The Raymer enterprise., 1919-07-24
CHAPTER x-continued.


-
She didn't need to pierce those can
vas walls to know that there had
been feverish activity for this dinner.
A new gown would appear tonight,
made secretly. An exquisite meal,
and no one must comment on its elab-
grafton. Twice Tom and she had
been asked to take their lunch at the
hotel. Because of a headacheI A
headache!
Toms wife could not even shop
openly! Bundles had always the air
OF mystery. never opened before Tom
or herself. She must have yards of
stuff laid away. kept for sudden emer.
gencies.
"She can't help It. It's her disposi-
tlon. She can't help being secretive.
Look Mt your face, lines Hardln!"
What was 1t to her. the pettiness of
woman whom an accident of life had
swept upon the beach beside her?
Gerty was not her kind, not the sort
she would pick out for a friend. She
was an oriental. one Of the harem
women. whose business 1t is in life to
please one man. to keep his home soft,
his comforts ready. keep him con-
WINGED, moreover, that 1t is the desire
of his life Is support her. Herself dis
satisfied, often rebellious, staying by
him for self-Interest, not for love-ah,
that was her impeachment. mot low
ing!"
Soberly she covered her plain bras
eiere with white waist of cotton
ducking. A red leather belt and GRIM
son tie she added self-consciously.
"Where is my bloodstone pin?"
Hadn't she spent an hour at least
matching that particular leather belt?
But he was man. In battle. The
headgate held up; 1t was too bad.
Silent, Bodefeldt, Wooster. Grant, all
of them fighting mad because of the
deadlock at the Heading. All up In
arms, at last, against Marshall, be-
cause Of this cruel cut to their hero,
Hardin. Her eyes glowed like yellow
lamps as she recalled their fervid par
tisanship.
"Only one man who can save the
valley. and that's Tom Hardin" Woos-
ter had said that; but they all be-
lieved II. The loyalty Of the force
made her ashamed Of her soft woman
fears. For there were times when
she questioned her brothers ability.
He had large. loose way Of handling
things. He was too optimistic. But
those men, those engineers must know.
1t was probably the mans way Of
sweeping ahead. ignoring detail. The
verdict of those field-tried men told
her that the other, the careful. plan
ming way, was the office method. Rick
ard, as a dinner neighbor. she had
found interesting; but for great un-
dertakings q man who would let q
Gcrty Holmes jilt him. ruin his life
for him! The whole story sprang at
last clear from the dropped innuendos.
She adjusted barrette in her
smoothly brushed hair. Slowly she
walked over to the neIghboring tent.
Gerty frowned ut the white duck.
"You might at least have worn your
blueI"
you're elegant enough for the two
kAus. Isn't that something newT'
Gerry said carelessly that she had
had 1t for q long time. For she had
had the material long time! 1t
wasn't necessary to explain to her
husbands sister that 1t had been
made up that week. She hoped that
she didn't look "fussed up" Would
Mr.. Richard think she was attaching
any importance to the simple little
visit? For 1t was nothing to him, Of
course. A man Of his standing, whom
the great Tod Marshall ranked SO
high, probably dlned out several times
each week. with whIte-capped maids
7 and candelabral II Tom had only
made the most Of his opportunities.
What a gamble. life to woman!
She made a trip into her bedroom
and took a reassuring survey in her
mirror. The lingerie frock would look
4 simple to a man who would never
suspect It Of handmade dupliclty.
Her glass declared the hand-whipped
,nedallions casual and elegant. And
long time ago. lifetime ago. Rick
erd had told her that she always
should wear blue. because Of her syss.
innes from the next room could hear