The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-02-05
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tion, he did not betray 1t. It was a man Rtckard did not know who shook him warmly by the hand, and said that indeed he had not forgotten him.
 I've been expecting you. My wife, Mir. Rickard, and my sister"
 "Why, what are you thinking of, Tom? To introduce Mr. Rickardl introduced you to each other, years ago!" Gerty's cheeks were red. Her bright eyes were darting from one to the other. You knew he was coming, and did not tell mel"
 You were at the Improvement club when the telegram came," put in Innes Hardin. without looking at Rickard. No trace of the Tucson cordiality in that proud little face! No acknowledgment that they had met at the MarshalIs!
 'Oh, you telegraphed to us?" The blond arch smile had not aged. That was friendly and nice"
 Rickard had not been self-conscious for many a year. He did not know what to say. He turned from her up- turned face to the others. Innes liar din was staring out of the window, over the heads of several crowded tables; Hardin was gazing at his plate. Rickard decided that he would get out of this before Gerty discovered that it was neither friendly nor nice" 1 If I had known that you were here, I would have insisted on your dining | rvritA tyN Ie tnrp In l here, isn't it?' She flashed at him the | look he remembered so vividly, the childish coquettish appeal. "We dine at home, till 1t becomes tiresome, and | then we come foraging for variety. But you must come to us, say Thursday. Is that right for you? We should love it"
 Still those two averted faces. Rick ard said Thursday, as he was bidden, and got back to his table, wondering why in thunder he had let Marshall per- suade him to take this job.
 Hardin waited scant minute to pro- test: "What possessed you to ask him to dinner"
 "Why shouldn't I? He is an old friend" Gerty caught glance of ap- peal, from sister to brother. "Jealous7" she pouted chsrmingly at her lord.
 Jealous, no !" bluffed Hardin. 1 He thought then that she knew, that Inpes had told her. The Lawrence epi- sode held no sting to him. Once, 1t had enchanted him that he had carried off the boarding house belle, whom even
 that bookman had found desirable
 bookman! A superior dudel He had
 always had those grand airs. AS if it
 were not more to a mans credit to
 struggle for his education, even if he
 were older than his class, or his teach
 CT, than to accept it off silver plates
 handed by lackeys? Rickard had al
 ways acted as if it had been something
 to be ashamed of. It made him sick.
 They've done 1t this time. It's 8
 fool choice"
 Again, that look of pleading from In
 nes. Gerty had a shiver of intuition. Fool choice?" Her voice was omi nously calm.
 Hardin shook of Innes' eyes. Better be done with 1t! He's the new gen eral manager"
 , He's the general manager"
 "I'm to take orders from him." Gerty's silence was of the stunned
 variety. The Hardins watched hel crumbling bread on the tablecloth thinking, fearfully, that she was going
 to cry.
 Didn't I tell you?" Her voice, re , pressed. carried the threat of tears
 ''Didn't I tell you how it would be Didn't I say that you'd be sorry if vol ' called the railroad in?" 7, "Must we go over this agaInT asked ? her husband.
 "Why didn't you tell me? Why dit you let me make a goose of myself? Y She was remembering that there hat
 been no protest, no surprise from In nes. She knew! A family secret t She shrugged. 'rm glad, on the whole 1T 7, that you planned it as q surprise. Flo Il I carried it off as if we'd not been in suited, disgraced."
 "Gerty!" expostulated Hardin. U "Gerty!" implored Innes. And we are in for nice friendl a dinner!"
 Are you quite fnished?" Hardi @ got up. IS As the three passed out of the dinin
 room, Rickard caught their several eJ l. pressions: Eardin's sSia, indifferent )f Gerty's brilliant but kard, as sh r. flashed finished brave little smile i n his direction. The sisters bow wa n distinctly naughty. S, In the hall, Gerty's laugh ripple [e put. It was the laugh Rickard remen le bered, the light frivolous cadenc or which recalled the f1amboyant batter d of the Holmes parlor carpet, the lon s crowded dining table where Gerty ha D. reigned. It told him that she was il d. different to his coming, as she meal n- it should. And it turned him back t, a dark corner in the honeysuckl S. draped porch where he had spent f a- many evenings with her, where Ont le he had held her hand. where he tol d, her that he loved her. For he ha Id loved her, or at least he thought II hadl And had run away from her e If pectant eyes. A cad, was he, becaus ip he had brought that waiting look In
 her eyes, and had run from it? n+ Continued Tomorrow.) " SOVIETS TO "SAVE KAISER" 10 Ia Amsterdam, Feb. 4-Societies n "save the kaiser" from being hand' a