The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-03-28

nes' thoughts complained She was
restless to make her own plans. 1t |
had not yet occurred to her that Gerry |
would stay in all summer. For she
never had so martyrized herself.
"Some one must be with Tom. 1t may
spoil my trip. But Gerty never thinks
of that" She believed It to be a
simple matter of clothes. 1t always
took her weeks to get ready to go any
where.
"But I won't wait any longer than
next week. If she does not go then, /
will. Absurd for us both to be here"
1t was already ferceIy hot.
Gerty, meanwhile, had been wonder
ing how she could suggest to her sis
ter-in-Iaw that her trip be taken first.
Without arousing suspicionsl Ter
ribly loud in her ears sounded her
thoughts those days.
Her husband flung a letter on the
table one evening. "a letter to you
from-Casey."
She tried to make the fingers that
closed over the letter move casually.
She could feel them tremble. What
would she say If Tom asked to see it,
1t was addressed to her in her hus-
bands care. Hardin had found it at
the Office in his mail. And she going
each day to the postoffice to prevent
it from falling into his handsl She
gave it a quick offhand glance.
"About the drive, Of course, Sup
per's getting cold. Look at that ONE
lette. Don't wait to wash up. 1t will
be like leather"
| When she had finished her meal, she
read her letter with fine show of in
difference. HE sets a date for the
drive" She put the letter .carelessly
into her pocket before her husband
could stretch out his hand. 1t would
never do for jealous Tom to read that:
''Your letter was received two weeks
ago. Pardon me for appearing to have
forgotten your Kindness"
'aThe nerve" growled Tom again,
his mouth full of Gerty's omelette.
ITO take you up on an invitation like
that call that pretty raw"
''You must remember we are such
old friends" urged his wife. "He
knew / meant 1t seriously"
"Just the. same, it's nerve" grum-
bled Hardin, helping himself to more
of the omelette, now a fiat ruin in the
center of the Canton platter. His re-
sentiment had taken on an edge of
hatred since the episode of the dredge
machinery. ITO write to anyone in
my housed He knows what think of
him; an Intellectual ass, that's what he
is. laundering around with his little
leYees. and his fool work on the wa
ter tower"
'The water tower?' demanded his
sister. whats he doing with thatr
ooh, / don't know" rejoined Tom
largely, his lips protruding. He had
1 been itching to ask some one what
Richard was up to. Twice, he had
seen him go up, with MacLean and
Estrada. Once, there large flare of
light. But he wouldn't ask Some of
his fool tinkeringI
His sisters gaze rested on him with
concern. He had too little to do. She
guessed that his title, consulting en-
gineer. was a mocking one, that his
chief, at least. did not consult him.
Was it true, what she had heard, that
he had made a fiuke about the ma
chinery? He was looking seedy. He
had been letting his clothes go. He
1 looked like man who has lost grip:
who has been shelved.
She knew he was sleeping badly.
Every morning now she found the
couch rumpled. Not much pretense of
marital congeniality. Things were GO
ing badly, there
Everybody has accepted" Gerty
was saying. "They have been waiting
for me to set the date.'
And you cater to him, let him
bangle you all. wonder why you do
it, unless it's to hurt me-"
"Hurt you, Tom" cried his wife, her
deep blue eyes wide with dismay.
| How can you say such thing? But
if it is given for him, how can I do
anything else than let him arrange
the day to suit himself7 II would be
funny for the guest of honor not to
| De present, wouldn't itT'
Il don't see why you want to make
him guest of honor" he retreated.
covering his position.
Gently, Gerry expressed her belief
that she was doing the best thing for
her husband In getting up public af-
fair for his successor. She did think
that Tom would see that it showed
they had no feeling.
Il think it fine idea," agreed In
mes heartily. ''rm sure Tom will, too,
when he thinks about It." But she did
not give him any chance to express
himself. "How are you going to man
age It. Gerty? You said 1t was going
to be progressiye?"
"We shall draw for partners" said
Mrs. Hardin. "And change every half
mile. The first lap viii be two
miles that will oivo sauna o,raifopaont