The Pulaskian., 1919-04-11

Dear, honest old bear!"
 "Innes!' cried Mrs. Hardin.
 She turned to find that the guest was staring at her. She had not heard his effort to include her in the con- versation.
 "Mr. Rickard asked you if you like it herep
 "Thank you-why, of coursel" Her answer sounded pert to herself.
 Her sister-in-law hastened to add that Miss Hardin was very lonely, was really all alone in the world that they insisted on her making her home with them.
 Innes had with difficulty restrained denial. After all, what other home had she? Still the truth had been de flected. She recalled the sacrifice it had been to cut her college course in order to make a home in the desert for the brother who had always so gently fathered her, who had helped her invest her small capital that it might spell a small income. She re- called his resistance when she had called in mortgage; who could watch that mad scapegoat of a river playing pranks with desert homes and not yearn to helD? Not a Hardin. She still gloried in remembering that she had at least driven one pile into that rebellious stream, even if when she left the valley it would be as a bread winner. She was prepared. She was good draftsman; she would go as an apprentice in an architects office. She had already settled on the archi- tect!
 Are you going to Los Angeles soon?" She heard the new manager address his host.
 'Pm taking orders ?"
 There was another awkward mo- ment when Hardin pushed back his plate declaring he had reached his limit; it was too big a spread for him It was the stupid rudeness of the small bad boy; even Innes flushed for l her sister-in-law.
 With resolution Gerty assumed con- troI of the conversation. Her role sounded casual; no one could have suspected it of frequent rehearsal. They must not talk of the river; that was taboo. Railroad matters were also excluded. Equally difficult would be "reminiscences of Lawrence days. So she began brightly with current book. The theater proved a safe topic, and by that natural route they reached New York. Innes, who had never been farther east than Chi cago, was grateful to play audience. Hardin, who knew his New York per haps better than either, refused to be drawn into the gentle stream.
 Things must be kept sprightly. Had Mir. Rickard met many of the valley people? And it was then that she threw her bomb toward the listening, silent Hardins. She would like MT. Rickard to meet some of their friends.
 He said that he would be delighted, but that he was planning to leave shortly for the Heading.
 Of course" She did not give her husband time to speak. She meant afterward! She was planning to give something a bit novel in his honor. She refused to see the glare from the angry man in his outgrown dinner coat. She did not glance toward the sister. What did Mir. Rickard think about a progressive ride?
 "Tt sounds very entertaining, but what do you do?"
 FThora Nr-ao, yo.1d or11ffovJ from Tom With deepened color Gerty told her idea. A drive, changing partners. so he could meet all the guests.
 'T think it will surprise you to find so many nice people in here; it cer- tainly did me. One doesn't expect to find congenial people in new country like this"
 Rickard remembered that he had to get back to his hotel. He had let ters to write. It had been a splendid dinnerl And what a wonderful home she had made out of a sand-baked lot, out of a tent He spoke of the roses and the morning glories. His eyes fell on the open piano, the reading table with the current magazines. Now he couldn't understand why they ever went to that hotel!
 Gerty's eyes were shining as deep pools of water on which the sun plays. She looked almost infantile as she stood by the two tall men, her head perched birdlike. "Good-by! and l hope you'll come againr
 Of course he'd come again!
 "And you will let me know when you return, so that I may set the date for my party?"
 Innes did not get his answer. She had been observing that he was not taller than her brother He looked taller. He was lean, and Tom was growing stocky. She wished he would not slouch so. his hands in his pock etsl In Tucson, before she knew that she must dislike Rickard, she had had an impression of virile distinction, of
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