The L'Anse sentinel., 1919-04-18
CHAPTER x-continued.

s..
She didn't need to pierce those cam
vas walls to know that there had
been foverish activity for this dinner.
A new gown would appear tonight,
made secretly. An exquisite meal,
and no one must comment on it's elab-
Grafton. Twice Tom and she had
been asked to take their lunch at the
hotel. Because of headachel" A
hcadachc!
Toms wife could not even shop
openly! Bundles had always the air
Of mystery, never opened before Tom
or herself. She must have yards of
stuff laid away, kept for sudden emer-
gcncies. 4
"She can't help II. It's her disposi-
tion. She can't help being secretive.
Look Mt your face. Innes Hardin J"
What was 1t to her, the pettiness Of
a woman whom an accident OF life had
swept upon the beach beside her?
Gerty was not her kind, not the sort
she would pick out for friend. She
was an oriental, one of the harem
please one man, to keep his home soft.
his comforts ready, keep him con-
vinced, moreover, that it is the desire
OF his life to support her. Herself dis
satisfied, often rebellious, staying by
him for self-interest, not for love-ah,
that was her impeachment. mot low
mgr
Soberly she covered her plain bras
Sicre with a white waist Of cotton
'ducking. A red leather belt and GRIM
son tie she added sclf-consciously.
"Where is my bloodstone pin"
Hadn't she spent an hour ut least
matching that particular leather belt?
But he was man, in battle. The
lhcadgate held up; 1t was too bad.
silent, Bodefeldt. Wooster. Grant, all
of them fighting mad because of the
deadlock at the Heading. All up In
arms, ut last, against Marshall. be-
cause Of this cruel cut to their hero,
Hardin. Her eyes glowed like yellow
lamps as she recalled their fervid par
tisanship.
"Only one man who can save the
valley, and that's Tom Hardin" Woos.
ter had said that; but they all be-
iieved 1t. The loyalty Of the force
made her ashamed Of her soft woman
fears. For there were times when
she questioned her brothers ability
He had large. loose way Of handling
things. He was too optimistic. But
those men, those engineers must know.
1t was probably the mans way OF
sweeping ahead, ignoring detail. The
verdict Of those field-tried men told
her that the other. the careful. plan
ming way, was the Office method. Rick
ard. as a dinner neighbor, she had
found interesting; but for great UNI
dertakings q man who would let O
Gerty Holmes jilt him, ruin his life
for him The whole story sprang al
last clear from the dropped innuendos
She adjusted barrettc In her
smoothly brushed hair. Slowly she
walked over to the neighboring tent
Gerty frowned at the white duck
"You might mt least have worn your
bIucr'
you're elegant enough for the two
OF us. Isn't that something new?"
Gerty said carelessly that she had
had ii for long time. For she had
had the material long timel II
wasn't necessary to explain to hei
husbands sister that II had been
made up that week. She hoped that
abe didn't look "fussed up" Would
Mr.. Ricknrd think she was attaching
any Importance to the simple little
visit? For II wnE nothing to him, OF
course. A man of his standing, whom
the great Tod Marshall ranked so
high, probably dincd out several times
each week. with white-cnpped maids
and canGelabral II Tom had only
made the most OF his opportunities.
What a gamble. life to woman!
She made trip into her bedroom
ard took reassuring survey In her
knlrror. The lingerie frock would looi;
simple 10 man who would never
Suspect II Of handmade dupliolty.
acr glass declared the hnnd-whipped
mcdalIlons casual and elegant. And
q long. time ngo, lifetime ago. Rick
ard had told her that she always
Nhouid wear blnc. becnuse Of her Eyes
vines hom tes hext room cou.d hes,