The Pulaskian., 1919-05-09


 Pink was too hot, blue too definite. Al parasol of pastel green, and she looked like sprig of fragrant mignonette.
 She found the open space of thd trapezium swarming with strange dark faces. So silent their coming she had not heard the arrival of the tribesl She isolated the Cocopahs, stately as bronze statues, their long hair stream1 ing, or wound undecided under the brilliant headcloths. Foregathering with them were men of other tribes; these must be the Yumas and Degui1 nos the men needed on the river. These were the men who were to work on the rafts, weave the great mat tresses. A squad of short-haired Pi- mas with their squaws and babies and their gaudy bundles, gaped at the fair-haired woman as she passed. The central space was filling up with Pi- mas and Maricopas, Papagoes, toos she knew them collectively by their shoRt hair. These were brush cutters. This, then, meant the beginning of real activity. Tom would at last be. SdllSACu. IIG NOQlQ DO lOu6CL Oulh and rage alternately at the hold-up of the work.
 Before she reached Richards ra- mada she saw that another woman was there. She caught an impassioned- gesture. Her only surmise rested on Innes. Gerty saw that she was dark 1, she looked the halfbreed. The brown woman drew back as the white woman entered. Gerty smiled an airy reas- surance. She herself would walt She did not want to be hurried. She told Rickard that she had plenty of time-
 "There Is something you want to tell mel? Richards patience was cour- teous but firm. He would hear her err rand first. Gerty, remembering the imploring attitude of the stranger, de termined that she would not be sent away.
 "Will you excuse me, senora? It will be only a minute."
 She was to tell her errand, and briefly! Gerty swept past the intruder.
 "Sit down, Mrs. Hardin" Resenting the infection, she said she would stand. Her voice was l little hard, her eyes were yelled, as she told her mission. Her usual fiu- ency dragged; she felt a lack of sym pathy. In short, she proposed a com missary department, herself in charge.
 "I'd like to feel was of some use," urged Gerty. My heart is bound up in this undertaking; If 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 a good deal on yourself, Mrs. Hardin?"
 Then she fe.gave his hesitation quite, as 1t was of her he was think ing. Not if 1t helps." Her voice was low and soft. as if this were a secret between them.
 "Why, of course. anything you want. Mrs. Hardin" And, remembering her former position, he added, "The camp's yours as much as mine.'
 A glad smile rewarded him. She went out, reluctantly. There was new significance in MacLean's absence from the ramada. What could that woman have to say that MacLean- must not hear? For the first time the weak tenure on her old lover came to her. Not a sign had he yet given of their understanding, of the piquant situation. Themselves old sweethearts, thrown together in this wilderness. What had she built her hopes on? A word here, a translated phrase, or magnified glance. She would not har- Dor the new worry. Why, It would be all right. In the meantime she would show them all what a woman with executive ability could do. "Sit down, senora," said Rickard to the brown woman, Maldonado's wife. | "Don't be frightened. We won't let him hurt you" Rickard vulgarized his Castilian to the reach of her rude dialect. Familiar as was Ricaard with the peons speech in their own coun-
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