The Desert of Wheat

ugh Anderson's timely visit might turn out as providential as the saving rain-storm. The wheat waved and rustled as if with renewe

im to understand. She had gently put a hand to his lips, to check the bitter words, and he had dared to kiss her soft fingers. The thrill, the s

had taken. The sight of it reminded Dorn of the I.W.W. trick of throwing phosphorus cakes into the wheat. He was suspicious of that car. It slowed down in front of the Dorn homestead, turned into the yard, and stopped near where Dorn stood. The dus

e interest of the Conservation Commission. Your name has been recommended to me as one of the progressive young wheat-growers of the Bend; particularl

tor, and asked him into the house. But Mr. Hall preferred to sit outdoors on the p

ke?" he asked

n's penetrating, yet kindly scrutiny of him, and h

afted?" abruptly

first number," replied K

tion?" swiftly cam

Dorn, the

said, f

pathy is with Germ

you understand that, but it's

ight?" went on

want to fight. Maybe that's because I'm f

war that we must meet," returned Mr. Hall, and the

ell you a secret. My name's not Hall. Ne

ad, preparing for a tremendous, and perhaps a lengthy, war. The food of the country must be conserved. Wheat was one of the most vital things in the whole world, and the wheat of America was incalculably precious-only the g

ivable way, to alienate the labor organizations, to bribe or menace the harvesters, to despoil crops, and particularly to put obstacle

be depended upon by the United States and who was antagonistic, to impress upon the minds

eplied Kurt, grimly. "I'll be

the official. "But we must make up for that next year. I see you have one ma

rt, quick to catch a signif

r father sold this wheat for eighty thousand dollars in cash. The money was seen to be paid over by a mill-ope

imed Kurt, with a groan.

oach, the same as in your case. The information came quite by

esident declared war. He's very old. I've

growing.… I advise you to go at once to Wheatly and bring your father home.

yet, let alone hauled to town. And to-day I learned the I.W.W. a

phorus and explained its signi

hought of that?" he exclaimed. "German science! To

e loves the wheat. His wheat has taken prizes at three world's fairs. Maybe to

al, moral, and spiritual. Come, ride back to Glencoe with me. I'll

et, he started out, but hesitated and halted. He happened to think that he was a poor shot with a revolver and a fine one with a rifle. So he went back for his rifle, a small high-

that you are

dy had one run-in with an I.W.W. I know tough customers when I see them. These foreigners are t

eplore your shooting a little higher.… Dorn, you'

nversation had been in order, it would scarcely have been possible. That driver could drive! He had no fear and he knew his car. Kurt could drive himself, but he thou

r had he been a coward, but neither had he been one to seek a fight. This suave, distinguished government official, by his own significant metaphor, Uncle Sam gone abroad to find true

rt could scarcely credit his eyes, the official s

left home before the rain-storm. How did he know he could guarantee so many bushels of wheat as the selling-price indicated? Kurt divin

ly good-sized little town. There seemed to be an unusual number of men on the dark streets. Dim lights showed he

d quiet as was usual with Bend towns. He listened for war talk, and heard none. Two out of every three men who spoke in his hearing did not use the English language. Kur

accosted a man leaning

ing on in

ertain light. Kurt, however, made out his ey

usual," was

ing begun in

but no wheat. Ne

the w

d an' so

headquarters f

I.W.W.'s near here. Reckon yo

declared K

like one, with thet

W. men?" asked Kurt, ignori

the sullen reply. "An' I tel

low gaping and staring after him, Kurt crossed the street to enter another hotel. It was more pretentious than the first, with a large, well lighted office. There were loungers

Kurt. "Will you let me

around. Kurt did not f

is in town. Can you tell

e to friendliness. "I've heard of you. Yes, the old man is he

his father's huge head with its shock of gray hair. He appeared to be in earnest colloquy

man with my fat

on't you know him?" rejoined t

lowered tone had a significance t

on, one of the biggest w

on's only rival in the great, fertile valley. What were

ed Kurt, feeling his way. "Is he

with shrewd eyes, taking Kurt's mea

zarded a guess with that mention of the I.W.W. No sooner had the words

that Spokane miller. No,

her had sold the wheat. Was

re were friends of his here who advised

er sixty bushels. I'm sorry

ied over to boost the pr

queried Kurt, hazar

Yes, he just got here in a car with two other

erted his face to hide the leap of his

tracted his eye. Quickly he slipped them under and around the gun, and then took a seat at the nearest table. A buxom German waitress came for his order. He gave it while he gazed around at his grim-faced old f

orrect. If he had any more illusions or hopes, he dispelled them. His father had been won over by this arch conspirator of the I.W.

ade his father to turn over the amount of the debt to Anderson. While thinking and planning, Kurt kept an eye on his father and rather neglected his supper. Presently, when ol

r?" he demanded, g

ou," replied Ku

old man's second dema

if we can harvest

his father over to a corner under a lamp. "I've got bad news. Look at this!" He produced the cake of phosphorus, careful to hide it from oth

his father, hoarsely. "There wo

e have you of that?" q

gray head wisely. He kn

"You are wrong. They may lie to your face. But they'll betray you. The

govern

-the U.S.

The more it's embarrassed t

rt had forgotten his father's

ed, passionately. "That government

cable and hopeless he was-how utterly German. Then Kurt importuned him to return the eighty th

urn," was old Dor

sand. I'll take it to him at once. Our debt

t that," repli

in a hot whisper. "Anderson came to

nd of that debt. I'll pay

contain his fury. How this old man, his father, whom he had lo

er. I've worked like a dog in those wheat-fields. I've a right to demand

s, seemed to mask and to hide. It was an expression Kurt had seldom seen there, but had

west. Ranch after ranch he's gained by taking up and foreclosing mortgages. He's against labor. He grinds down the

nderson is fine, big, square-a developer of the Northwest. Not an enemy! He's our friend. Oh! i

. You've fallen in love with an American girl.… Anderson says he needs money!"… With hard, gloomy face the old man shook his head. "He thi

st significant words and he s

red old Dorn, as if he had just awakened to the

ed Kurt, and, turning on h

aller shadows, and arms raised in vehement gesticulation. The very shadows were sinister. Men passed in and out of the hotel. Once old Dorn came to the door and peered all around. Kurt observed that there was a dark side entrance to this hotel. Presently Neuman returned to the desk and said something to old Dorn,

go up-stairs to listen at the door of the room with the closely drawn blind. Neuman returned soon with the hotel man, and the two of them half led, half dragged old Dorn out into the street. They took the direction toward the railroad. Kurt followed at a safe distance on the opposit

s whispering to himself. After he was safely out of earshot Kurt stole on stealthily until he reached the end of the freight-cars. Here he paused, listening. He thought he heard low voices, but he could not see the men he was following. No doubt they were waiting in the secluded gloom for the other

apes appeared to come out of the gloom. They passed him. He distinguished low, guttural voices, speaking German. These men, thr

lroad ties, and beyond it loomed another. Stealing along these, he soon saw the light again, quite close. By its glow he recognized his father's huge frame, back to him, and the burly Neuman on the other side, and Glidden, whose dark face was wo

His face gleamed dark, hard, strong, intensely strung with corded, quive

ot yet was he ready for that. He might hear some word to help exp

er. Old Dorn's head was bowed. Then Glidden spoke so low and so swiftly that Kurt could not connect sentences, but with mounting blood he stood transfixed and horrified, to gather meaning from word on

large package wrapped in newspaper. He laid it before him in the light and began to

of comfort came to Kurt! Then at sight of Glidden's hungry eyes and working face and clutching h

ng up the bundle of money, he leaped over the light, knocking one of the men down,

ther's roar, like that of a mad bull, and shrill yells from the other men. Kurt laughed grimly. They would never catch him in the dark. While he ran he stuffed the money into his inside coat pockets.

The train appeared to be going slowly through without stopping. Kurt hurried on down the track a little farther. Then he