The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1919-05-08

Gerty teasing Tom to wear his Tux
edo.
isn't one dude enough for your
gr0wled her surly lord. Innes recog-
nized the mood and shrank from the
ordeal ahead. II was the mood of
the Hardin in the rough. the son of
his frontier mother. the fruit OF old
Jasper Gingy. whose smithy had been
the rendezvous for the widest roughs,
the fiercest cattlemen In Missouri.
"Pd let him e you knew what's
what. ven II w do live like gipsies."
The answer to that was another
growi. Innes could hear him dragging
out the process, grumbling over each
detail. That COMPOUNDED laundry had
torn his shirt. He hadn't n decent
collar to his name. Where was his
black string tie3 If Cert would keep
his things In the lowest drawers Hang
that buttonl Gerty emerged from the
encounter, her face very red. Innes
could see her biting her lips to keep
the tears back as she put the last
touches to the table.
"She's tired out" thought the sister
OF Tom Hardin. "Shc's probably
fused herself to death over this din
ner."
A few minutes later Richard ar
| rived in a sack suit of tweeds. Gerty's
greeting was a little distracted. How
! could she make Innes understand to
tell Tom to change his coat7 The
duty OF a host, she suddenly remem'
bered. was to dress down rather than
up to the chances of his guest. She
regretted bitterly her insistence. Wa
ever anyone so obtuse as Innesf Mr.
Richard would see that they though,
1t a big event. She was watching the
curtain where Tom would emerge
And his coat was a style Of several
seasons ago and absurdly Tight She
made an unintelligible excuse ant
darted behind the p%ortiere.
Toms face was a%poplectic. He wa
wrestling with a mussed tie: the col
lar showed a desperate struggle
Gerry made wild signals for him t.
change his clothes. She waved
hand indicating Richard: she pointet
TO Toms sack suit lying on the Zoo
where he had walked out Of IL
what Is II all aboutf"
"Ssh." whispered his wife. Agaii
the wild gestures.
swell. aren't you satlshedf Don
] look like q guyr
He could be heard distinctly In tn
next room. Gerty gave 1t up In de
SPAR. She dabbed some more powde
on her nose and went out locking iik'
q martyr-a very pretty martyri
Richard praised the miracles of tn
tent. Gerty's soft flush reminded In
mes Of their old relation. Exit lines.
she was thinking. when Tom. red an
persplring. brought another elemen
OF discomfort into the room.
Gerry ushered them Immediately I
the table. She covered the nrst mir
utes which, might be awkward wit
her small chatter. Somewhere sh
had read that 1t was not well to max
apologies for lack Of maid or fare
Besides Mr.. Richard remembers
Lawrencei That dreadful dinin
room. the ever-set tablet How Oh
had hated II. though she had nc
known how fearful It was until sh
had escaped.
I'VE are simple folk here. Mr.. Ricl
ard abe announced, as they too
their places around the pretty table
That was her only aliusion to dencier
cics, but it covered her noiseless now
ments around the board betwee
courses. flled up the gaps when Oh
made necessary dives Into kitchen q
primitive leo chest. and Get the he
for the homeliness Of the meal itsel
The dinner was . triumph Of apparer
simplicity. Only lnnes could gurs
the time consumed In the perfecto
OF detail. details dear to the hostess
heart. The almonds she had blanchet
OF course. herself; had dipped an
saIted them. The cheese straws wer
her own. She did not make the nit
take OF stringing out ezdless courses
An improvised bufFet near ct han
made the serving Z triumph.
Esckard praised each dish; opsnl
ne was admirfng her achievement
mnes. remembering the story Cert
had told her In dots and dasheA. tn
story of the cd Rivalry glanced co.