Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-03-29

90 ldiuule. his voice was Soft
as silk. Il no STAY
II was a thunderclap. There was
no one to replace Ling, who was
drawing down the salary Of a private
secretary. Lose Lingl 1t would be
more demoralizing 10 the camp than
to lose an engineer.
money an lite. Bossee an lite. No
llkee woman. Woman she stay, Ling
Co."
Mrs. Hardin Richard woke up.
"She all time makee trouble. She
Clay. She think woman vellee fine
cook. She show Ling cool,ee plunes.
Teachee Ling coOkee plunes, | no
stay that woman" Unutterable final
ity IN the leathern face. Rlckard and
MacLean. Jr., exchanged glances
which deepened from concern into
perplexliy. They could not afford to
lose Ling And offend Mrs. Hardin,
the camp already Hardlnesque?
Rickard grew placatlng. lie spent
hnlf hour wheedllng. They met at
the starting place. Ling 90 tamale."
"Oh, Lord groaned the manager
copitulatlng. "Ail right, Ling"
Wish the dignity OF an oriental
prince, Ling pattered out Of the tent.
Richard was puekerlng his lips at his
secretary. I'D rather take castor
OIL"
A half hour later. MacLean saw his
chief leave his tent. He was In fresh
linens.
II wouldn't swap places with him
this mlnutel She'll be as mad as a
wet hen !"
Mrs. Hardln from her bed by her
screen window, saw him coming. She
slipped Into "A semnegllgee Of alter
nate rows Of lace and swiss construct
ed for such possible emergencies. She
did not make the mistake OF smooth
Ing her hair; her instinct told her
that the fluffy disorder bore out the
use OF the negligee. She was sew
Ing In her ramada when Richards !
knock sounded on the screen door.
Despite his protests she started wa
ter boiling in her cha6ng dish. He
had not time for ten, he declared, but |
she Insisted on making this call Of a
soelal nature. She opened box Of /
sugar waters. her zeal that of u child |
with a toy kitchen; she was playing
dolls house. !
Rlckard made several openings for
his errund, but her wits sped like
1 gopher from his labored digging.
She met his mood with womanly dig
lity; she tutored her coquetrles, with
ield her archness.
He found he would have to discard
diplomacy, blurt out his message use
,ludgeons for this scamperlng agility
"My mission Is a little awkward,
Mrs. Hardin. hope you will take It
Ill right, that you will not be Of
ended"
"oTendedT Her face showed
larm.
TITS about Ling. He's u queer fell
ow; they all are. you know" He
vas blunderlng like a schoOlboy un-
Ter the growing shadow in Gerty's
Hue eyes. "They resent authority
hat Is, from women. He is a tyrant,
ling ls."
"fes" All. she would not help him.
.et him founder
"lle wants to be let alone; he
oesn't appreciate your kind help,
irs Hardin"
"Ohw Her eyes were hot with
tears. She could not
peak or would not. She sat In her
polled dolls house. all her pleasure /
her toy dishes, her pretty finery, +,
ilned, He could not care If he could |
umlllate her so. II was the most I
lyld moment of her life. Not even I
hen ltlckard had left her. with his
lsses still warm on her lips. had she /
II 50 outraged. lie was treating her I
though she were seryant-dls. :
larglng her-because she was the 4
lfe OF Hardin. Her eyes grew black h
ith anger; she hnted them botlf; be s
yeen them. their jealousy. their RI
ilry. what had they made of her llfe2 g
he remembered the woman she had
'en In his rumada; she had heard <
lat the Mexican WIS In camp, EN- q
Dyed by Richard. Her thoughts were &
se swarmlng hornets. n
Hes an ungraiefnl beast. Mrs.
nrlln. told him | would not let L
'u waste your kindness one instant q
oh, she understood A hitter pleas.
e to see him so confused. Richard. II
fore whose superior appraisement v
Il had 50 often wiltedi She would "
4 help him out. neverl She rose e
hen he paused lie thanked her for n
eellng him half way. and her smile t'
~ lnscruiahle. cl
$50 I'm dlschargedT'
'Y0u can't be discharged II you've II
'ver been employed. can your Thank +
a once again. and for your tea. Il tC
IS delicious. I wish Ling would give
tea like that" "
Boorlsh. al Of It; and blunderlnsl n,