The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1919-09-05

pd1D nOped uas.r sue was uut putting
her hostess to any inconvenience at
this last moment. She wanted "a
pr0long the conversation-had the
guests al Gomez Were they really
going1 Then she must be getting old,
for = night like this dlsmayed her
0erty felt her goodnight was rudely
abrupt. But was she to stand there
Cabling all night. her guests wait
ing1
She prayed that Richard would be
there when she returned. What q
travesty II the guest Of honor should
disappoint her! Though he was not
among the different groups, her con-
ndence In his punctiliousness reas-
sured her. She must hold them lit.
tie longer. She fitted gaily from one
standing group to another. Her eyes
constantly questioned the clock.
elbow long are you going to wait
for Mrs. Hatfeldt" Her husband
came ny. protesting.
Mrs. Hatfield" she explained dis
family. us not coming. We are wait
Ing for Mr.. Richard"
HE didn't come In on that train;
he's at the Heading" Hardin added
something about trouble ut the intake.
but Gerry did not heed. Tom had
known and had not told her when
there was yet time to call It OF!
"A pretty time to tell me!'' Had
he been looking at her, he would have
been left no illusions. Her blue eyes
flashed hate.
II did not know It until We got
here. There was q message from Mac.
Lean at the desk, waiting"
4acLean was not there, either!
I'VE are all ready" she cried.
Mrs. Hatfield and Mr.. Richard cannot
come" Not for worlds would she give
In to her desire to call the whole
grim affair OF; let them think she
was disappointed, not she. Though
the world blew away. she would 20.
She found herself distributing slips
or mangled quotations. The white
slips went to the women; the green
bits Of pasteboard to the men. She
held . certain green card in her
glove: Leads on to fortune" Rick
ard might come dashing In at the last
moment. the ideal mans way; q spe-
cial. perhaps: It did not seem credible
that he would deliberately stay away
without sending her word.
In . burst Of laughter, the COM
pany discovered then that the guest
OF honor was also absent. Mrs.
Hardin hurried them out to the watt
ing buggies.
Drearily, they drove down the n.y.
Ing street. The wind was at their
hacks. but 1t tore at their hats, pulled
at their tempers. Their eyes were
full Of street dust.
A nash Of light as they were leav-
Ing town frightened the thick dust
clouds. what was that7" cried Gerty.
She was ready for any calamity now.
mot lightning?" Again. the queer
light flashed across the obscured sky.
Tom reused himself to growl that he
hadn't seen anything. And the dreary
farce went on.
lines partner was young Sutcliffe,
the English zanjero. He was in the
quicksand Of comparison between
English and American women. lines
mischievously coaxing him into deeper
waters. when there was q blockade
OF buggies ahead Of them.
1.-THE A B G RANCH" cried Times,
peefing through the veil of dust at
the queer unreal outlines Of fences
and trees. Its our first STOP"
"Oh, l say. that's too bad" began
Sutcliffe. Innes was already on the
road, her skirts whipped by the wind
into clingtng drapery.
Gerty's party found itself disorgan-
lied. Partners were trying to find
or lose each other. "Get in herew
1nnes heard the voice Of Estrada be-
hind her. He had a top buggy. She
hailed refuge.
Splendid" she cried. "What a
relief" Climbing in, she said: II
hope this isn't upsetting Gerty's ar.
Arrangement! Look at them I"
The women were Fastening out of the
dust swirl into any haven that of.
Tered. With little screams of dismay,
they ran like rabbits to cover.
Gerry found herself with Blinn. At
the next stop there was block of
buggies. mo use changing again !"
She acknowledged herself beaten.
Lets go on. What are they stopping
for:" Dismal farce it all was!
She was pushing back her disheart-
ened curls when the beat of horses
hoofs back Of them brought the blood
back into her wind-chilled cheeks.
Richard" she thought. HE must
have come In a special!" The gloom
suddenly disgorged MacLean.
Hardin! Where is he?"
'What's up?" yelled Blinn. us It
the river7"' MacLean's face answered
him. His ranch secured again-"God
Almighty
THE river!" screamed the women.
The men were SurrOnndino Noel non