The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-03-21

1erty Teasing Tom 10 wear his Tux
edo.
isn't one dude enough for YOUR
grOwled her surly lord. lines recog-
nized the mood and shrank from the
ordeal ahead 1t was the mood of
the Hardin In the rough, the son of
his frontier mother, the fruit Of old
jasper Glngg, whose smlthy had been
the rendezvous for the widest roughs,
the fiercest cattlemen in Missouri.
I'D let him see you knew what's
what. even Il we do live like gipsIes."
The answer to that was another
growl. Innes could hear him dragging
out the process, grunbllng over each
detail. That COMPOUNDED laundry had
torn his shirt. He hadn't a decent
collar to his name. Where was his
black string tie? If Cert would keep
his things In the lowest draweri Hang
TINT buttoni Gerty emerged from the
encounter, her face very red. Innes
could SEQ her biting her lips to keep
the tears back as she put the last
touches to the table.
"She's tired out" thought the sister
OF Tom Hardin. "She's probably
fused herself TO death over this din
ner."
A few minutes later Richard ar
rived In a sack suit of tweeds. Gerty's
greeting was little distracted. How
could she make Innes understand to
tell Tom TO change his coatS The
Ht.t. Of rI. Iu rar
bered. was to dress down rather than
up to the chances Of his guest. She
regretted bitterly her insistence. Was
ever anyone so obtuse as Innes2 Mr..
Richard would see that they thought
II big event. She was watching the
curtain where Tom would emerge.
And his coat was style Of several
seasons ago and absurdly tight She
made an unlntelligible excuse and
darted behind the portiere.
Toms face was apoplectic. He was
wrestling with mussed tie; the coll
lar showed desperate struggle.
Gerty made Wild signals for him to
change his clothes. She waved a
hand indicating Richard; she pointed
to Toms sack suit lying on the floor
where he had walked out Of 1t.
"what is II all aboutf'
SSH" whispered his wife. Again
the wild gestures.
swell, aren't you satisfied? Don't
! look like guyf"
He could be heard distinctly In the
next room. Gerty gave 1t up in de-
spair, She dahbed some more powder
on her nose and went out looking like
a martyra very pretty martyrl
Richard praised the miracles Of the
tent. Gerty's soft flush reminded In
mes of their old relation. "Exit Innes,"
she was thinking, when Tom. red and
persplrlng. brought another element
Of discomfort into the room.
Gerry ushered them immediately to
the table. She covered the first min
utes which might be awkward with
her small chatter. Somewhere she
had read that II was not well to make
apologies for lack OF maid or fare.
Resides Mr.. Richard remembered
Lawrencel That dreadful dining
room, the ever-set table, How she
had hated II, though she had not
known how fearful 1t was until she
had escaped.
"We are simple folk here, Mr.. Rick
ard" she announced. us they took
their places around the pretty table.
That was her only allusion to defieien-
cies. but II covered her noiseless move
ments around the board between
courses. filled up the gaps when she
made necessary dives into kitchen or
primitive ice chest. and set the key
for the LONELINESS of the meal itself.
The dinner was a triumph Of apparent
simplicity. Only Innes could guess
the time consumed In the perfection
Of detail. details dear TO the hostess
heart. The almonds she had blanched,
of course. herself; had dipped and
salted them. The cheese straws were
her own. She did not make the mis-
take Of stringlng out endless courses.
An improvised buffet near at hand
made the serving a triumph.
Richard praised each dish; openly
he was admiring her achievement.
lines, remembering the story Gerty
had told her in dots and dashes, the
story OF the old rivalry. glanced COW