Gilpin observer., 1919-06-26

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the bitter end. even If bake. 1t is my
duty" She would make her Intention
perfectly clear! There ought to be at
least one cOzy place. one soft nook
that suggests woman's presence. We
have tea here in the afternoon, some
times. Mr.. Rickard drops in" The
last was delicate stroke.
Afternoon tea2 At the Front2 Is
this modern warfare?" The girl draped
her irony with a smile.
Gerty was stealing u pleased survey
in the mirror through the rough door
that opened into the division called
her bedroom. The sunburned, uncon-
scious profile of Innes was close to her
own. Pink and golden the head by the
dark one. She looked younger even
than Innesi Good humor returned to
her.
"We are going to dine on the Delta
tonight" She pinned up "scolding
lock-" an ugly misnomer for her sunny
clinging curls The mirror was requi-
sitioned again. That's the name of
the new dredge. 1t was christened
three weeks ago, in champagne
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"You said dine on the Delta. Do you
mean they have meals thereT
You should see it." cooed Gerty.
TITS simply elegant. It's floating
hotel. has every convenience. The
camp cook. Ling. has his hands full"
"Going to wear thatT They were
standing now by the door Of Gerty's
dressing tent. Over the bed a white
lingerie gown was spread.
II live in them. It's SO hot" shrugged
Mrs. Hardin.
"I1l look like your maid. Gerty I" In
nes' exclamation was rueful. II didn't
bring anything but khakis. Oh, yes I
remember throwing in, the last minute,
two piques to fill up space"
"Why. we have dances on the Delta,
and Sunday evening concerts. You
knew the work at Laguna dam is being
he'd up? The government men of the
Reclamation Service are down here all
the time. But it's time to be getting
ready"
Later, Tom fatty refused to accom-
pany them.
II thought as much" Gerty shrugged
an airy responsibility. Innes could
detect no regret.
They passed cot outside the tent.
"WhO sleeps there?"
'-Tom." The eyes of the two women
did not meet.
| 1nnes made no comment.
HE finds the tent stuffy." Gerty's
lips were prim with reserve. They
walked toward the river in silence. AS
they reached the encampment, Gerty
recovered her vivacity.
"That's Mr.. Richards office, that
ramada. Isn't 1t quaint? And that's
his tent; no, the other one. MacLean's
Is next; there's Junior. now"
But his eyes were too full of Innes to
see Gerty's dimples. The difference In
the quality of his greetings smote Gerty
like a blow. And she had never con-
sidered Toms sister attractive, as a
possible rival. Yet, after a handshake,
she saw that to MacLean, Jr., she did
not exist.
Gerty was deeply piqued. Until now,
the field had been hers. She might per-
haps have to change her opinion of
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cede, the younger men. might find her
attractive, boyishly congenial; older
men would fail to see charm!
The arrangement at table annoyed
Gerty. The boss. MacLean explained
gaily, would not be there for dinner.
He might come in later. Two men from
the Reclamation Service tried to enter
tain Mrs. Hardin.
ut isn't a battle" Innes looked
around the gay rectangle. Its play ~
The thought followed her that eve
ming. Outside, where the moonlight
was silvering the deck, and the quiet
river Tapped the sides of the dredge,
Jose's strings. and his ''amigo's" throb-
bing from a dark corner, made the H.
fusion Of peace convincing. This was
no battle. It was easy to believe her
self again ut Mare island-the Delta a
cruiser.
Later, Gerty passed her. two-step-
ping divinely. Before her partner
turned his head. Innes recognized the
stif back and straight poised head and
} dancing step Of Rickard. She admit.
ted he had distinction. grudgingly. She
could not mink or him except cumpnrp-
, lively; always antithetically. balanced
against her Tom.
I'm tired; let's rest here" Innss
drew into the shadow of the great arm
: OF the dredge. They watched the
danrnrs as they passed. MacLean play.
} ms she woman in "Pete's" arms. Gerty
with Richard, two other masculine cof
An 10 A.
I en- aboard
, 1t was because OF Tom that Innes
: teit resentment when the uplifted ap
pealing chin, the lace rufiles fiuttered
; by Tom, lying outside an unfriendly
8 tentl
1t was easy, in that uncertain light