The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1919-06-14
sit down, Mrs. Iinrdln." !"


she would stand. Her voice was n
little hurd, her eyes were veiled. as
she told her mission. Her usual flu
ency dragged; she felt lack OF sym.
pothy. In short, sheeproposcd n com
missary department.. herself in charge.
| '1'd like To feel I was OF some use"
urged Gerty. "My heart is bound UP
In this undertaking; II I'm allowed to
stay, I'd like to help along. This is
the only way | can, the woman's way"
"Aren't You taking good deal on
yourself, Mrs. fIurdn"
Then she forgnve his hesitation
quite, ns II was OF her he was thini-
Ing. "Not if Il helps" Her voice WINS
low and soft, as II this were secret
between them.
"Why, of course, anything you want,
Mrs. Hardin" And, remembering her
former position, he added, "Thecnmp's
yours MS much as mine"
A glad smile rewarded him. She
went out, reluctantly. There was II
from the ramndn. What could that
woman hnve to say that MacIcan
must not hear? For the first time
the weak tenure on her old lover came
To her Not sign had he yet given
OF their understanding, of the piqunnt
situation. Themselves old sweethenrts,
thrown together In this wilderness.
What had she built her hopes on2 A
word here translated ph~Nsc, or
mngnificd glance. She would not hnr-
bor the new worry. Why, II would he
all right. In the meantime she would
show them all whnt woman with
executive ability could do.
"Sit down, senora." said Rlckard TO
the brown woman, Maldonado's wife.
"Dont be frightened. We won't LET
him hurt you" Richard vugarlzcd
his Cnstilan to the reach of her rude
dialect. Familiar as was Richard with
the poems speech In their own coun-
try, he could not keep up with her
story. Lurid words ran past his ears.
Out OF the tumble OF abuse, OF shame
and misery he caught new note.
a"You say Maldonado himself sells
liquor to the Indlans1"
"Ssh, senor!" Someone might hear
him She looked over terrified
shoulder. That had slipped out, the
selling of TIE liquor. She could have
told her story without that; she want
ed 10 deny It. Relentlessly Richard
made her repeat lt, acknowledging the
truth.
What makes you tell me nowi"
Richard hunted for the ulcer. He
knew there was personal wrong.
"Whnt has Maldonado been doing to
you? Has he left your
The veil of fear was torn from her
eyes. The trembling woman was gone,
n vengeful wildcat In her place. LEFT
me, Maldonado3 Left his home,
where he traps the Indian with one
coin in his pockets? No, senior He
brought her to our home. there; Lupe,
the wife of Felipe. the Dcguino. l
told him not to fool with Felipe; the
Indian was dangerous; he had hot
blood. Maldonado struck me-he
kicked me--hc said / was Jealous
and hit me again.
"Maldonado told me to get n big
meal. ! told him that II was for Fe-
lipe. When said I would not cook
for that treachery he cursed me. he
kicked me again." She threw OF the
reboso, dragging her dress loose.
Don't" frowned Rickard. He had
seen welt across her shoulders
screaming line of pain.
She wound the reboso around the |
shoulder. ~ cooked his
dinnerI There was q lot Of liquor
Felipe was drunk; the tequlln made |
him mad, quite mad. He seemed to
know something was wrong; he fought |
ms Maldonado dragged him to the cell,
the senor remembers the cell? The |
next day Maldonndo sent for two ru-
rales. They started the next day for
taking Felipe; that day
brought Lupc home. | !
said she could not stay aud he
laughed in my face, senOr. lie put !
me outside the walls. / beat that