The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-04-18

an inauspicious day for Mrs. Hardin's
visit Things had gone wrong. Vex-
ations were piling up. A tilt with Har-
din that morning, a telegram from
Marshall; he was feeling sore. Des-
perately they needed labor. Wooster
had just reported, venomously, 1t APP
peared to Richards spleen, increasing
drunkenness among the Indians.
Gerty's rufT1es swept in. Her dress,
the blue null with the lace medallions,
accented the hue of her eyes, and
looked delieiously cool that glaring
desert day. Her parasol, Of pongee,
was lined with the same baby hue.
Her dainty fairness and childish af-
liability should have made an oasis in
that strenuous day, but Richards dis
Indignation of temper was too COM
plete. He rose stifly to meet her, and
his manner demanded her errand.
She told it to him, plaintively. Her
eyes were appealing, infantiIe. Would
| 1t be too much TO ask, would Mr..
Richard mind in the least, he must be
perfectly frank and tell her if they
would be In the way at all, but while
this hot spell lasted, could they, the
three of them, eat in the mess tent
with the men?
Surely" Richard met it heartily,
She would find it rough, but If she
could stand it, yes, he thought it a
good idea.
And then there was nothing for hel
to do but go. Her retreat wac grace
full, without haste, dignitied. She
smiled a farewell at MacLean, who
was watching the approach of Innes
Hardin and Estrada. Richard did moi
| see the aborted entrance of Hardin:
sister and the young Mexican. Ht
was itching to be at his work.
He let out a growl when Mrs. Har
din was out of earshot.
"ShucksI What in Halifax do won
en- come to a place like this for
There's Hardin-brings in two womel
to cook for him, and now, please ma,
they all eat with the menu"
His secretary subdued a chucl1Ie
He was visualizing a procession 0
boxes of choice Havanas-frem Bode
feldt, HamIin and the rest of tn
gang. He need not buy a smoke 70
year.
Richard threw himself back in hi
chair. Take this letter, MacLean. T
Marshall" Then his worry diverte
him. "Who in thunder is selling liquo
to my Indians"
'Hold on; that letter can wait. 70
get the horses up, MacLean, and we
ride down to Maldonado's. It's hi
: place to stop this liquor business, ne
. mine"
A few hours later they were al
proaching the adobe walls of MaId'
/. nado. They found the gate locked.
> woman, whose beauty had faded int
, a tragic whisper, a CHASTITY twilight I
:. suggestion, came to their knock, an
unbarred the gate for the viii
strangers. Mystery hung over the il
closure like a pail.
e Richard told his errand. Maldonat
J, sputtered and swore. By the motht
$ of Mary the Virgin, that thing woul
be stopped. He showed to the senior
with pride, his badge. He was a r
q rale; he was there to uphold the LAY
It He had caught some Of those drunke
$ Indians on the road. He had brougl
a them here.
e Maldonado showed three men in
}, locked shed, deep in drunken stupC
He Thought fhe liouOr was obtoin,
e somewhere back in the sandhills. f
would find the place. But the sen
# must be patient; his hands were
: full.
Both men were glad to get aw,
v from the place and Maldonado. o
: viously he was a brute; undoubted
IS he was a liar.
# CHAPTER XIII.