The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1919-08-08

Observation-Disclosures
I here. isn't it?' She flashed at him the
look he remembered 50 wildly, the
childish coQuettish appeal. I'VE dine
at home. till it becomes tiresome. and
then We come foraging for variety. But
you must come to US. say Thursday. II
that right for you? We should love it.
Still those two averted faces. Rick.
ard said Thursday. a. he was hidden,
and got back to his table. wondering
why in thunder he had let Aarshall per.
suade him to take this Job.
Hardin waited q scant minute to pro
test: "What possessed you to ask him
to dinner?"
"Why shouldn't I? He is an old
friend" Gerry caught a glance of ap.
peal, from sister to brother "Jealous2' p
she pouted charningly at her lord.
jealous. no." bluffed Hardin.
He thought then that she knew, that
Inres had told her. The Lawrence cpl
Sode held no sting to him. Once, 1t
had enchanted him that he had carried
VIZ NuC UCllCs WuOlu even
that bookman had found desirable
bookman! A superior dude! He had
always had those grand airs. As If 1t
were not more to mans credit to
struggle for his education, even IL he
were older than his class. or his teach
er, than to accept it of silver plates,
handed by lackeys? Richard had al
ways acted as II it had been something
to be ashamed Of. It made him sick.
They've done it this time. It's a
fool choice"
Again, that look Of pleading from In
mes. Gerty had SILVER Of intuition.
Fool choice?" Her voice was omi.
nously calm.
Hardin shook of Innes' eyes. Better
he done with it! Hes the new gen.
eral manager"
Hes the general manager!"
"1'm to take orders from him."
Gerty's silence was Of the stunned
variety. The Hardins watched her
crumbling bread on the tablecloth.
thinking. fearfully, that she was going
to cry.
Didn't I tell your? Her voice. re-
pressed. carried the threat of tears.
Didn't tell you how it would be?
Didn't say that you'd be sorry IL you
called the railroad in?"
Must we 60 over this again?" asked
her husband.
"Why didn't you tell me? Why did
you let me make a goose Of myself"
She was remembering that there had
been no protest. no surprise from In
mes. She knew! A family secret {!
She shrugged. I'm glad. on the whole
that you planned it as surprise. For
carried it off as If we'd not been in
suited, disgraced"
''Gerty!" expOstulated Hardin.
"Gerty." imp!ored lines.
And we are in for nice friendly
dinner"
Are you quite finished?" Hardin
got up.
AS the three passed out of the dining
room. Richard caught their several ex-
pressionS: Hardin's stiff. Indifferent;
Gerty's brilliant hut hard. as she
flashed q finished. brave little smile In
his direction. The sisters bow was
distinctly naughty.
In the hall. Gcrty's laugh rippled
out. It was the laugh Richard retnem-
bered. the light frivolous cadence
which recalled the flamboyant pattern
of the Holmes parlo7 carpet. the long.
crowded dining table where Ger,y had
reisned. 1t told him that she was in.
different to his coming. as she meant
it should. And it turned him back to
Il dark corner in the honeysuckle-
draped porch where he had spent so
many evenings with her. where once
he had held her hand. where he told
her that ne loved her. For he had
loved her. or at least he thought he
had! And had run away from her ex.
pectant eyes. A cad. was he. because
he had brought that waiting look into
her eyes. and had run from It?
Should man ask woman to give
her life into his keeping until he is
quite sure that he wants it? He was
revampng his worn defense. Should
he live up to a minute of surrender, Of
tenderness. II the next instant brings
sanity. and establishment? He could
bury now forever self-reproach. He
could laugh at his own vanity. Gerty
Hardin. it was easy to see. had forgot.
ten what he had whispered to Gerty
Holmes. They met as sober old
friends. That ghost was laid.
CHAPTER v.