The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1919-02-06

Then the childish profile turned on him.
A look Of bewilderment, flushing into
greeting-the years had been kind to
Gerty Holmes!
"Do you remember me, Rickard"
If Ha. .din recognized a difficult situa-
tion, he did not betray it. 1t was
man Rickard did not know who shook
MIN warmly by the hand, and said that
indeed he had not forgotten him.
"Tve been expecting you. My wife.
Mr.. Rickard, and my sister"
"Why, what are you thinking off
Tom? To introduce Mr.. Rickard! l
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 me?"
"You were at the Improvement club
when the telegram came" put in 1nnes
Hardin, without looking at Rickard. No
trace of the Tucson cordiality in that
proud little face! No acknowledgment
that they had met at the Marshalls!
''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 year. He did not know
what to say. He turned from her up
turned face to the others. Innes Har-
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"
IF I had known that you were here,
I would have insisted on your dining
with us, in our tent. For it's terrible,
here, isn't it?" She flashed at him the
look he remembered so vividly, the
childish coquettish appeal. 1--WE dine
at home, till it 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 hidden,
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 dinnerY
"Why shouldn't I? He Is an old
friend" Gerty caught glance Of ap.
peal, from sister to brother. "Jealous?"
she pouted charmingly at her lord.
Jealous, now bluffed Bardin.
He thought then that she knew, that
Inpes had told her. The Lawrence epi-
sode held no sting to him. Once, III
had enchanted him that he had carried
off the clearinghouse belle, whom even
that bookman had found desirable
bookman! A superior dude! BE had
always had those grand airs. As II It,
were not more to mans credit toI
struggle for his education, even If he
were older than his class, or his teach
er, than to accept 1t off silver plates,
handed by lackeys? Rickard had al
ways acted as If it had been something
to be ashamed of. 1t made him sick.
"They've done it this time. It's
fool choice"
Again, that look Of pleading from In
mes. Gerty had shiver of intuition.
"Fool choices" Her voice was omi-
nously calm.
Hardin shook of Innes' eyes. Better
be done with it! "He's the new gen.
eral manager"
"IIes the general manager"
"Tm to take orders from him."
Gerty's silence was Of the stunned
variety. The Hardins watched her
crumbling bread on the tablecloth,
thinking, fearfully, that she was going
to cry.
'DiGn't I tell you?" Her voice, re-
pressed, carried the threat Of tears.
"Dida't I tell you how it would be?
Didn't say that you'd be sorry II you
called the railroad in?"
"0Iust we go over this again?" asked
her husband.
"Why didn't you tell me? Why did
you let me make goose Of myselfT
She was remembering that there had
been no protest, no surprise from In
nes. She knew! A family secret!
She shrugged. 'Tm glad, on the whole,
that you planned it as surprise. For
carried it off as if we'd not been In
suited, diSgraced."
"Gerty!" expostulated Hardin.
"Gerty!" implored Innes.
"And we are in for nice friendly
dinner!"
care you quite finished?" Hardin
got up.
As the three passed out Of the dining
room, Rickard caught their several ex-
pressions: Hardin's stiff, Indifferent;
Gerty's brilliant but hard, as she
flashed q finished, brave little smile In
his direction. The sisters bow was
distinctly naughty.
In the hall, Gerty's laugh rippled
out. It was the laugh Rickard remem-