The Arvada enterprise., 1919-08-21


parasol Of pastel srssn, and she look1U
like q sprig q fragrant misnonetts.
She found TIE open space Of the
trapexium swaTming with strange
dark faces. So silent their coming she
had not heard the arrival Of the tribes.
She isolated the Cocopahs. stately ~
bronze statues, their long hair stream
Ing, or wound mud-caked under the
brilliant headcloths. Foregatherins
with them were men Of other tribes;
these must be the Yumas and Degui.
nos, the men needed on the river.
These were the men who were to work
on the RATS, weave the great mat
tresses. A squad Of short-haired Pi-
mas with their squaws and babies
and their gaudy bundles. gaped at the
fair-haired woman a. she passed. The
central space was nlling up with Pi.
mas and Maricopas, Papagoes. too;
she knew them collectively BY their
shont hair. These were brush cutters.
This, then, meant the beginning Of
real activity. Tom would at last be
satisfied. He would no longer sulk
and rage alternately at the hold-up Of
the work.
Before she reached Richards IA.
mada she saw that another woman
was there. She caught an impassioned
gesture. Her only surmise rested oD
Innes Gerty saw that she was dark;
she looked the halfbreed. The brown
woman drew back as the white woman
entered. Gerty smiled an airy reas-
surance. She herself would wait. She
did not want to be hurried. She told
Richard that she had plenty Of time.
'There is something you want to tell
met" Richards patience was cour.
teous but firm. He would hear her er.
rand first. Gerty, remembering the
imploring attitude Of the stranger, de-
termined that she would not be sent
away.
"will you excuse me, senorai It
will be only a minute"
She was to tell her errand, and
briefly! Gerty swept past the intruder.
"Sit down, Mrs. Hardin"
Resenting the infection. she sale
she would stand. Her voice was
little hard. her eyes were yelled, a.
she told her mission. Her usual hu.
ency dragged; she felt Z lack Of sym
pathy. In short. she proposed com.
missary department. herself in charge
"I'd like to feel was Of some use."
urged Gerty. my heart 10 bound ur
In this undertaking; II I'm allowed to
stay. I'd like to help along. This IL
the only way can. the woman's way
"Aren't you taking a good deal o.
yourself, Mrs. Hardin7"
Then she forgave his hesitation
quite. a. 1t was Of her he was think
ing. mot II 1t helps." Her voice wa
low and soft. a. II this were q sscfst
between them.
"Why. Of course. anything you want
Mrs. Hardin" And. remembering her
former position. he added. ''The camps
yours ~ much a. mine."
A glad smile rewarded him. shs
went out. reluctantly. There was .
new significance in MacLean's absence
from the ramada. What could that
woman have to say that NacLear
moot OOe u03Gb lu0 uIUS uE0S
the weak tenure on her old lover cane
to her. Not q sign had he yet given
Of their understanding. Of the piquant
situation. Themselves old swsethearts
thrown together In this wilderness
What had she built her hopes ont \
word here. q translated phrase, .
magnided glance. She would not har
Dor the new worry. Why, 1t would bs
all right. In the meantime she wouN
show them all what q woman With
executive ability could do.
"Sit down, senora." said Rickard b
the brown woman. Maldonado's wife
"Don't BE- frightened. We won't let
him hurt you" Rickard vulgariss6
his Castllian to the reach Of her rude
dialect. Familiar a. was Richard With
the poems speech In their own coan