Gilpin observer., 1919-05-29
CHAPTER x-continued.

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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 DISPOSE
tion. She can't help being secretive.
Look at your face, Innes Hardin !"
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
che 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-
vinced, moreover, that it is the desire
Of his life tx support her. Herself dis
satisfied, often rebellious, staying by
him for self-interest, not for love-ah,
that was her impeachment. mot low
ingI"
Soberly she covered her plain bras
uiere with q white waist of cotton
ducking. A red leather belt and GRIM
son tie she added self-consclously.
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; it 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 1t. 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 a 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 n dinner neighbor, she had
found interesting; but for great un-
dertakings a man who would let q
Gcrty Holmes jilt him, ruin his life
for himl 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
blue"
You're elegant enough for the two
of us. Isn't that something newr
Gerty said carelessly that she had
had II for u long time. For she had
had the material long timel Il
wasn't necessary to explain to hel
husbands sister that II had beer
made up that week. She hoped tha
she didn't look "fussed up." Woult
Mr.. Rickard think she was attaching
any Importance to the simple littl,
visit2 For 1t was nothing to him, o.
course. A man OF his standing, whom
the great Tod Marshall ranked &c
high, probably dined out several time,
each week, with white-capped maidi
and candelabra! II Tom had onl,
made the most Of his opportunities
What gamble. life to woman
She made trip into her bedroom
nnd took reassurlng survey In he
snirror. The lingerie frock would lool
simple to a man who would neve
euspect II Of handmade duplicity
1ler glass declared the hand-whippe,
,nedallions casual and elegant. An,
Al long time ago. n lifetime ago. Rick
rrd had told her that she alwayl
snould wear blue. because Of her eyes
innes from the next room could heal