The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1919-10-11

uh tihie Inhkee trouble. Sh
; clazy. She think woman vellee fin
COOK. She show Ling cookee plunes
Ieachee Ling cookee plunesi n
, stay that woman" Unutterable final
lty In the leathern face. Richard an,
MacLean. Jr., exchanged glance
which deepened from concern int
perplexity. They could not afford t.
lose Ling. And offend Mrs. Hardin
the camp already Hsrdinesque7
Richard grew placating. He spen
half hour wheedling. They met n
the starting place. Ling go tamale.
'Oh, Lord" groaned the manager
captivating. "All right. Ling"
| With the dignity of an orlentn
prince, Ling battered out Of the tent
Rickard was puckering his lips at hi.
secretary. I'D rather take casio,
OIL"
A half hour later. MacLean saw hi.
chief leave his tent. He was In fresh
linens.
wouldn't swap places with him
this minutel She'll be as mad as a
wet hen I"
Mrs. Hardin, from her bed by her
screen window, saw him coming. She
slipped Into semlnegligee Of alter.
nate rows of lace and swiss construct
ed for such possible emergencies. She
| dld not make the mistake Of smooth
Ing her hair; her instinct told her
that the fluffy disorder bore out the
use OF the negligee. She was sew
Ing In her ramada when Richards
knock sounded on the screen door.
Despite his protests she started wa
ter boiling In her chatting dish. He
had not time for ten. he declared, but
she insisted on making this call Of a
social nature. She opened box of
sugar waters, her zeal that Of child
with q toy kitchen; she was playing
dolls house.
Richard made several openings for
his errand, but her wits sped like
a gopher from his labored digging
She met his mood with womanly dig
nifty; she tutored her coquetries, with
held her archness.
He found he would have to discard
diplomacy. blurt out his message; use
bludgeons for this scampering agility.
MY mission Is little awkward,
Mrs. Hardin. hope you will take Il
oil right, that you will not be Of
Tended"
"Offendcd7" Her face showed
alarm.
IT'S about Ling. He's queer fell
low; they all are, you know" He
was laundering like schoolboy I'M
der the growing shadow In Gerty's
blue eyes. "They resent authority
that is, from women. He Is a tyrant.
Ling is.''
"Yesf' All. she would not help him.
Let him fiounderi
HE wants to be let alone; he
doesn't appreciate your kind help,
Mrs. Hardin
"Ohi" Her eyes were hot with
tears. She could not
speak or would not. She sat in her
spoiled dolls house. all her pleasure
In her toy dishes. her pretty finery,
He could not care IL he could
humiliate her 30. It was the most
vivid moment Of her life. Not even
when Richard had left her. with his |
kisses still warm on her lips. had she |
,elt so outraged. He was treating her |
- though she were servant--dis-
,harging her--because she was the |
wife Of Hardin. Her eyes grew black /
With anger; she hated them both; be-
ween them, their jealousy, their RI
'alry, what had they made Of her life7 /
The remembered the woman she had
een In his ramada; she had heard
hat the Mexican was In camp, en-
'loyed By Richard. Her thoughts were
Ike swarming hornets.
He's an ungrateful beast, Mrs.
Hardin. told him would not let
on waste your kindness one instant
Oh, she understood A bitter pleas
re to see him 30 confused. Richard,
efore whose superior appraisement
he had so often wiltedi She would
OF help him out, neverl She rose
hen he paused. He thanked her for
,eeting him half way, and her smile
,as inscrutable.
$50 I'm dischargedT' II
"You can't be discharged II you've
ever been employed, can youf Thank
on once again. and for your tea. It
a. delicious. I wish Ling would give /,
, tea like that" II
Boorish, ali Of II. and laundering |
my wouldn't he GOT When he had
urt her sol had hurt her sol |,
Her hand met his. but not her eyes. /,
he did not 60 quickly something
ould happen; he would see her cry I
e. The angels that guard blunderers
II Richard out Of the tent without 1
suspicion Of threatening tears. She 4
rev on her negligee and the pale '
ne slip; the tears must wait for 4
at Then she flung herself on her
"a and shook It with the grief Of /
ounded vanity.
That evening the chief had visi- a
1. The wife Of Maldonado, some Of
q fear pressed out Of her eyes. q
ought In his Numbered khakis,
cks, darned and matched; all the |.
lssing buttons replaced. +
II haven't worn matched SOCK"
told her, ''for months. That's great, d
nora.'' a
a A. 4. As~A - a. L a