The Ordway new era., 1919-05-16

Gerty teasing Tom to wear his Tux
edo.
isn't one dude enough for your
growled her surly lord. Innes recog-
nized the mood and shrank from the
ordeal ahead. 1t was the mood of
the Hardin In the rough. the son of
his frontier mother. the fruit of old
Jasper Gingg. whose smithy had been
the rendezvous for the widest roughs,
the fiercest cattlemen in Missouri.
"rd let him see you knew what's
what. even If we do live like gipsies."
The answer to that was another
growl. Innes could hear him dragging
out the process, grumbllng over each
detail. That confounded laundry had
torn his shirt. He hadn't a decent
collar to his name. Where was his
black string tie? II Cert would keep
his things in the lowest drawerl Hang
that buttoni Gerty emerged from the
encounter, her face very red. Innes
could see her biting her lips to keep
the tears back as she put the last
touches to the table.
"She's tired out" thought the sister
of Tom Hardin. "She's probably
fused herself to death over this din
ner."
A few minutes later Richard ar
rived in a sack suit of tweeds. Gerty's
greeting was little distracted. How
could she make Innes understand to
tell Tom to change his coat? The
duty of a host, she suddenly remem-
bered, was to dress down rather than
up to the chances of his guest. She
regretted bitterly her insistence. Was
ever anyone so obtuse us Innes? Mr.
RIckard would see that they thought
1t u big event. She was watching the
curtain where Tom would emerge.
And his coat was style of several
seasons ago and absurdly tightl She
made an unintelligible excuse and
darted behind the portiere.
Toms face was apoplectic. BE was
wrestling with mussed tie; the col
lar showed desperate struggle.
Gerty made wild signals for him to
change his clothes. She waved a
hand indicating Rickard; she pointed
to Toms sack suit lying on the floor
where he had walked out of 1t.
what is 1t all about"
"Ssh," whispered his wife. Again
the wild gestures.
swell. aren't you satisfied Don't
look like guy2"
He could be heard distinctly in the
next room. Gerty gave it up in de
spaIr. She dabbed some more powder
on her nose and went out looking like
a martyr-a very pretty martyr!
Rlckard praised the miracles Of the
tent. Gerty's soft flush reminded In
nes of their old relation. exit Innes,'
she was thinking. when Tom. red and
perspiring, brought another element
of discomfort into the room.
Gerty ushered them Immediately tt
the table. She covered the first min
utes which might be awkward with
her small chatter. Somewhere sh,
had read that 1t was not well to mak'
apologies for lack of maid or fare
Besides Mr.. RIckard remembered
Lawrence! That dreadful dlnini
room. the ever-set table! How sh
had hated 1t. though she had no
known how fearful 1t was until sh
Huu esCdpeu.
ave nre simple folk here, Mr.. Rick
ard" she announced, as they too
their places around the pretty table
That was her only alluslon to deficien
cles, but 1t covered her noiseless move
ments around the board betwee
courses. filed up the gaps when sh
made necessary dives into kitchen o
primitive Ice chest, and set the Ike
for the LONELINESS of the meal itsell
The dinner was triumph Of apparen
J simplicity. Only Innes could CUES
! the time consumed in the perfectio
of detail, details dear to the hostes,
heart. The almonds she had blanchet
, of course, herself; had dipped an
: salted them. The cheese straws wer
, her own. She did not make the mi,
r take of stringing out endless course
. An improvised buffet near at han
! made the serving a triumph.
! Rickard praised each dish; openl
he, was admirlng her achievement
; lines, remembering the story Cert
hnd told her in dots and dashes. Il
+ story Of the old rivalry. glanced CO