The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1919-05-08

Poor sulky Achilles" she thought.
Dear. honest old besr!"
"Innesl" cried Mrs. Hardin.
She turned to find that the guest
was staring ut her. She had no heard
his effort to include her In the con.
~versation.
"Mr. Rickard asked you II you like
II herer'
Thank you-why. Of course !" 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 she? Still the truth had been de
fiected. She recalled the sacrifice il
had been to cut her college course In
order to make a home In the desert
for the brother who had always so
gently fathered her. who had helped
her invest her small capital that II
might spell a small income. She re-
called his resistance when she had
called in a mortgage; who could watch
that mad sGapegoat Of a river playing
pranks with desert homes and not
yearn to helD1 Not a Hardin. She
still gloried In remembering that she
had at least driven n pile into that
rebellious stream, even IL when she
left the valley 1t would be N q bread
winner. She was prepared. She was
a good craftsman; she would 20 as
an apprentice In an architects Office.
She had already settled on the archi.
tect!
Are you going to Los Angeles
soonr" 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; it was too big a spread for him I
II was the stupid rudeness OF the
small bad boy; even lines flushed for
her Sister-in-law.
With resolution Gerty assumed con
troll OF the conversation. Her role
sounded casual; no one could have
suspected Ii 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
people7 And It was then tina. she
threw her bomb toward the listening,
| silent Hardins. She would like Mr..
Rickard 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
afterward! 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 q progressive rider
1T sounds very entertaining. but
what do you dor'
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.
Il think 1t will surprise You to find
so many nice people in here; 1t Ger
tainly did me. One doesn't expect tc
find congenial people In . 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
dinneri And what Q wonderful home
she had made out Of . s~and-baked lot
out Of . tenti He spoke Of the rosea
and the morning glorica. His eye
fell on the open piano. the reading
table with the current magazines
Now he couldn't understand why the,
ever went to that hoteli
Gerty's eyes were shining n deer
pools OF water on which the son plays
She looked almost infantile ~ sh,
stood By the two tall men. her heat
perched birdlike: "Good-byi and
hope youm come againT"
OF course he'd come againi
And You viii let me know wher
you return, 90 that I may set the date
for my partyf-
lines did not get his answer. She
had been observing that he was mol
taller than her brother He looked
taller. He was lean. and Tom was
growing stocky. She wished he woulc
not SLOUGH 30. his hands In his peck
etst In Tucson. before she knew thai
she must dislike Richard. she had haC
an impression Of viriIe distinction. Of
grace. q suggestion Of mastered mus
CHS. He had known that It was hei
brother he vas supplantlng.did he
get any satisfaction from the fact THAI