The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-03-21


his own table.
Poor sullry Achilles" she thought.
Dear, honest old bearr"
"Innesl" cried Mrs. Hardin.
She turned to find that the guest
was staring at her. She had not heard
his effort to include her In the con-
versation.
mfr. Richard asked you If You like
It hereTy
THANK you-why, Of counsel" Her
answer sounded pert to herself.
Her sister-in-law FASTENED to add
that Miss Hardin was very lonely, was
really all alone In the world; that they
insisted on her making her home with
them.
Innes had with difficulty restrained
a denial. After all, what other home
had she2 Stlll the truth had been de-
Elected. She recalled the sacrifice It
had been to cut her college course In
order to make home in the desert
for the brother who had always so
gently fathered her, who had helped
her invest her small capital that 1t
might spell small income. She re-
called his resistance when she had
called in a mortgage; who could watch
that mad scapegoat of river playing
FRANKS with desert homes and not
yenrn to help? Not a Hardin. She
still glorled in remembering that she
had at least driven one pile into that
rebellious stream, even IL when she
left the valley IL would be as a bread
winner. She was prepared. She was
good craftsman; she would go as
an apprentice In an architects office.
She had already settled on the archi-
tectl
"Are you going to Los Angeles
soonT" She heard the new manager
address his host.
I'm taking orders!"
There was another awkward mo
ment when Hardin pushed back his
plate declaring he had reached his
limit; 1t was too big spread for him
1t was the stupid rudeness of the
small bad boy; even Innes flushed for
her sister-in-law.
With resolution Gerty assumed CON
troll of the conversation. Her role
sounded casual; no one could have
suspected 1t Of frequent rehearsal.
They must not talk of the river; that
was taboo. Railroad matters were
also excluded. Equally difficult
would be "reminiscences of Lawrence
days. SO she began brightly with a
current book. The theater proved a
safe topic, and by that natural route
they reached New York. Innes, who
had never been farther east than Chi
cago, was grateful to play audience.
Hardin, who knew his New York per-
haps better than either, refused to be
drawn into the gentle stream.
Things must be kept sprightly. Had
Mr.. Richard met many Of the valley
people2 And 1t was then that she
threw her bomb toward the listening,
silent Hardlns. She would like Mr..
Richard to meet some Of their friends
He said that he would be delighted,
but that he was planning to leave
shortly for the Heading.
"of course" She did not give her
husband time to speak. She meant
afterwards She was planning to give
something a bit novel in his honor.
She refused to see the glare from the
angry man In his outgrown dinner
coat. She did not glance toward the
sister. What did Mr.. Richard think
about progressive rider
ut sounds very entertaining, but
what do you do2"
There was a loud guffaw from Tom.
With deepened color Gerty told her
idea. A drive. changing partners, so
he could meet all the guests.
"I'thlnk 1t win surprise you to find
so many nice people In here; it GER
tainly did me. One doesn't expect to
find congenlal people in a new country
like this"
Richard remembered that he had
to get back to his hotel. He had let
ters to write. 1t had been splendid
dinnerl And what wonderful heme
she had made out of Standardized lot,
out Of tent He spoke of the roses
NANN Wv hAVAbAhE EAVAANos Lis N1No
fell on the open plano, the reading
table with the current magazines,
Now he couldn't understand why they
ever went to that hotell
Gerty's eyes were shining as deep
pools OF water on which the sun plays.
She looked almost infantile as she
stood by the two tail men, her head
perched blrdllke. "Good-byl and Il
hope you'll come againp
or course he'd come againl
"And you win let me know when
you return, so that may set the date
for my party7"
Innes did not get his answer. She
had been observing that he was not
taller than her brother He looked
taller. He was lean, and Tom was
growing stocky. She wished he would
not SLOUGH so. his hands In his peck
etsi In Tucson. before she knew that
she must dislike Richard, she had had
an impression of vlrlle distinction, Of