The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-05-15
CHAPTER x-continued.

CHAPTER x-contInued.
-
She didn't need to pierce those can
vOs walls to know that there had
heen feverish activity for this dinner.
A new gown would appear tonight,
made secretly. An exquisite meal,
and no one must comment on its elab-
oration. Twice Tom and she had
been asked to take their lunch at the
hotel. because Of q hcadachel" A
hcadnchei
Toms wife could not even shop
openlyl Bundles had always the air
Of mystery. never opened before Tom
or herself. She must have yards Of
stun laid away. kept for sudden emer-
gencies.
"She can't help II. It's her disposi-
tion. She can't help being secretive.
Look at your face. Innes Hardinl'
What was II to her. the pettiness Of
. woman whom an accident of life hnd
swept upon the beach beside herr
0erty wGs not her kind, not the sort
she would pick out for friend. She
was an oriental, one Of the harem
women. whose business 1t Is In life to
please one man. to keep his home soft.
his comforts ready, keep him con-
vinced, moreover, that II Is the desire
Of his life to support her. Herself dis
batisaed. often rebellious. staying by
him for seli-interest, not for love-ah.
that was her impeachment. "Not low
ingl"
Soberly she covered her plain bras
siere with a white waist Of cotton
ducking. A red leather belt and Grim
son tie she added self-consciously.
"Where Is my bloodstone pinr
Hadn't she spent an hour ut least
matching that particular leather belt?
But he was man. In battle. The
headgate held up; 1t was too bad:
Silent. Bodefeldt, Wooster. Grant. all
Of them fighting mad because of the
deadlock ut the Heading. All up In
arms, at last. against Marshall. be-
cause Of this cruel cut to their hero.
Hardin. Her eyes glowed like yellow
lamps as she recalled their fervid par
tisanshlp.
"Only one man who can save the
valley. and that's Tom Hardin" Woos-
ter had said that; but they all be-
lieved II. The loyalty of the force
made her ashamed Of her soft woman
fears. For there were times when
she questioned her brothers ability
He had large. loose way of handling
things. He was too optimistic. Blu,
those men, those engineers must know
II was probably the mans way OF
sweeping ahead, ignoring detail. Tn,
verdict OF those field-tried men tolt
her that the other, the careful plan
ming way. was the Office method. Rick
ard, as a dinner neighbor. she hat
found interesting; but for great un
dertakings man who would let 1
Gerty Holmes jilt him. ruin his lif,
for himl The whole story sprang n
last clear from the dropped innuendos
She adjusted barrette In he
smoothly brushed hair. Slowly sh,
walked over to the neighhoring tent
Gerty frowned at the white duck
"You might ut least have worn you
bluew
"You're elegant enough for the tw
Of us. Isn't that something newT
Gerty said carelessly that she hat
had II for long time. For she ha,
had the material long timel l
wasn't necessary to explain to he
husbands sister that II had bee
made up that week. She hoped tina
she didn't look 'fussed up" Woul'
Mr.. Rickard think she was attaching
any Importance to the simple littl
visit? For II was nothing TO him, O
course. A man of his standing. whor
the great Tod Marshall ranked S
high, probably dined out several time
each week, with whlte-capped maid
and candelabral II Tom had onl
made the most Of his opportunities
What gamble. life to womanl
She made trip into her bedroom
and took reassuring survey In he
mirror. The lingerie frock would lool
simple to q man who would neve
suspect Il of handmade duplicity
Her glass declared tho .hand-whippe
a,cdnllIons casual and elegant. An
long time ago, lifetime ago. Rich
ssd bad told hee that she alysy