It was now approaching the Holiday season, and there was as yet no
indications of a severe winter. There had been sufficient frost to kill
the grass, but stock was doing nicely on the range and little feeding
was required.
No especial arrangements had been made for the seasons entertainment,
everyone seemed to be interested in the progress of the preparations for
work on the big contract. It was generally known that it was secured by
Gully and Norton and the neighbors were anxiously awaiting the time for
actual work to begin.
The call for help among them on the night of the literary meeting, had
been gladly responded to, and almost daily requests for work were being
received from persons who lived many miles distant.
The deal had been successfully consummated and Mr. Palmer had returned
to the East. The surveyors Dugan and Stevens were eagerly endeavoring to
complete their part of the work, in order to return to their homes in
time for the Holiday festivities.
Travis Gully and Jack Norton who had secured additional teams, were
busily hauling material for the erection of shelters, and feed, to the
point on the company's land, that had been selected for the
establishment of the main camp.
Fresh water was to be hauled daily from Gully's well in a huge tank that
had been constructed for this purpose, and everything was to be gotten
in readiness for work to begin immediately after the new year.
Jack Norton and Dugan became great friends, and the latter spent many
nights with Jack when they would sit for hours by the roaring sheet iron
stove, while Jack listened in boyish eagerness to the older mans
accounts of his experiences while in Alaska with the Geological survey.
Dugan soon discovered that Jack's hobby was geology, and he could talk
learnedly on that subject, so it welded their friendship all the
stronger.
Miss Anderson came almost daily after school, to assist Mrs. Gully in
preparing a few trinkets for Christmas, and they would sit at night and
plan for Ida's future. Miss Anderson was especially anxious to keep Ida,
who was peculiarly adapted to, and took such an interest in fancy needle
work under her care and instruction, and she also taught her how to
prepare and serve such dainty dishes as the means at their hand
permitted.
Minnie Gully could see, and appreciated Miss Anderson's interest in Ida,
for the girl had never until now, had an opportunity to learn, and no
one could find fault with Miss Anderson as a teacher.
In fact, Ida was rapidly developing into a very able young lady and was
beginning to show the traces of refinement that she had no doubt, as
Miss Anderson expressed it, inherited from her mother, although the
latters natural inclinations in this respect had lain dormant up to
within the last two years. She was proud of Ida and missed no
opportunity to refer to the progress her pupil was making.
The lines having been all established and nothing left but the
topographical map of the land to be completed, and most of the data for
this having been obtained, the greater part of young Stevens work
consisted of draughting and the compilation of the data. He did not join
in the conversation with the men, and his only occupation while not at
his work, seemed to be seeking an opportunity of forcing his attentions
on Ida Gully.
In this he was frustrated by the young lady herself, who avoided him
except at such times as he came to his meals. Occasionally he came to
the house during the evening, ostensibly to talk with her father, but
usually ignored Gully, but he gained no opportunity to speak with her
except in the presence of either Miss Anderson or her mother.
On one such occasion he asked Miss Anderson why so able a person as she
should waste her talent by remaining in such a wilderness, and then
fixing his gaze on Ida, busily engaged on her fancy work, quoted:
"_Many a rose is born,
To blush, unseen,
And waste its fragrance;
On the desert air._"
Miss Anderson replied that she would not consider her time or talent
wasted if she could restore to the world just one of these desert roses
to which he referred, in all its native simplicity. For, she continued,
without such talent as I possess, to protect it, the contaminating
influence that surrounds the desert, might invade the retreat of the
rose and cast its blight upon it.
Stevens was not expecting this thrust, and parried by saying that the
contaminating influence, civilization, to which Miss Anderson evidently
referred, would probably invade their retreat within the near future,
for from what he had seen and learned, during his stay in the locality,
the country would soon make rapid strides and would become an active
agricultural center.
"We certainly hope so, and with that expectation, we shall continue to
prepare ourselves to blend with the changed conditions, when it does
come. But for the present we are contented," she answered.
Ida cast an appreciative glance at Miss Anderson and secretly resolved
to place herself completely in her hand, in hopes that she too might
acquire her dignified manner and conversational power.
At last the work of the surveyors was finished, and the tents were
lowered and packed with their instruments, ready for their return. Gully
was to drive them to the village. Dugan and Stevens had spent the last
night of their stay with Jack, in his shack, under the same conditions
they had the first, with the exception that they now knew Norton--Dugan
to respect and Stevens to fear this young man who had surprised them
both with his apparent business ability and his gentlemanly manner.
Travis Gully drove away with the two men, after the family had bidden
them goodbye. Norton and Miss Anderson were present to pay their
respects to the departing guests. Norton requested that they lose no
opportunity to speak a favorable word for the reclamation of the desert,
and Miss Anderson expressed her hopes to young Stevens that his
predictions for the future of the country would come true.
The affairs at the Gully home soon resumed their normal stage after the
departure of the surveyors, and as the preparations were completed for
the work of clearing the land to be started, the matter of the holidays
was taken up, and numerous suggestions for a befitting Christmas
celebration were made. As only a few days remained before the time would
arrive, hasty action was required.
At Sunday school the next Sunday, the matter was discussed, and a
committee consisting of Miss Anderson, Jack Norton and The Professor
were appointed to take charge of the affair, and all felt satisfied that
in these competent hands success was assured.
The Holiday vacation of two weeks which Miss Anderson and the Professor
gave their schools gave ample time for the preparations and a splendid
time was had at the entertainment, but to those who were present the
Christmas before at the old sagebrush tree, there was something missing.
They could not define what, but the same neighborly feeling did not
exist. This was probably due to their increased number and the
introduction of new characters among them.
Snow began to fall in small flurries during the Holidays, but not in
sufficient quantities as to interfere with the plans for work.
Immediately after the New Year Gully moved with his family to the
company's land where Mrs. Gully and Ida were to cook for the men
employed on the work.
The fall of snow, though light, interfered with plowing, but the removal
of sagebrush progressed rapidly. This was accomplished by hitching two
or more horses at each end of a steel rail, procured at the railroad,
and by means of which the sagebrush was dragged or broken from the land.
The men and children followed this contrivance, gathering the brush and
piling it ready for burning.
Everything progressed splendidly, the favorable weather kept the range
open and thus the supply of feed for the horses was conserved. Most of
the land was cleared of brush before the season for plowing arrived, and
when it came, which was at an exceptionally early date, every team was
available for this service and was put to work.
Travis Gully, whose duty it was to keep supplies in the way of
provisions and water at the camp, was kept constantly on the road,
either to the village or his well. Jack Norton looked after the
allotment of parcels of land to be plowed and kept track of the work
accomplished by each of those engaged. This, together with the accounts
and correspondence incident to the work, required all of his time, but
under his able management the work was so systemized that it was
completed some weeks in advance of the time specified in the contract.
Encouraged by this fact he suggested to Gully that they put in a bid
with the company for seeding and fencing the land, which they did and
were awarded the contract for this also.
It was a very successful winter for both Gully and Norton. While they
had been most liberal in their payments to their neighbors who had been
employed by them, the final accounting showed flattering results.
Travis Gully had sufficient funds to install a much better pumping plant
at his well than he had dreamed of. Instead of the windmill he purchased
a gasoline engine and one of the most recently invented pumps, the
capacity of his pumping plant was sufficient to furnish water for
irrigation of forty acres.
Jack Norton bought a wagon and team for his own use, and made extensive
improvements on his claim, among which was a well with a windmill, and a
much needed addition to his house.
The seeding of their own places to grain, was but a small task as
compared to the one they had just completed, and was soon accomplished.
As the spring season advanced and the young grain came up and began to
show a faint tinge of green that was noticeable at a distance, Gully and
Norton decided to visit the companys land and view the results of their
work.
The prospects there were even better than at their own homes. The grain
having been sown earlier, was farther advanced and made a much better
showing. As the two men strolled over the immense field of young grain
they could recall to their minds the scenes in the harvest fields that
they had witnessed the fall before, and shifted the scene of action to
their own immediate neighborhood.
Jack Norton, in his pride at the promising outlook, wrote to Mr. Palmer
and gave him a glowing description of what the probable outcome would
be.
A few weeks passed during which time Gully planted a number of fruit
trees and prepared a nice field of alfalfa which had just begun to come
up. Knowing that the snow fall had been light during the winter and
noting the absence of the seasonable showers of the spring before, he
watched the small amount of moisture which the ground had contained, and
saw it rapidly being absorbed by the increasing heat of the sun, and
least the growth of his young alfalfa be retarded, he set his engine to
going and gave the patch a thorough wetting. His trees were beginning to
put forth their tender leaves, and as the ditch through which the water
flowed to the alfalfa passed near the trees, it watered them also.
The desert never looked more beautiful. The absence of severe wind
storms during the spring and summer before had allowed the sand to
remain smooth, just as it had been left beaten by the rains. Upon
arising one morning, Gully noted far to the west, an occasional puff of
dust, and then a spiral column of sand would mount heavenward and attain
a height of several hundred feet, and scattering, would cause the air to
become murky and hazy.
Travis Gully's heart sank within him, for he knew too well the meaning
of these signs. That it foretold a desert sand storm he knew, and his
only hope was that it would not be a severe one. Saying nothing he went
about his work, knowing from his experience during the first year in the
region that it would be hours before its extent would be known.
The children went to school as usual, but Gully kept constant watch on
the approaching storm. By noon he knew by the increased movement of the
clouds of dust that it was to be a terrific storm, and advised his wife
of the fact. She suggested that he take the wagon and go to the school
and bring the children and Miss Anderson home, which he did. On his way
to the school he thought of Jack Norton, and knowing that there had been
no real desert storms since he came, decided to drive by his place and
warn him of its approach.
He saw Jack clearing more ground, working contentedly in blissful
ignorance of the impending calamity. Calling to him to come to the fence
Gully told him of his fears and advised that he lash down his windmill
and make such other preparations as he saw fit, as the storm would
probably last for several days.
Norton thanked him, and looking in the direction of the clouds,
remarked: "I saw that coming, but thought it might mean a good rain."
Gully smiled and answered: "Just the opposite my boy, and if you do not
feel like being housed up alone for several days you had better hitch up
your team and come over to my place until the storm passes."
"O I guess it won't be quite that bad," answered Jack, "but if I see
that I cannot weather the gale I'll try and work my way over, thank
you."
Gully drove off to the school house, and as he did so, he shouted back,
"Better take my advice, Jack, and go on over to the house."
Norton waved his hand and returned to his work.
When Gully reached the school house he told Miss Anderson of the
impending danger, and advised her to dismiss school at once as he feared
some of the children who lived at a distance would have difficulty in
reaching their home if not given time to do so before the storm reached
them.
Miss Anderson who had never witnessed one of these sand storms was now
thoroughly alarmed at Gully's apparent earnestness, did as he had
advised, and cautioned the children to hurry to their homes if they
would avoid being caught in the storm.
After hurriedly placing the school room in order and securely fastening
the windows and doors she was ready to go to her own home, when Gully,
informing her of the probable duration of the storm, insisted on her
going home with him and the children. This she did and they had hardly
reached the Gully home when the fitful gusts of wind started the
restless sand in motion, and before night, the storm was raging. It was
impossible to see any distance for the blinding sand and dust.
All night it raged and as there was no sign of its abatement, Gully
ventured out to attend to his stock the following morning. It recalled
to his mind the winter of the terrible blizzard and it was just as
severe, except that it was driving sand instead of snow, and they did
not have the cold to contend with.
Miss Anderson expressed herself as truly thankful that she had taken Mr.
Gully's advice, and came home with him and the children. She tried to be
as cheerful as possible but she now understood what had retarded the
settlement of this beautiful country with which she was fascinated.
She tried in vain to interest Ida in her fancy work, but this young lady
persisted in standing at the window looking out in an effort to
penetrate with her gaze, the mass of sand and dust, always looking in
the direction of the school house and watching the road that lead to
Jack Norton's home.
Miss Anderson who noticed this, went to her and placing her arm around
the girl, asked, "What is it dear, does the storm frighten you?"
"No," answered Ida, "I was thinking of those in the desert who are alone
and wondering if they were safe."
"To whom do you refer?" asked Miss Anderson. "None of those that I can
recall are alone."
Ida's eyes instantly filled with tears and she exclaimed, "O Miss
Anderson, had you forgotten Mr. Norton? He is alone and I know he would
have been here by now if something had not happened to him."
"Why bless your dear heart," exclaimed Miss Anderson. "I had forgotten
him, but you may rest assured nothing has harmed him and it is probable
because he is busy taking care of his stock and other property that he
has not been over. This storm would not stop him, I am sure." And thus
she comforted the much perturbed girl, but to herself she thought, "I
knew it would come to this, and I do so hope that the feeling becomes
mutual. Jack is so nice and I know I can prepare this dear child to make
him a wife befitting the station in life to which I know he belongs."
After this little scene at the window Ida clung closer to Miss Anderson,
and while she had not confided in her, she felt that she understood and
the bond of sympathy between them was established.
The storm continued for two days, and when it had exhausted itself and
before the atmosphere had cleared sufficiently to see any distance, Jack
Norton came tramping across the plain to the Gully home. He was greeted
with shouts of welcome by Joe and the younger girls. Coming into the
front part of the house, he asked if all were present, and how they had
stood the storm. He told Gully that he had wished a thousand times that
he had come with him the first day.
Travis Gully asked if he had been able to note the effect of the storm
on the growing grain. Norton replied that he had not, for as he
expressed it, "I have not been able to overtake the grain yet. The
ground at my place is swept perfectly clean."
Gully arose and went to the window, looked out for a minute, and turning
to young Norton, said, "Let's take a walk, Jack."
Norton, without replying, followed him out, and they walked down across
the alfalfa patch. Occasionally they stopped and examined the ground and
then came back to the trees.
In a few minutes they returned to the house and as they entered, Gully
was heard to remark: "Well, it's a good thing I put water on when I
did."
"What is it Travis," asked his wife. "Is everything ruined?"
"No indeed," answered Gully. "I find that my alfalfa and trees have not
been injured in the least. The water I put on the ground has held the
sand and I now have the secret of farming in this country."
"I shall get me an engine immediately," put in Jack. "Alfalfa, fruit and
stock raising beats wheat anyway."
"Do you suppose the wheat is all ruined?" asked Miss Anderson.
"I am afraid so," Gully replied.
"Gee," exclaimed Jack. "What a letter I have got to write Mr. Palmer
now. Well, it is not our fault."
They were right. The wheat was all killed and it was too late in the
season to replant had they the means of doing so. A few days after the
passing of the storm Gully and Norton drove to the company's land to
view its effect.
Not a sprig of grain could be found, and the soil had been blown from
the surface to the depth of the plowing. The whole tract presented a
most disheartening appearance. Both men expressed the deepest regret and
sympathy for the unfortunate owners who had sustained such a loss and
agreed that they should be notified of their misfortune.
The letter was written by Jack, who in a plain, straightforward manner,
explained to Mr. Palmer what had befallen the grain, and added that they
were not alone in their misfortune, as those of the homesteaders who had
no well equipped with machinery for irrigation, were also heavy losers.
The more fortunate, however, among whom was included, their mutual
friend Mr. Gully, who could get water on the ground, had suffered but
little. He suggested to Mr. Palmer that he take the matter of irrigating
their land from a well, equipped with pumping machinery, up with his
clients.
Sometime later Jack received a letter from Mr. Palmer, thanking him for
the interest he had shown in their behalf, and assured him that in due
time the company would realize the necessity of doing as was suggested
in his letter. Sinking wells and drawing their water supply from the
abundance that, it had been proven, lay beneath the surface.