The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-05-15

Gerty teasing Tom to wear his Tux
edo.
isn't one dude enough for you"
growled her surly lord. Innes recog-
nized the mood and shrank from the
ordeal ahead. 1t was the mood of
the Hardin In the rough. the son of
his frontier mother. the fruit of old
Jasper Gingg, whose smithy had been
the rendezvous for the widest roughs,
the fiercest cattlemen In Missouri.
"rd let him see you knew what's
what. even IL we do live like gipsies."
The answer to that was another
growl. Innes could hear him dragging
out the process. grumbling over each
detail. That confounded laundry had
torn his shirt. He hadn't a decent
collar to his name. Where was his
black string tie2 II Cert would keep
his things In the lowest drawer! Hang
that buttoni Gerty emerged from the
encounter. her face very red. Innes
could see her biting her lips to keep
the tears back as she put the last
touches to the table.
"She's tired out" thought the sister
of Tom Hardin. "She's probably
fused herself to death over this din
ner."
| A few minutes later Rlckard ar
rived In q sack suit of tweeds. Gerty's
greeting was little distracted. How
could she make Innes understand to
tell Tom to change his cootf The
duty of host. she suddenly remem-
bered, was to dress down rnther than
up to the chances, OF his guest. She
regretted bitterly her inslstence. Was
ever anyone so obtuse rs 1nnes2 Mr..
Richard would see that they thought
It big event. She was watching the
curtain where Tom would emerge.
And his coat was style Of several
seasons ago and absurdly tightl She
made an unintelligible excuse and
darted behind the portiere.
Toms face was apoplectlc. He was
wrestling with n mussed tie; the col
lar showed desperate struggle.
Gerty made wild signals for him to
change his clothes. She waved q
hand indicating Richard; she pointed
TO Toms sack suit lying on the flooi
where he had walked out of 1t.
"What is 1t all aboutf"
"Ssh," whispered his wife. Agalr
the wild gestures.
swell, aren't you satisfed2 Dom
look like n guy?"
He could be heard distinctly In TIL
next room. Gerty gave 1t up In de
I spalr. She dnbbed some more powde
, ON her nose and went out looking lik'
martyr-a very pretty martyr!
. Rlckard praised the miracles Of tn
: tent. Gerty's soft flush reminded In
, nes of their old relation. exit lnnes,
: she was thinking. when Tom. red an,
A persplring. brought another elemen
. of discomfort into the room.
I Gerty ushered them Immediately I
!. the table. She covered the first min
r utes which might be awkward. witt
0 her small chatter. Somewhere sh
!. had read that 1t was not well to max
!. apologies for lack Of maid or fare
r Besides Mr.. Rlckard remembers
i<aWituSt' 4uut uituutut Nhih
o room, the ever-set tablet How sh
had hated 1t, though she had no
a known how fearful 1t was until sh
q had escaped.
I "W'e are simple folk here, Mr.. Rick
r ard" she announced, as they too
n their places around the pretty tabl'
t That was her only allusion to deficier
4 cies. but II covered her noiseless NOV,
z ments around the board betwee
e courses. filed up the gaps when sh
4 made necessary dives into kitchen Q
n primitive ice chest. aud set the Ike
o for the LONELINESS OF the meal itsel
8 The dinner was triumph Of apparer
5 simplicity. Only Innes could CUES
y the time consumed In the perfectio
J. of detail. details dear to the hostess
heart. The almonds she had blanche,
n Of course. herself; had dipped an
r salted them. The cheese straws wer
her own. She did not make the mil
r take Of stringing out endless courses
/. An improvised buffet near at han
made the serving triumph.
d RIckard praised each dish; openl
: he was admiring her achieveu,en
? Innes. remembering tho story Qest