The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1919-07-26

her bedroom. The sunburned, uncon.
scious profile of Innes was close to her
own. Pink and golden the head by the
dark one. She looked younger even
IMAM lnnes! Good humor returned to
her.
| we are going to dine on the Delta
tonight" She pinned up a "scoldlng
lock- an ugly misnomer for her sunny
ciinging curls! The mirror was reaui.
sitioned again. That's the name OF
the new dredge. 1t was christened
three weeks ago, In champagne
brought from Yuma"
You said dine on the Delta. Do you
mean they have meals there?"
You should see It," cooed Gerty.
ITS simply elegant. It's a floating
notei. has every convenience. The
camp cook. Ling, has his hands full"
Going to wear that?" They were
standing now by the door of Gerty's
dressing tent. Over the bed a white
lingerie gown was spread.
Il live in them. It's so hot" shrugged
Mrs. Hardin.
I'll look like your maid, Gerty :" In.
nes' exclamation was rueful. 81 didn't
bring anything but khakis. Oh, yes! /
remember throwing in, the last minute,
two piques to fill up space"
"Why. we have dances on the Delta,
and Sunday evening concerts. You
knew the work at Laguna dam is being
held up? The government men of the
Reclamation Service are down here all
the time. But it's time to be getting
ready"
Later, Tom fatty refused to accom-
pany them.
Il thought as much" Gerry shrugged
an airy irresponsibility. Innes could
detect no regret.
They passed cot outside the tent.
"Who sleeps thereT
Tom" The eyes of the two women
did not meet.
lnnes made no comment.
He finds the tent stuffy." Gerty's
lips were prim with reserve. They
walked toward the river in silence. AS
they reached the encampment, Gerty
recovered her vivacity.
That's Mr.. Richards office, that
ramada. Isn't 1t quaint? And that's
his tent; no, the other one. MacLean's
is next; there's Junior, now"
But his eyes were too full of lines to
see Gerty's dimples. The difference in
the quality Of his greetings smote Gerty
like blow. And she had never con-
sidered Toms sister attractive, as a
possible rival. Yet, after a handshake.
she saw that to MacLean, Jr., she did
not exist.
Gerty was deeply piqued. Until now,
the field had been hers. She might per-
haps have to change her opinion of
Toms sister. Boys, she had to con-
cede, the younger men, might find her
attractive. boyishly congenial; older
men would fail to see a charm!
The arrangement at table annoyed
Gerty. The boss, MacLean explained
gaily, would not be there for dinner.
He might come in later Two men from
the Reclamation Service tried to enter
tain Mrs. Hardin.
at isn't a battle" lines looked
around the gay rectangle. cts play"
The Thought followed her that eve
ming. Outside. where the moonlight
was silvering the deck, and the quiet
river tapped the sides of the dredge.
Jose's strings. and his amigos" throb-
bling from a dark corner. made the H. !
fusion Of peace convincing. This was
no battle. 1t was easy to believe her |
self again at Mare island-the Delta a
cruiser.
Later, Gerry passed her, two-step-
ping divinely. Before her partner |
turned his head, Innes recognized the |
stiff back and straight poised head and |
dancing step of Richard. She admit
ted he had distinction. grudgingly. She
could not think of him except compare
lively; always alphabetically, balanced
against her Tom.
I'm tired; let's rest here" Innes
rev into the shadow of the great arm
" the dredge. They watched the
iancers as they passed. MacLean play
ng the woman in "Pete's" arms. Gerry
With Richard, two other masculine cou.
lies. The Hardins were the only wom-
n aboard.
1t was because of Tom that Innes
cit resentment when the uplifted ap-
'ealing chin, the lace ruffles fiuttered
". Tom, lying outside an unfriendly
entl
1t was easy, IN that uncertain light,
o avoid Richards glance of recogni-
ion. Estrada. who had come aboard
nth the manager sought her out, and
hen Crothers Of the o. p. Again. she
aw Richard dancing with the lingerie
own. There seemed to be no attempt .
D cover GertyS preference; for Rick
I'd, she was the only woman there,
because she was Toms sister. she had :
right to resent it, to refuse to meet :
is eye. Small wonder Tom did not
ONE to the Delta!
Going in with MacLean, Jr., to the
restroom for glass of water. she met :,
ickard, on his way out. She man.
ged to avoid shaking hands with him. :,
he wondered why she had consented q
, give him the next waltz.
He'll not find me-" she determined. G
IacLean followed her gladly to the
ark corner of the deck where's Jose's
litar was then syncOpating an accom- T