Gilpin observer., 1919-06-26

Pink was too hot, blue too iennite. A
parasol Of pastel green, and she looked
like a sprig Of fragrant mignonette.
| She found the open space Of the
trapezium swarming with strange
dark faces. So silent their coming she
had not heard the arrival Of the tribes.
She Isolated the Cocopahs, stately as
bronze statues. their long hair stream
Ing, or wound mud-caked under the
brilliant headcloths. Foregathering
with them were men Of other tribes;
these must be the Yumas and Degui.
nos. the men needed ON the river.
These were the men who were to work
on the RATS, weave the great mat
| tresses. A squad Of short-haired Pi-
mas with their sQuaws and babies
and their gaudy bundles, gaped at the
fair-haired woman as she passed. The
central space was filling up with Pi-
mas and Maricopas, Papagoes, too;
she knew them collectively by their
shont hair. These were brush cutters.
This, then, meant the beginning Of
real activity. Tom would at last be
satisfied. He would no longer sulk
and rage alternately at the hold-up OF
the work.
Before she reached Richards ra-
mada she saw that another woman
was there. She caught an impassioned
gesture. Her only surmise rested on
lnnes. Gerty saw that she was dark
she looked the halfbreed. The brown
woman drew back as the white woman
entered. Gerty smiled an airy reas-
surance. She herself would wait. She
did not want to be hurried. She told
Rickard that she had plenty of time.
There Is something you want to tell
mel" Richards patience was cour.
teOus but firm. He would hear her er-
rand first. Gerty, remembering the
imploring attitude of the stranger, de
termined that she would not be sent
away.
"Wil you excuse me, senoraf II
will be only a minute"
She was to tell her errand, and
briefly! Gerty swept past the intruder
"Sit down. Mrs. Hardin"
Resenting the infection, she sais
she would stand. Her voice was g
little hard. her eyes were yelled, as
she told her mission. Her usual flu
ency dragged; she felt lack Of SYM
pathy. In short, she proposed a com
missary department. herself in charge
I'D like to feel was of some use,"
urged Gerty. my heart is bound uI
in this undertaking; If I'm allowed to
stay, I'd like to help along. This IL
the only way can, the woman's way"
NArQnft 20
yourself. Mrs. Hardin?"
Then she forgave his hesitation
quite, as it was of her he was think.
Ing. mot IL it helps" Her voice was
low and soft. as If this were a secret
between them.
why. of course. anything you want
Mrs. Hardin" And, remembering her
former position. he added. 1.-The camps
yours as much as mine."
A glad smile rewarded him. She
went out, reluctantly. There was 9
new significance in MacLean's absence
from the ramada. What could that
woman have to say that MacLean
must not hear7 For the first time
the weak tenure on her old lover came
to her. Not sign had he yet given
of their understanding, of the piquant
situation. Themselves old sweethearts
thrown together in this wilderness
What had she built her hopes on7 A
word here, translated phrase, OF
magnifed glance. She would not har
Dor the new worry. Why, it would bt
all right. In the meantime she woult
show them all what a woman with
executive ability could do.
"Sit down, senora," said Rickard te
the brown woman, Maldonado's wife
Don't be frightened. We won't let
him hurt you" Rickard vulgarizet
his Castilian to the reach of her rude
dialect. Familiar as was Rickard with
the poems speech in their own couD-