The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1919-05-09

dnAIOuSfy iIedSuEtu. A0GEtNSSd. tllTu
steam shovel had been added the rail-
road sent in several work trains fully
equipped for service; attracted by the
excitement. the hoboes were commenc-
ing TO come in.
1t was a battle Of big numbers.
duel of great force where time was
the umpire. Any minute hot weather
might fall on those snowy peaks up
yonder. and the released waters. rush
ing down, would tear out the defenses
as a wave breaks over a child's fort
made of sand. This was race. and
all knew ii. \ regular train dispatch
system was in force that the inrushing
cars might drop their burden of rock
and gravel and be off after more. The
Dragon was being fed rude meals. its
appetite whetted by the glut of pour
ing rock.
Tod Marshall came down from Tue
son in his car. The coming of the
Palmyra and Claudia rippled the so
cial waters At the front for days
ahead. Gerty Hardin. too proud 70
tell her astonished family that she
wanted to desert the mess tent. shook
all her lingerie gowns. Mrs. Marshall
was not going to patronize her, even
If her husband had snubbed Tom. 1t
was hot, ironing in her tent, the doors
closed Everything carried a sting
those indoor hours. She WAS af1ame
with hot vanity. Twice she had
openly encouraged Richard: twice. he
had fiouted her. That was his kind!
Men who prefer MeXicans-! She
would never forgive him. never!
She followed devious channels to in
volve Toms responsibility There was
cahal against the wife of Hardin.
Working like a servant she called 1t
necessity. Everything, every one pun
iShed her for that one act of folly.
Life had caught her. She saw no way.
as she ironed her null ruffles, no way
out of her cage. Her spirit beat wild
wings against her bars. III she could
see a way out! Nothing TO do but to
stay with Tom!
Maddening. too. that at the mess
table, she caught Richards eyes turning
toward, resting on, Innes Hardin. The
girl herself did not seem TO notice
artful. subterranean. such stalking !
That was why she had come running
back TO the Heading That the reason
of her anger when she had limited of
the MaIdonado. She learned to hate
Innes. Bitterly she hated Richard.
Tom" she said one day. He
turned with a swift thrill of eXpecta-
ton. for her voice sounded kind; like
the Gerty of old. Il have always
heard that Mr. Marshall has terribly
strict ideas. l think he ought to hear
Of that Mexican woman. It is demon
alizing in a camp like this"
4 tell Marshall anything against his
pet clerk?" The Hardin lip shot out.
He'd throw me out of the company"
The pretty scene was spoiled. To
his dismay. she burst into a storm of
tears, tears of self-pity. Her life lay
in tatters at her feet. the pretty fabric
rent. torn between the rude handling
of those two men. She could not have
reasoned out her injury, made it con
vincing built ont Of dreams as it was,
tsaartless. scheming dreams. Because
see gould not tell it, her sObbing was
the mora violent. her complaints inco-
herent. Tor. gathered enough frag-
ments TO pc the old story.
Ashamed of him He had dragged
her down into rs humiliation" His
sweet moment had passed
He spent few futile moments try
ing to comfort her.
Don't come near me-" It burst
from her; a cry of revulsion. He
stared at her, the woman meeting his
eyes In flushed defiance. The hatred
which lie saw. her bitterness, c0rroded
his pride. scorci.ed his self-loye. Moth
ing would xii his love for her; he
knew tha5 in that blacklist of mo-
ments. He would never forget that
look of dread, of hate He left her
tent.
That night. the cot under the stars
had no tenant. Hardin had it out
with himself down the leyee.
That valley might fulfil Estrada's
vision and his labor; might yield the
harvest of happy homes; but his was
not there. He had been the sacrifice.