push the work on the house? Did he? Every man in JeffersonWorth's employ, who could find a place to lay his hand on the building,was put on the job. By the time the house was finished the furniturehad arrived.

  It was quitting time and Pablo, who with four Mexican laborers had beenat work grading the yard and removing the rubbish that had accumulatedincident to building, dismissed his helpers. The surveyor was gloomilycontemplating the pile of boxes, bales and crates on the front porch.Evidently there was something not to the surveyor's liking.

  "Senor Lee."

  The surveyor turned sharply to face the Mexican, whose dark featureswere glowing with pleasure. "Well?"

  "Pardon, but Senor Lee seems not pleased. Is not the work well done?"

  "The work is all right, Pablo. You have done well. It is not that. Iwas wishing I had nerve enough to tackle another job."

  The Mexican smiled. "Oh, Senor, you make fun. What can not El Senor do?He can do everything."

  "There is a job here all right I don't sabe, Pablo." Abe turned againto the pile of household goods.

  "Si Senor, me sabe. It is that La Senorita come pronto an' Senor Leewould have the house what you call ready."

  Abe started at the tone of quiet conviction. "How the devil do you knowthat La Senorita is coming?" he asked sharply.

  The answer came with a flash of white teeth: "For what else does ElSenor hurry so the house? For what else does he all time cry--'Pronto!pronto!' and go not much to the other work but stay all time here? Andis there not all this--" He waved his hand gracefully to indicate thehousehold goods. "For who should it be that Senor Lee is hurry so? WhenTexas Joe come say--'Senor Worth is here,' I think quick some time LaSenorita come. I work for Senor Worth, as La Senorita send word, that Imay be near. All time I work I say--'It is for La Senorita.' Prettyquick now she come and with Senor Lee will be happy to live in thehouse he make."

  A deeper red than the desert color stained the surveyor's thin cheeksas he said: "You're a good hombre, Pablo, but you're away off on partof what you say. I reckon you're right enough that Miss Worth iscoming, but she will live here with her father just as they did inRubio City. And listen, Pablo. You must never say to anyone what youhave said to me. You sabe, Pablo? I am with La Senorita as you are, andTex and Pat; sabe?"

  "Si, Senor; forgive me; I am sorry. But sometime it will be if El Senoris patient."

  The surveyor, annoyed at the Mexican's talk, but unwilling, because ofthe spirit that prompted the words, to speak sharply, sought to dismissthe matter by changing the subject. He explained to Pablo how he waswishing that he could unpack the furniture and have the house all readywhen Mr. Worth and Barbara arrived.

  "Why not?" asked the Mexican.

  Abe shook his head. "It's out of my line. I don't sabe the job, Pablo."

  "Maybe so Tex and Pat, they would sabe."

  "By George, I believe Pat would. Texas wouldn't be any better than I,but Pat ought to know something about such things. You go tell them Iwant them at the office to-night. Pat was at the power house to-day andTexas will be coming in from the line early."

  "Si, Senor. And Senor Lee! La Senorita will want a horse."

  "Hell, I forgot that!"

  Pablo smiled. "I know where is good one--a beautiful horse, Senor. Longtime I watch him and think some day he be for La Senorita when shecome. The man will sell for enough. Shall I go to-morrow?"

  "Yes, get him. Tell the man it is for me and that I will pay. No"--hecorrected himself--"tell him it is for Senor Worth and that he willpay. Sabe? You must not speak of me."

  "Si, Senor; it shall be as you say. To-morrow night I return."

  That evening at the office in the rear of the store Abe laid thesituation before Pat and Texas Joe. Could the three undertake to havethe furniture unpacked and the house properly settled? The hotel hadbeen opened to receive guests, of course, but--

  Texas Joe shook his head solemnly. "I pass, Abe. There ain't no use inmy affirmin' that I knows anything about such undertakings. Householdfurnishin' such as is proper in a case like this is a long way off myrange."

  But the Irishman waxed indignant. "Sich ignorance as ye two do beshowin' is heathenish," he declared. "I suppose now ye wud be forputtin' the cook stove in the parlor an' settin' up the piany in theyoung lady's budwar."

  The strange word caught the attention of Texas instantly. "An' whatmight that be, pard?" he drawled. "What's a budwar?"

  Pat snorted. "Budwar, ye ignorant owld limb, is polite for the girl'sbedroom, which in civilization is not discussed by thim as has manners."

  Such overwhelming evidence of the Irishman's familiarity with the bestsocial customs was not to be rejected. The morning stage carried atelegram to be sent from Deep Well to Jefferson Worth, and all that daythe three toiled under command of Pat. When the evening stage brought amessage from Mr. Worth saying that he and Barbara would arrive thefollowing evening, they decided that a night shift was necessary andw
orked until nearly morning, redoubling their efforts the following day.

  When the dusty old stage with its four half-broken horses pulled intoKingston that night, three tired and anxious, but joyful, desert menoccupied the front rank of the waiting crowd before the new hotel.

  With all the grace of generous curves and ponderous dignity, Horace P.Blanton was first to alight. When he turned his broad back to the"common herd" and, with an indescribable air of proprietorship,assisted Miss Worth to the ground, three darkened faces scowled withdisapproval and three smothered oaths expressed deep disgust.

  The excited citizens behind the three crowded closer. Even Ynez,climbing down from the stage, was received with another cheer by thedelighted men. The irrepressible Horace P., quick to recognize thespirit of the company and ever ready to do more than his part, burstinto an eloquent address of welcome in behalf of the entire populationof The King's Basin. But the ceremony was interrupted and the imposingpersonage in the white vest was thrust roughly aside while Barbara,with glad eyes and hands outstretched, greeted the rude disturbers ofthe great man's dignity.

  "Texas! Pat! Mr. Lee! Oh, I'm glad! I have been hoping all day that youwould be here to meet me. It seemed to me that I would never get here.It has been the longest day of my life." Which, considering that theimpressive attentions of Horace P. Blanton had been continuous sincethe moment when he had forced an introduction from Mr. Worth on thetrain that morning, was rather hard on his majesty.

  But much experience in similar situations had made Horace P. Blantonimmune to such thrusts. Even while Barbara was speaking he regained hisplace at her side. With his voice and manner of a "personalconductor"--before either of the three could speak--he followed herwords with: "Ah, Miss Worth, I see you already know some of our men.Texas, Pat and Abe here are three of the best fellows we have. They--"

  Again he was interrupted. The young woman turned easily aside to Abe,and Horace P. found himself very close to and facing the tall plainsmanand the heavy shouldered Irish boss.

  "Excuse me, Colonel," drawled Texas in tones so soft that no one in thenoisy crowd could hear; "but the welfare of the citizens of this herecommunity, as well as the safety of the country, demands your immediatepresence up the street."

  Without hesitation the lordly one exclaimed: "Ah, thank you, Tex. MissWorth will excuse me I'm sure. Please explain my absence to her." Thenbefore their startled eyes he faded away--if the vanishing of such abulk can be so described.

  A few minutes after the passing of Horace P. Blanton, Tex and Pat alsodisappeared, for it was part of the carefully arranged plot thatBarbara's "uncles" were to see to the disposal of the girl's trunkswhile she was at supper at the hotel with her father and Abe.

  At the table Barbara was all eagerness in her desire to know everythingabout the work; and the surveyor, in answering her questions, foundhimself drawn out of the dumbness that usually beset him in suchsituations.

  "And our house?" asked the girl. "When can I begin settling? You see Ibrought Ynez with me. Can we begin in the morning, Abe? And could youspare Pat and Tex to help us?"

  Abe glanced at his employer. "If you would like to see the house we canlook at it this evening after supper."

  "Can we? Can we go, daddy?"

  Jefferson Worth met Abe's look with a twinkle in the corner of his eye,but he only answered his eager daughter with a calm, "If you like."

  They found the house with every window brilliantly lighted, and on thefront porch, on opposite sides of the wide-open door, Texas and Patstanding to welcome them. From one room to another Barbara ran inlaughing delight, followed by the three, who were perspiring in anagony of suspense while Jefferson Worth looked on. The cook stove wasnot in the parlor, nor was the piano--out of place. In the proper roomBarbara even found her trunks. There was a supply of provisions in thepantry and kindlings even ready by the kitchen stove for the morningfire. If there were little irregularities here and there, Barbara, withgraceful tact, did not see them but, to the delight of the three men,declared again and again that no woman could have done it better.

  The climax came when she said that unless her father insisted she wouldnot even return to the hotel that evening. Could not someone go for thehand luggage and Ynez? Breathless the three waited, and when Mr. Worthsaid he saw no reason why they should leave their own home for a hotelTex and Pat could hold themselves no longer but made a wild run for thedoor.

  When Barbara's "uncles" had returned with the Indian woman and thegrips, Pat stood in the center of the living room and looked curiouslyabout, an expression of wonder upon his battle-scarred Irishcountenance. "Now don't that bate the divil! Tell me"--he faced thegirl with mock severity--"fwhat's this ye've been doin' already?"

  "Doing?" exclaimed Barbara, "I haven't been doing anything, Uncle Pat."

  "Aw, go on, don't be tellin' me that. Aven Uncle Tex here can see thatye've changed ivery blissid thing in the place. 'Tis not the same, atall, an' afther us a-workin' our fingers to the bone to fix ut up. 'Tisquare. I know now that Tex hung that curtain there. Ye could have heardhim swearin' a mile away, but ut's not that same curtain at all, atall. 'Tis mighty quare."

  For an hour or more Barbara, at the piano, sang for them the simplesongs they loved, while many a tired horseman, riding past on his wayto his lonely desert shack or to some rough camp on the works, pausedto listen to the sweet voice and to dream perhaps of the time that wasto come when such sounds would no longer seem strange on the Desert.

  When the hour came for Texas and Pat and Abe to go, and Barbara withshining eyes tried again to express her gratitude while insisting thatthey must always come to her home as to their own, the three felt thatindeed they had their reward. And when later the girl kissed her fathergood night Jefferson Worth also knew in his lonely heart that he haddone well.