The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-06-12

ard, she was the only woman there
Because she was Toms sister, she had
right to resent It, to refuse to meet
his eye. Small wonder Tom did not
come to the Deltai
Going In with MacLean, Jr.. to the
messroom fer glass Of water. she met
Rickard, on his way out. She man
aged TO avoid shaking hands with him.
She wondered why she had consented
to give him the next waltz.
Hell not find ir..r f,;,e determined.
MacI.ean followed her gladly to tho
dark corner Of the deck where's Jose's
guitar was then syncopating an accom-
paniment to his amigos" voice.
To her surprise, Nicktrd penetrated
her curtain Of shadows.
Uur dance, Miss Hardinf Give Us
'SObr Las Olas,' agnin. Jose.-
The hand that barely touched his
arm was stifr with antngonism. She
told herself that he had to dance with
her-politeness, conventionality, de-
mandsd 1t. But, instantly, she forgot
her resentment. and forget their awk-
ward relation. 1t was ais dancing, not
Gerty's, then, that was superb" Any
body could find skill under the leader
ship Of that irresistible step. And then
the motion claimed her. She thought
Of nothing; they moved as one to the
liquid falling beat.
The music dropped them suddenly,
solating them at the stern Of the deck.
The silence was complete. Ricknrd
broke It to ask her what she thought Of
the camp.
Her Fesentments were recalled She
blundered through her impression Of
the lightness. the gayety.
"a work camp does not have to be
solemn. You'll find oil the grimness
you want II you look beneath the sur
face
The guitnrs were tuning up. "Shall
I take you back7 have this dance
with your sister,"
She thought Of Tom-on his lonely
cot outside his tent. She forgot that
she had been asked question. He
was dancing again with Gertyl II that
silly little woman had no scruples, no
fine feeling. this man should at least
guard her. II he had been her lover.
he should be careful; he must see that
people were talking Of them. She had
seen the glances that EVENING" The
business relation between the two men
should suggest tact II not decencyi II
was outrageous
Rickard stood waiting to be dis
missed; puzzled Through the uncer'
tain light, her anger came to him She
looked taller. older; there was fame
Of accusing passion In her eyes
1t was his minute of revelation. So
that was what the camp thought The
wife Of Hardln-Hardinl Why, he'd
been only polite TO her--they were old
friends. What had he said to call down
this sudden scornf "Dancing-again-"
Had he been oil kinds of an ass2
my turn. Miss Innes!" demanded
MacI.ean, Jr.
"Oh. yes" she cried. relief In her
tone.
Rickard did not claim his dance
with Mrs. Hardin. He stood where
the girl had left him, thinking. A few
minutes later. Gerty swept by In the
arms Of Breck. Later. came Innes
with Junior; the two, thinking them
selves unseen, romping through q two
step like two young children. He was
never shown that side of her. Gay al
a young kitten, chatting merrily with
MacLeani Should her eyes discover
him, she would be again the naughty
young wOmanl
He'd gone out Of his way to be po-
lite to the wife Of Hardin. What did
he care what they thought He'd fn-
ish his Job, and get out.
A minute later. he was being rowed
back to camp.