The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-06-12

haven't WEI Why shouldn't we be COM
Portable when we are to be here for
months1 I'm going TO brave It QUITO
the bitter end. even II bake. II Is my
duty" She would make her intention
perfectly clearl "There ought to be at
least one coy place, one soft nook
that suggests q woman's presence. We
have tea here In the afternoon. some
times. Mr.. Rickard drops In" The
last ,sas delicate stroke.
Afternoon tea7 At the 'FRONT.' Is
this modern warfare2" The girl draped
her irony with a smile.
Gerty was stealing q pleased survey
In the mirror through .Ge 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 OF, She looked younger even
than lnnesi Good tumor returned to
her.
1--WE are going to dine on the Delta
tonight" She pinned up q 'scolding
lock-" IN ugly misnomer for her sunny
cllnging curlsi The mirror was re-'L
sitioned agnin. "That's the name o,
the new dredge. 1t was christened
three weeks ago. In champagne
brought from Yuma"
"You said dine on the Delta. 10 you
mean they have meals therc2"
"You should see It." cooed Gerty.
TITS simply elegant It's a floating
hotel. has every convenience. rhc
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 80 hot" shrugged
Mrs. Hardin.
"Ill look like your maid, Gerty |" In
ncs' exclamation was rueful II didn't
bring anything but khakis. Oh, yesi I
remember throwing in. the last minute.
two piques to fll up space"
"Why. We have dances on the Delta,
and Sunday evening concerts. You
knew the work at Laguna dam IL being
held upi 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.
n thought as much" Gerty shrugged
an airy irresponsibility. Innes could
detect no regret.
They passed a cot outside the tent.
WHO sleeps there7"
"Tom." The eyes Of the two women
did not meet.
lnnes made no comment.
.He flnds 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
rnmada. Isn't II quaint7 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 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
Toms sister. Boys. she had to con.
cede, the younger men, might hnd her
attractive, boyishly congenial: older
men would fail to see a charmi
The arrangement at table annoyed
Gerty. The boss. MacLean explained
gnily, 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. tits play II
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 amigos" throb.
bing from dark corner. made the H.
lusion OF peace convincing. This was
no battle. II was easy to believe her.
self again ut Mare island-the Delta a
cruiser.
Later, Gerty passed her. two-step.
ping div!nely. Before her partner
turned his head. Innes recognized the
stiff back and straight poised head and
dancing step Of Rickard. She admit.
ted he had distinction, grudgingly. She
could not think Of him except compare.
lively; always antithetically, balanced
against her Tom.
I'm tired; let's rest here" Innes
drew into the shadow OF the great arm
Of the dredge. They watched the
dancers as they passed. MacLean play
ing the woman in "Pete's" arms, Gerty
with Rickard. two other masculine cou
Piles. The Hardins were the only WON
en- aboard.
1t was because of r ,m that Innes
felt resentment whon the uplifted ap
pealing chin. the lace rufiles flutteret