The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-02-13

Huu uL ItdSL uTlfeu One plIe lnCO that rebellious stream, even if when she left the valley 1t would be as a bread winner. She was prepared. She was a good draftSman; she would go as an apprentice in an architects office. She had already settled on the archi- tect!
 Are you going to Los Angeles soon" She heard the new manager address his host.
 I'm taking orders."
 There was another awkward mo- ment when Hardin pushed back his plate declaring he had reached his limit; it was too big a spread for him It was the stupid rudeness of the small bad boy; even Innes flushed for her sister-tn-law.
 tro! of the conversation. Her role sounded casual; no one could have suspected 1t of frequent rehearsal. They must not talk of the river; that was taboo. Railroad matters were also excluded. Equally difficult I days. So she began brightly with q current book. The theater proved a safe topic, and by that natural route they reached New York. Innes, who had never been farther east than Chi cago, was grateful to play audience, Hardin, who knew his New York per. haps better than either; refused to be drawn into the gentle stream.
 Things must De kept sprightly. Had MT. Rickard met many of the valley people? And 1t was then that she threw her bomb toward the listening, silent Hardins. She would like MT. Rickard to meet some of their friends.
 He said that he would be delighted. but that he was planning to leave shortly for the Heading.
 "Of course" She did not give her husband time to speak. She meant afterward! She was planning to give something a bit novel in his honor. She refused to see the glare from the angry man In his outgrown dinner coat. She did not glance toward the sister. What did MT. Rickard think about progressive ride?
 Tt sounds very entertaining, but what do you do?''
 There was loud guffaw from Tom. With deepened color Gerty told her idea. A drive, changing partners, so he could meet all the guests.
 T think it will surprise you to find so many nice people in here; it cer- i tainly did me. One doesn't expect to i find congenial people in new country i like this"
 l Rickard remembered that he had i to get back to his hotel. He had let. ters to write. It had been a splendid | dinner! And what a wonderful home she haS -Yade out of a sand-baked lot out of s-Ht! He spoke of the roses and the O.ning glories. His eyes fell on the open piano, the reading table with the current magazines Now he couldn't understand why they ever went to that hotel!
 Gerty's eyes were shining as deer pools of water on which the sun plays She looked almost infantile as she stood by the two tall men, her head perched birdlike. "Good-by! and hope you'll come again!' 1 Of course he'd come again!
 And you will let me know wher you return, so that may set the date for my party?"
 Innes did not get his answer. She had been observing that he was not taller than her brother. He looked taller. He was lean, and Tom was growing stocky. She wished he would not slouch so, his hands in his pock cts! In Tucson, before she knew that she must dislike Rickard, she had hat an impression of virile distinction, o1 grace, a suggestion of mastered mus cles. He had known that it was hel brother he was supplanting-di ht get any satisfaction from the fact tha it was the husband of the woman wht had tilted him? Anyway, she did no like him. She could never forgive { hurt that was done to her own. Sh, was a Hardin.
 "Innes! Mir. Rickard said goot night!"
 She gave him the tips of her cool Drowned fingers. Her eyes did no
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