The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-03-01

gesture. Her only SurmlSe rested on Innes. 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 me?' 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.
 "Win you excuse me, sonora? It 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 said she would stand. Her voice was a little hard, her eyes were yelled, as she told her mission. Her usual flu ency dragged; she felt a lack of sym pathy. In short, she proposed a com missary department, herself in charge. 'Td like to feel was of some use" urged Gerty. My heart is bound up
 
 stay. I'd like to help along. This is the only way I can, the woman's way" Aren't you taking a good deal on yourself, Mrs. Hardin?"
 Then she f6rgave his hesitation quite, as it was of her he was think ing. Not if 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, "The e.camp's yours as much as mine."
 A glad smile rewarded him. She went out, reluctantly. There was a new significance in MacLean's absence from the ramada. What could that woman have to say that MacLean must not hear? For the first time the weak tenure on her old lover came to her. Not a 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 on? A word here, a translated phrase, or magnified glance. She would not har- IF the new worry. Why, it would be
 right. In the meantime she would
 w them all what a woman with
 cutive ability could do.
 Sit down, senora," said Rickard to
 brown woman, Mathematics wife.
 mt be frightened. We won't let
 hurt you'' Rickard vulgarized
 Castilian to the reach of her rude
 feet. Familiar as was Rickard with .e peons' speech in their own coun- try, he could not keep up with her T story. Lurid words ran past his ears. Out of the tumble of abuse, of shame and misery he caught a new note.
 You say MaIdonado himself sells liquor to the Indians?'
 "Ssh, senor 7" Someone might hear him. She looked over a terrified shoulder. That had slipped out, the selling of the liquor. She could have told her story without that; she want ed to deny it. ReIentlessly Rickard made her repeat it, acknowledging the truth.
 What makes you tell me now? ?'' Rickard hunted for the ulcer. He knew there was a personal wrong. 'What has Maldonado been doing to you? Has heNleft you?"
 The veil of fear was torn from her eyes. The trembling woman was gone, a vengeful wildcat in her place. Left me. Maldonado? Left his home, where he traps the Indian with one coin in his pockets? No, senor. He brought her to our home there; Lupe. the wife of Felipe, the Deguino. l told him not to fool with Felipe; the Indian was dangerous; he had hot blood. MaldOnado struck me-he kicked me-he said I was jealous and hit me again.
 "MaIdonado told me to get a big meal. I told him that it was for Fe- lipe. When I said I would not cook for that treachery he cursed me, he kicked me again" She threw off the reboso, dragging her dress loose Don't" frowned Rickard. He had seen a welt across her shoulder-a screaming line of pain.
 She wound the reboso around the dishonored shoulder. q cooked his dinnerl There was a lot of liquor Felipe was drunk; the tequila made him mad, quite mad. He seemed to know something was wrong; he fought as Maldonado dragged him to the cell the senor remembers the cell? The next day MaldOnadO sent for two ru- raIes. They started the next day for Ensenada, taking Felipe; that day Maldonado brought Lupe home. said she could not stay and he laughed in my face, senor. He put me outside the walls. I beat that gate until my fingers bled. I remem bered the kind face of the senor, and then I came here. You will help me senor?'
 Rickard shook his head. q shall have to look into this thing. If this is true it's prison for your husband You won't have to fear Lupe."
 "When he gets out he will kill me senor."