The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1919-04-18

Pink was too hot, blue too definite. A
parasol of pastel green, and she looked
like a sprig Of fragrant ~mignonette.
She found the open space Of tha
trapezium swarming with strange
dark faces. So silent their coming she
had not heard the arrival Of the tribes
She isolated the Cocopahs, stately as
bronze statues. their long hair streams
ing, or wound mud-caked under the
brilliant headcloths. Foregathering
with them We're men Of other tribesa
these must be the Ynmas and Deguf-
nos. the men needed on the river.
These were the men who were to work
on the RATS. weave the great mat
tresSes. A squad of short-haired Pf-
mas with their squaws and babies
and their gaudy bundles. gaped at the
f%air-haired woman as she passed. The
central space was filing UP with Pr
mas and Maricopas, Papagoes, too
she knew them collectively by their
shox hair. These were brush cutters.
This. then, meant the beginning OF
real activity. Tom would at last be
satisfied. He would no longer sulk
and rage alternately at the hOld-up OF
the work.
Before she reached Richards ra-
mazda she saw that another
was there. She caught an impassioned
gesture. Her only surmise rested on :
Innes. Gerty saw that she was dark
she looked the halfbreed. The brown
woman drew back as the white woman
entered. Gerty smiled an airy reas-
surance. She herself would wait. She
did not want to be hurried. She told
Richard that she had plenty Of time.
"There is something you want to tell
me?" Richards patience was cour.
teous hut firm. He would hear her er-
rand first. Gerty. remembering The
%ilnploring attitude OF the stranger, de-
termined that she would not be sent
away.
"Will you excuse me. senora7 II
will be only a minute"
She vas to tell her errand. and
briefly! Gerty swept past the intruder
"Sit down, Mrs. Hardin"
Resenting the infection. she said
SIIC NOulu Stduu. I1CT voice WAS a.
little hard, her Eyes were yelled. as
she told her mission. Her usual flu.
ency dragged; she felt q lack of sym.
pathy. In short. she proposed a COM
missary department, herself in charge
"I'd like to feel l vas Of some use,"
urged Gerty. "My heart is bound up
in this undertaking; If I'm allowed to-
SfaV 1d nEn IN holm 01nn0 This Ia
the only way can, the woman's way
"Aren't you taking a good deal on
yourself, Mrs. HnrdinY"
Then she forgave his hesitation
quite, as it was Of her he was think.
ing. mot if it helps" Her voice waa
low and soft, as if this were a secret
between them.
"Why, Of course, anything o want
Mrs. Hardin And, remembering her
former position. he added, 1.-THE camp.
yours as much as mine.'
A glad smile rewarded him. Shs
went out, reluctantly. There was 9
new significance in MacLean's absence
from the ramada. What could thas
woman have to say that MacLear
must not hear? For the first time
the weak tenure on her old lover came
to her. Not a sign had he yet giver
Of their understanding, Of the pi0uanf
situation. Themselves old s~weethearts
thrown together In this wilderness
What had she built her hopes on? A
word here, a translated phrase. OF
magnified glance. She would not har
Dor the new worry. Why, it would bl
all right. In the meantime she wouls
show them all what n woman WITH
executive ability could do.
"Sit down. sonora said Richard t.
the brown woman, Maldonado's wife
Don't be frightened. We won't lie,
him hurt you" Richard vulgarizet
his Castilian to the reach of her rude
dialect. Familiar as was Richard with
the poems speech in their own couD