Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-04-18

NAAOOOulC III Ll1ClA
Five minutes after blowing out his
candle he was deeply sleeping.
CHAPTER XIV.
Smudoe.
From her tent, where she was writ
ing letter that Jagged somehow, In
mes Hardin had seen Rickard go to
her sisters tent She did not need to
analyze the sickness of sight that
watched the dancing step acknowl-
edge its intention. 1t meant wretch
edness, for Tom. At a time when he
most needed gentleness and sympathy
rasped as he was by his humiliations
and disappointments-ho could any
woman be so cruel? AS for Rickard,
true, Gerty's story, told in shrugs and
dashes. She had Tilted him for Tom
and this his revenge? She had not
known that she had such feeling as
the thought reused in her. 1t proved
what the blood tie is, this tigerish
passion sweeping through her, as her
eyes watched that closed tent-it was
for love for Tom, pity for Tom. Sex
honor-why, Gerty did not know the
meaning of the words!
How long would it be before Tom
would see what every one else was
seeing? What would he do when he
knew? Hating Rickard already, bitter
as he was
She was not so biased as he. She
could see why Marshall had had to re-
organize. Estrada had shown her ;
and MacLean. Her sense of justice
had done the rest. Rickard had proved
his efficiency; the levee, the camp, the
military discipline all showed the gen.
eral. Whether he were anything of
an engineer, time would tell that. 1t
was long call he was making! Sup
pose Tom were to come back? She
must watch for him-make some ex-
cuse to pull him in if he should come
back before that other went Hate
full. such eavesdropping A prisoner
to that mans gallivanting
For an instant she did not recognize
the figure outside Gertys tent. HeI
fears saw Tom. She reached the
screen door in time to see Rickard lift
his hat to disappearing furry of ruff
fles. Angry eyes watched Richards
step swing him away.
From the levee that day, she had 6
glimpse of the Mexican woman on hel
knees by the river, rubbing clothe:
| against q smooth stone. A pile OF
tight-wrung socks lay on the bank. In
nes stood and watched her.
81 must remember to speak of hel
to Gerty," she determined. "She prob
ably does not know that there is ,
washerwoman in camp"
1t was week later before she re
membered to speak of the Mexican
woman "who could wash" The TIVE
women were on their way to thei
tents from the mess breakfast. Senior;
Maldonado was leaving MacLean'
tent with large bundle of uset
clothes under her arm.
"She washes for the men. I'm go
ing to ask her to do my khakis for me
Perhaps this woman would be willin
to do all our laundry?"
Gerty had been wondering what sh
would say to 1nnes. The speech whicl
needed only an introduction wa
stirred into the open.
"You must not" her voice tremble
with anger, ''you must not ask tha
woman. She is not to be spoken to-
The girl asked her bluntly what sh
meant.
"You must not give her your wash
ing-must not speak to her. I've NO
mentioned it before. II hoped
would not be necessary. Tom told m
not to speak Of it,"
''Tom told you not to speak of it
Not to speak of what?"
You must have observed-Mr. Ricl
ard?"
The girls ear did not catch tn
short pause. observed Mr.. Rickard
"The coolness between us. l scarce
ly speak to him. 1 don't wish to spea
to him."
When had all this happened, lime
demanded of herself? Had she bee
asleep. throwing pity from outdate
dreams?
Il won't cOuntenance a common a
fair like that" Her eyes, sparklin
with anger, suggested jealous wrat
to Innes. who had her first hint of tn
story. She had learned never to tax
the face value of her sisters verb;
coin; it was only symbol of value
1t stood for something else.
The yellow eyes were on the drede
) bucket as 1t swung across the channe
) but they did not register. She We
angry, outraged; she did not kno
with whom. With Gerty for telling he
y with Richard, with life that lets sue
> things be. She jumped up. "Oh, ste
it!' She rushed out of the tent fC
: lowed by a strange bitter smile TIL
a brought age to the face of Gerty Ha
4 din.
o In her own tent, Innes found excu
q for her lack of self-control. She d
t not like the color of scandal; 81
t hated smudge. Gerty had said Il
d whole camp knew it; knew why, Il
Mexican woman was in camp! 81
+ did not trust Gerty in anything els
/. why should she trust her in that? 81
: would forget Gerty's gossip.
n But she remembered it wildly tn
o week as she washed her own khaki
, as she bent over the ironing board
Gerty's sweltering 'kitchenette." s.
e thought of 1t as she returned Ric
ards bow in the mess tent the ne
!. morning; each time they met 81
o thought Of it. And 1t was in her mil
d when she met Sonora Maldonado
the river one day, and made a sudd
IS wide curve to avoid having to spe
n to her.
~ HLAnTEn