The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1919-03-28

$3.50
this last moment. She wanted to
prolong the conversation-had the
guests all come? Were they really
going? Then she must be getting old.
for a night like this dismayed her!
F Gerty felt her goodnight vas rudely
abrupt. But was she to stand there
Cabling all night, her guests wait
ing?
She prayed that Richard would be
there when slAe returned. What a
travesty il the guest of honor should
disappoint her! Though he was not
among the different groups. her con-
fldence in his punctiilousness cas-
sured her. She must hold them a lit
tie longer. She fitted gaily from one
standing group to another. Her eyes
constantly questioned the clock.
slow long are you going to wait
for Mrs. Hatfeld?" Her husband
came up, protesting.
"Mrs. Hatfield she explained dis
family. 'is not coming. We are wait
ing for Mr.. Richard"
"He didn't come in on that train:
he's at the Heading" Hardin added
something about trouble at the intake.
but Gerty did not heed. Tom had
known and had not told her when
there was yet time to call 1t of!
"A pretty time to tell mel" Had
he been looking at her. he would have
been left no illusions. Her blue eyes
flashed hate.
Il did not know 1t until we got
here. There was q message from Mac
Lean at the desk, waiting"
MacLean was not there, either!
1--WE are all ready" she cried.
"Mrs. Hatfield and Mr.. Richard cannot
come" Not for worlds would she give
In to her desire to call the whole
grim affair OFF; let them think she
was disappointed, not she. Though
the world blew away, she would go.
She found. herself distributing slips
Of mangled quotations. The white
slips vent to the women: the green
bits Of pasteboard to the men. She
held q certain green card in her
glove: Leads on to fortune" Rick
ard might come dashing in ut the last
moment, the ideal mans way: q spe-
cial, perhaps; it did not seem credible
that he would deliberately stay away
without sending her word.
In a burst of laughter, the COM
pany discovered then that the guest
Of honor was also absent. Mrs.
Hardin hurried them out to the wait
ing buggies.
Drearily, they drove down the n.y.
ing street. The wind was at their
backs, but It tore at their hats, pulled
at their tempers. Their eyes were
full of street dust.
A flash of light as they were leav-
ing town frightened the thick dust
clouds. "What was thatY" cried Gerty.
She was ready for any calamity now.
mot ~lightning?" Again, the Queer
light flashed across the obscured sky.
Tom reused himself to grOwl that he
hadn't seen anything. And the dreary
farce went on.
Innes' partner was young Sutclife,
The English zanjero. He was in the
Q~uicksand OF a comparison between
English and American women. Innes
mischievously coaxing him into deeper
waters, when there was a blockade
Of buggies ahead Of them.
'"The A B G RANCH" cried lines,
peering through the veil Of dust at
the queer unreal outlines Of fences
and trees. Its our first stop"
"Oh, l say. that's too bad" began
Sutcliffe. Innes was already on the
road, her skirts whipped by the wind
into clinging drapery.
Gerty's party found itself disorgan-
lied. Partners were trying to find
or lose each other. "Get in here -
Innes heard the voice Of Estrada be-
hind her. He had a top buggy. She
hailed q refuge.
splendid" she cried. "What D
relief" Climbing In, she said: II
hope this isn't upsetting Gerty's ar-
r~angement."
Arrangement Look at them I"
The women were Fastening out Of the
dust swirl into any haven that Of
Tered. With little screams OF dismay,
they ran like rabbits to cover.
0C4ly AOOu0 0Ck0SJA Will ok1U0s AT
the next stop there raj . block Of
buggies. mo use changing again =
She acknowledged herself beaten.
Lets 80 on. What are they stopping
fort" Dismal farce Il Ill wasi
She was pushing hack her disheart.
ened curls when the best Of horses
hoofs back Of them brought the blood
back into her. wind-chIlled cheeks.
"Rscka4dl" she thought sHs must
have come In ! specialfs Tho gloom'
suddenly disgorsed. AacIean.
s.:HaldDnis .Whers 10 her
"Whlt:A up1' yelled Blian. - It
the Iivag7'' 4aGLean's face answered.
him. His sench ssopgsd asalh-+Go9.
Almighty T q 49,. i. ].
The rfseri'' AcfesmedSftls women
The men were Agfgoundlne NacLean.
whose horse wa s:prdncins a. lf with
I tie: im~Doffance OF having carried <.