The Raymer enterprise., 1919-07-03

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| here. isn't IT." She flashed at him the
look he remembered SO wildly. the
childish coquettish appeal. "We dine
ut home. till 1t becomes tiresome. and
then we come foraging for variety. But
you must come to Us, say Thursday. Is
that right for your We should love Il"
Still those two averted faces. Rick
ard said Thursday. as he was hidden,
and got back to his table. wondering
why In thunder he had let Marshall per
suade him to take this job.
Hardin waited a scant minute to pro-
test: "What possessed you to ask him
to dinnerT
"Why shouldn't l? He 10 an old
friend" Gerty caught glance of ap-
peal. from sister to brother. "JealousT'
she pouted charmIngly at her lord.
Jealous. mol" bluffed Hardin.
He thought then that she knew. that
Inbes had told her. The Lawrence cpl.
sode held no sting to him. Once, II
had enchanted him that he had carried
OF the clearinghouse belle. whom even
that bookman had found desirable
bookn,an! A superior dudel He had
always had those grand airs. As II II
were not more to a mans credit to
struggle for his education, even II he
were older than his class. or his teach
er, than to accept It of silver plates.
handed by lackeys7 Rlckard had al
ways acted as II 1t had been something
to be ashamed Of. 1t made him sick.
'They've done 1t this time. It's q
fool choice"
Again. that look Of pleading from In
nes. Gerty had shiver Of intuition.
"Fool choicei" Her voice was omi.
nously calm.
Hardin shook of Innes' eyes. Better
be done with It'll Hes the new gen.
eral manager"
Hes the general manageri"
"I'm to take orders from him"
Gerty's silence was OF the stunned
variety. The Hardins watched her
crumbllng bread on the tablecloth.
thinking, fearfully. that she was going
to cry.
"Didn't I tell your" Her voice. re-
pressed. carried the threat Of tears.
Didn't | tell you how 1t would bel
Didn't say that you'd be sorry II you
called the railroad int"
Must we go over this againi" asked
her husband.
"Why didn't you tell me? Why did
you let me make a goose Of myselfT
She was remembering that there had
been no protest. no surprise from In
mes. She knew! A family secret!
She shrugged. I'm glad. on the whole.
that you planned 1t AS surprise. For
carried 1t OF as II we'd not been In
suited. dlsgraced."
"Gertyl" expostulnted Hardin.
"Gertyi" implored Innes.
"And We are In for nice friendly
dinnerl"
Are you quite finishedi" Hardin
got up.
As the three passed out Of the dining
room, Richard caught their several ex-
pressions: Hardin's stiff, Indifferent !;
Gerty's brilliant but hard. as she
flashed finished. brave little smile In
his direction. The sisters bow was
distinctly naughty.
In the hall. Gerty's laugh rlppled
out. 1t was the laugh Rlckard remem-
bered. the light frivolous cadence
which recalled the flamboyant pattern
of the Holmes parlor carpet, the long.
crowded dining table where Gerty had
reigned. II told him that she was In
different to his coming, as she meant
II should. And ii turned him back to
dark corner in the honeysuckle-
draped porch where he had spent so
many evenings with her, where once
he had held her hand. where he told
her that he loved her. For he had
loved her. or at least he thought he
had And had run away from her ex-
peetant eyes. A cad, was he. because
he had brought that waiting look into
her eyes, and had run from 1t?
Should man ask woman TO give
her life into his keeping until he Is
quite sure that he wants It? He was
reyamping his worn defense. Should
he live up to minute of surrender. of
tenderness. II the next instant brings
sanity, and disillusionment? He could
bury now forever self-reproach. He
could laugh ut his own vanity. Gerty
Hardin. 1t was easy to see. had forgot
ten what he had whispered to Gerty
Holmes. They met as sober old
friends. That ghost was laid.
CHAPTER