Cheyenne record., 1919-09-11

| nuVen { WeF why SnOulunt we De COM
Portable when we are to be here for
months? I'm going to brave 1t QUITO
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 a delicate stroke.
Afternoon tea? At the 'FRONT.' Is
this modern warfare?" The girl draped
her irony with a smile.
| Gerty was stealing q 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. "Thats the name of
the new dredge. 1t was christened
three weeks ago. In champagne
brought from Yuma"
"You said dine on the Delta. Do you
mean they have meals there?"
You should see It," cooed Gerty.
'It's simply elegant. It's floating
hotel. has every convenience. The
camp cook. Ling, has his hands full"
| al,
standing now by the door of Gerty's
dressing tent. Over the bed white
lingerie gown was spread.
81 live in them. It's so hot" shrugged
Mrs. Hardin.
"Ill look like your maid. Gerty!" In
nes' exclamation was rueful. II didn't
bring anything but khakis. Oh. yes
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 ull
the time. But It's time to be getting
rendy."
Later. Tom fatty refused to accom-
pany them.
81 thought as much" Gerty shrugged
an airy irresponsibility. Innes could
detect no regret.
They passed cot outside the tent.
"Who sleeps thereT"
"Tom." The eyes of the two women
did not meet.
| Innes 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 vivncity.
That's Mr.. Richards office, that
ramadn. 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 blow. And she had never con-
sidered Toms sister attractive, as a
possible rival. Yet after a hnndshake,
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 find her
attractive. boyishly congenial; older
men would fail to see charml
The arrangement at table annoyed
Gerty. The boss. MucLenn 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 battle" Innes looked
around the gay rectnngle. IT'S 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 amigos" throb-
bling from dark corner. made the H.
luSion Of peace convincing. This was
no battle. 1t 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
stiff back and straight poised head and
aautilS SteD VI ItlChdTu DIV uuiuiA-
| ted he had distinction. grudgingly. She
| could not think Of him except comparp-
| lively: always antithetIcally. balanced
| against her Tom.
"1m tired: let's rest here" Innss
drew into the shadow Of the great arm
Of the dredge. They watched the
dnn~11s as they passed. MacLean play
insf the woman in "Pete's" arms. Gerty
with Rlckard. two other masculine cor
pies. The Hardlns were the only wom-
en- aboard.
1t was because of Tom that 1nnes
felt resentment when the uplifted ap-
pealing chin, the lace ruffleS f1uttered