The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1919-03-21

poor sulky Achilles" she thought.
Dear, honest old bear!"
"Innes!" cried Mrs. Hardin.
She turned to find that the guest
was staring at her. She had not heard
his effort to include her in the con
versation.
mr.. Richard asked You II you like
1t here?"
'"Thank you-why. Of c~ourse!" Her
nnswer sounded pert to herself.
Her s~ister-in-law fastened to add
that Miss Hardin was very lonely. was
really all alone In the world: that they
insisted on her making her home with
them.
lines had with difficulty restrained
q denial. After all, what other home
had she? Still the truth had been de-
flected. She recalled the sacrifice 1t
had been to cut her college course in
order to make q home In the desert
for the brother who had always so
gently fathered her. who had helped
her invest her small capital that 1t
might spell q small income. She re-
called his resistance when she had
called in q mortgage who could watch
that mad scapegoat OF a river playing
FRANKS with desert homes and not
yearn to hello? Not a Hardin. She
still gloried in remembering that she
had at least driven M pile into that
rcbellious stream, even II when she
left the valley it would be as q bread
winner. She was prepared. She was
u good craftsman; she would 60 as
an apprentice In an architects Office.
She had already settled on the archi-
tect!
Are you going to Los Angeles
soon?" She heard the new manager
address his host.
I'm taking Ordersn
There was another awkward mo-
mcnt when Hardin pushed back his
plate declaring he had reached mis-
limit !: it was too big a spread fo1 him!
1t was the stupid rudeness Of the
small bad boy wen lnnes flushed for
her sistcr-tn-law.
With resolution Gerty assumed con-
troll of the conversation. Her role
sounded casual; NO one could have
suspected II of frequent rehearsal.
They must not talk Of the river; that
was taboo. Railroad matters we're
also excluded. Equally difficult
would be "reminiscences Of Lawrence
days. So she began brightly with Q
current book. The theater proved q
safe topic. and BY that natural route
they reached New York. 'Inncs. who
had never been farther east than CHI
cago. was grateful to play audience
Hardin. who knew his New York per-
haps better than either. refused to be
drawn into the gentle stream. !.
Things must be kept Sprightly. Had
Mr.. Richard me- many OF the valley
people? And It wns then tina. she
threw her bomb toward the listening.
silent Hardins. She would like Mr..
Richard to meet some Of their friends.
He,said TINT he would be delighted.
but that he was planning to leave
shortly for the Heading.
"Of course" She did not give her
husband time to speak. She meant
nfterward! She was planning to give
something q bit novel in his honor.
She refused to see the glare from the
angry man In his, outgrown dinner
coat. She did not glance toward the
sister. What did Mr.. Richard think
about . progressive rider
1T sounds very entertaining. but
what do you dol"
There was q loud guffaw from Tom.
With deepened color Gerry told her
idea. A drive. changing partners. SO
he could meet all the guests.
IT think 1t will surprise you to find
SO many nice people In here; It GER
tainly did me. One doesn't expect to
find congcnlnl people In q new country
like this"
Richard remembered that he had
to get back to his hotel. He had let
tiers to write. It had been q splendid
dinner! And what q wonderful home
she had made out Of q sand-baked lot.
out Of ! tent! He spoke Of the roses
and the morning gloriea His eyes
fell On the open piano. the reading
table with the current magazines
Now he couldn't understand why they
ever went to that hOtell
Gerty's eyes were shining A. deep
pools Of water on which the sun plays
She iooke0 almost infantile as she
stood -b4 the two tall men,. her head
pcrched birdlikc. ..Good-byl and ]
hope you1l come again ~.
OF course he'd come aGainI
@And y6u viii let me know 1hes
ron .Eeturn. 70 that ! may Get the date
for my partyf"
Innes did not ct his ANSWER. She
had been observing that be va mol
taller than her brother He looked
taller. He w1s lean, and Tom Wal
growipg stocky. She vGshed be would
not SLOUGH 20, bis hands In bis pock
ets! il Tucson, before she knew tina
she mnst dislike Richard. she had hat
an Impression Of virile distinction. o.
grace, d .snggeation Of mastered mus
rRoa IA hnA knnwn That ~ maa no,