The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-06-12

an ipauspicious day for Mrs. Hardin's
visit. Things had gone wrong. vex-
ations were pillng up. A tilt with Har.
din that morning. a telegram from
Marshall; he was feeling sore. Des-
perately they needed labor. Wooster
had Just reported. venomously, It ap-
peared to Richards spleen. increasing
drunkenness among the Indians.
Gerty's ruffies swept in. Her dress,
the blue null with the lace medallions,
accented the hue of her eyes. and
looked deliciously cool that glaring
desert day. Her parasol, Of pongee,
was lined with the same baby hue.
Her dainty fairness and childish nj.
fability should have made an oasis In
that strenuous day, but Richards dis
Indignation Of temper was too COM
plete. He rose stiffiy to meet her, and
his manner demanded her errand.
She told It to him, plaintively. Her
eyes were appealing. infantile. Would
It be too much to ask, would Mr..
Eickard mind in the least, he must be
Perfectly frank and tell her II they
would be in the way ut oil, but while
this bot spell lasted, could they. the
three of them, eat In the mess tent
with the men7
"Surelyl" Rickard met It heartily.
She would find 1t rough. but IL she
could stand It yes, he thought II q
good idea.
And then there was nothing for her
to do but go. Her retreat was grace
full. without haste, dignified. She
smiled O farewell at MacL,ean, who
was watching the approach Of Innes
Hardin and Estrada Richard did not
see the aborted entrance Of Hardin's
sister and the young Mexican. He
was itching to be ut his work.
He let out a growl when Mrs Har.
din was out Of carshot.
"Shucksl What In Halifax do wOm-
en- come to place like this forl
There's Hardin-brings In two women
to cook for him. and now, please may
they all eat with the menr
His secretary subdued q chuckle.
he was visualizing a procession Of
boxes Of choice Havanas-from Bode-
feldt, Hamlin and the rest of the
gang. He need not buy a smoke for
! year.
Richard threw himself back IN his
chair. take this letter, MacLean. To
Marshall" Then his worry diverted
him. who in thunder 10 selling liquor
to my Indiansr
"Hold on: that letter can wait. You
get the horses up. MacLean. and wen
ride down to Aialdonado's. It's his
place to stop this liquor business. moi
NINE"
A few hours later they were ap
preaching the adobe walls Of Maldo
nado. They found the gate locked. A
woman, whose beauty had faded into
q tragic whisper, ghastly twilight Of
suggestion, came to their knock, and
unbarred the gate for the white
strangers. Mystery hung over the in
closure like pail.
Rickarl told his errand. MaldonadG
sputtered and swore. BY the mother
Of Mary the Virgin, that thing would
be stopped. He showed to the senors
with pride, his badge. He was ru
rale; he was there to uphold the law
He had caught some Of those drunken
Indians on the road He had brought
them here.
Maldonado showed three men in q
locked shed. deep In drunken stupor
He thought the liquor was obtained
somewhere back In the sandhills. III
would 6nd the place. But the senol
must be patient; his hands were Ok
full.
Both men were glad to get ava,
from the place and Maldonado. Oh
viously he was q brute; undoubtedly
he was q liar.