The Elbert County tribune., 1919-04-25
Pink was too hot, blue too definite. a
paraSol Of pastel green. and she looked
ike . sprig Of fragrant m!gnonette.

Pink was too hot, blue too definite. q
paraSol Of pastel green. and she looked
like = sprig Of fragrant mignonette.
She found the open space Of the
trapezIum swnrniing with strange
dark faces. SO silent their coming she
had not heard the arrival Of the tribes.
She isolated the Cocopahs. stately az
bronze statues. their long hair stream
ing. or wound mud-caked under the
brilliant headcloths. Foregatherina
with them were men of other tribes
these must be the Yumas and Degui.
nos. the men needed on the river.
These we're the men who we're 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 Pr
mas and Maricopas, Papngoes, too:
she knew them collectively by their
shozt 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 womaa
was there. She caught an impnssioned
gesture. Her only surmise rested on
Innes. Gerty saw that she was dark
she looked the halfbreed. The brown
woman drew back as the white woman
entered. Gerty umiled an airy reas-
surance. She herself would wait She
did not want to be hurried. She told
Richard that she had plenty of time.
There is something you want to tell
me2" Richards patience was cour-
teous but firm. He would hear her err
rand first. Gerty. remembering the
imploring attitude of the stranger, de-
termlned that she would not be sent
away.
'wili you excuse me. senorn7 II
will be only minute"
She was to tell her errand. and
briefly Gerty swept past the intruder.
"Sit down, Mrs. Hardin"
Resentlng the infection. she said
she would stand. Her voice was n
little hard. her eyes were yelled, Us
she told her mission. Her usual flu.
ency dragged; she felt lack of sym.
p"thJs ~ Sioit, sHt PiuDphtu u COH-
missary department. herself In charge.
I'D like to feel l was of some use."
urged Gerty. MY heart Is bound up
In this undertaking. II I'm allowed to
stay. I'd like to help along. This Is
the only way l can, the womans way"
aren't you taking n good deal on
yourself. Mrs. Hnrdni"
Then she forgave his hesitation
quite, as 1t was of her he was think.
ing. Not If 1t helps" Her voice wns
low and soft. as IL this were 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
new significance In MacLean's absence
from the rnmada. What could that
woman have to say that MacLeau
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 plquant
situation. Themselves old sweethearts
thrown together In this wilderness
What had she built her hopes on7
word here, translated phrase, OF
magnifed glance. She would not har
Dor the new worry. Why. 1t would bs
all right. In the meantime she would
show them all what woman with
executive ability could do.
"Sit down, senora." said Ricknrd to
the brown woman, Maldonado's wife
Don't be frightened. We won't lei
him hurt you" Rlckard vulgarized
his Castilian to the reach of her rude
dialect. Familiar as was Rickard with
the poems speech In their own coun.
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