Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-04-18

the starting place. Ling go tamaIe.
"Oh, Lord" groaned the manager,
capitulating. "All right, Ling"
With the dignity of an oriental
prince, Ling battered out of the tent,
Rickard was puckering his lips at his
secretary. 'Td rather take castor
OIL"
A half hour later, MacLean saw his
chief leave his tent. He was in fresh
linens.
II wouldn't swap places with him
this minutel She'll be as mad as
wet hem"
Mrs. Hardin, from her bed by her
screen window, saw him coming. She
slipped into a seminegligee of alter
nate rows of lace and swiss construct
ed for such possible emergencies. She
did not make the mistake of smooth
ing her hair; her instinct told her
that the fluffy disorder bore out the
use of the negligee. She was sew
ing in her ramada when Richards
knock sounded on the screen door.
Despite his protests she started wa
ter boiling in her chatting dish. He
had not time for tea, he declared, but
she insisted on making this call of a
social nature. She opened a box of
sugar waters, her zeal that of child
with toy kitchen; she was playing
dolls house.
Richard made several openings for
his errand, but her wits sped like
gopher from his labored digging.
She met his mood with womanly dig
nifty; she tutored her coquetries, with
held her archness.
He found he would have to discard
diplomacy, blurt out his message; use
bludgeons for this scampering agility.
my mission is a little awkward
Mrs. Hardin. 1 hope you will take II
all right, that you win not be of
fended."
"Ofended?" Her face showed
alarm.
Its about Ling. He's a queer fel.
low; they all are, you know" He
was laundering like schoolboy un
der the growing shadow in Gerty's
blue eyes. "They resent authority
that is, from women. He is tyrant
Ling is."
"Yes?" All, she would lot help him
Let him founder
"He wants to be let alone; hi
doesn't appreciate your kind help
Mrs. Hardin"
"Ohw Her eyes were hot will
tears-angry tears. She could no
speak or would not. She sat in he
spoiled dolls house. all her pleasure
in her toy dishes, her pretty finery
ruined. He could not care if he coulC
humiliate her so 1t was the mos
vivid moment of her life. Not ever
when Rickard had left her, with hi
kisses still warm on her lips, had sh
felt so outraged. He was treating he
charging her-because she was tn
wife of Hardin. Her eyes grew blacl
/. with anger; she hated them both; be
tween them, their jealousy, their ri
valry, what had they made of her life
She remembered the woman she ha
seen in his ramada; she had. hear
that the Mexican was in camp, em
ployed by Rickard. Her thoughts wer
like swarming hornets.
Hes an ungrateful beast, Mr.:
Hardin. told him l would not lie
you waste your kindness one instan
longer"
Oh, she understood! A bitter pleas
ure to see him so confused. Rickar(
before whose superior appraisemen
she had so often wilted! She woul
not help him out, never! She ros
when he paused. He thanked her fo
meeting him half way, and her smil
was inscrutable.
$50 I'm dischargedT
"You can't be discharged IL you'v
never been employed, can you? Than
you once again, and for your tea.
was delicious. wish Ling would Civ
us tea like that"
Boorish, all Of 1t, and blunderine
Why wouldn't he go? When he ha
hurt her so! had hurt her SOL
Her hand met his, but not her eye
4 II he did not go quickly somethin
o would happen; he would see her or,
e ing. The angels that guard blunderel
y got Rickard out of the tent withol
$ suspicion of threatening tears. 81
: threw off her negligee and the pa
n blue slip; the tears must wait Il
d that. Then she flung herself on h
, bed and shook it with the grief
e wounded vanity.
e That evening the chief had a Wis
v tor. The wife of Maldonado, some
2 the fear pressed out of her eye
: brought In his laundered khaki
V socks. dnrned and matched; all Il
missing buttons replaced
= II haven't worn q matched sock
y he told her, "for months. That's gres
: sonora"
e He wanted to get to bed, but she Ii
10 gered. She wanted to talk to hi
;. about her troubles; he had caution,
70 her against talking about them
- camp, so she overflowed to hi
4 whenever she found a chance-abo
o Maldonado, the children, Lupe.
g. was getting wearylng, but he cou
n not shove the poor thing out.
e. Sonora Maldonado gave sharp /
re take of breath, an aborted screal
~ Richard, too, saw a mans figure OF
c. side the screen door. The Mexic,
k woman pressed frightened hand
her heart. OF course 1t was the vena
K. full Maldonado-he would kill her
te "f l am intruding," 1t was t
S" voice of Hardin.
r. Come right in," welcomed Rickal
K "Get along, senora." The Maldona
70. slipped out into the night, her ha
still against her heart.
1T Hardin, u roll of maps under
arm, entered with a rough sneer
rs his face. A dramatic scene, that,
as had interrupted And Rickard, W
te did not like to have women in can
be White womenl
IN Rickord. still sleepy, asked him
sit down.
No "T wanted IN Snoolx IN vOu ahr