The L'Anse sentinel., 1919-05-23

Pink was too hot, blue too definite. A
parasol of pastel green, and she looked
like sprig Of fragrant mignonctte.
She found the, open space of the
trapezium swarming with strange
dark faces. So silent their coming she
had not heard the arrival Of the tribes
She isolated the Cocopahs stately asi
bronze statues, their long hair stream
ing, or wound mud-caked under the
brilliant headcloths. Foregathering
with them were men of other tribes !;
these must be the Yumas and Degui1
nos, the men needed on the river
These were the men who were to work
on the RATS, weave the great matt
tresses. A squad of short-haired Pi-
mas with their squaws and babies
and their gaudy bundles. gaped at the
fair-haired woman as she passed. The
central space was filling up with Pr
mas and Maricopas, Papagoes, t0O5
she knew them collectively by their
short hair. These were brush cutters4
This, then, meant the beginning Of
real activity. Tom would at last be-
satisfied. He would no longer sulk
and rage alternately at the hold-up OF
the work. Il
Before she reached Richards ra-
mada she saw that another woman
was there. She caught an impassioned
gesture. Her only surmise rested on
Innes. Gerty saw that she was dark
she looked the halfbreed. The brown
woman drew back as the white woman
entered. Gerty smiled an airy reas-
surance. She herself would wait. She
did not want to be hurried. She told
Rickard that she had plenty of time.
"There is something you want to tell
me?" Richards patience was cour,
teous but firm. He would hear her err
rand first. Gerty, remembering the
| imploring attitude Of the stranger, de-
termined that she would not be sent
away.
"Will you excuse me, sonora? Il
will be only minute"
She was to tell her errand, and
brieflyl Gerty swept past the intruder.
"Sit down, Mrs. Hardin"
Resenting the infection, she said
she would stand. Her voice was
little hard. her eyes were yelled, as
she told her mission. Her usual flu
ency dragged; she felt lack of SYM
pathy. In short, she proposed COM
missary department, herself In charge.
I'D like to feel was of some use,"
urged Gerty. "My heart Is bound up
in this undertaking; II I'm allowed to
stay, I'd like to help along. This Is
the only way can, the woman's way"
"Aren't you taking good deal on
yourself, Mrs. Hardin2"
| Then she forgave his hesitation
quite, as 1t was Of her he was think
ing. "Not IL IL helps" Her voice was
low and soft, as If this were a secret
between them.
"Why, of course, anything you want,
Mrs. Hardin" And, remembering her
former position, he added. "The camps
yours as much as NINE"
A glad smile rewarded him. She
went out, reluctantly. There was
new significance in MacLean's absence
from the ramada. What could thst
| huNc W muCLtdh
must not hear? For the first time
the weak tenure on her old lover came
to her. Not a sign had he yet given
Of their understanding, of the piquant
situation. Themselves old sweethearts,
thrown together In this wilderness.
What had she built her hopes on? A
word here, a translated phrase, or
magnifed glance. She would not har-
Dor the new worry. Why, 1t would be
all right. In the meantime she would
show them all what a woman with
executive ability could do.
"Sit down, senora," said Rickard to
the brown woman, Maldonado's wife.
Don't be frightened. We won't let
him hurt YOU" Rickard vulgarized
his Castilian to the reach of her rude
dialect. Familiar as was Rickard with
the poems speech in their own coun-