The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1919-04-18

| tain trail across country, with the
dust-laden wind in her face? She de-
cided to wait for the dawn. A snatched
sleep first, but who would call her?
She would sleep for hours. SO weary
every muscle. Her mind fixed on Sam
as the only man in town who had
time to saddle a horse for a woman.
She went in search of him. She
found that the long adobe office build
| ing had already taken on the look of
defeat, of ruin. The easements had
been torn from the partitions; the
doors and windows were out The fur
| niture had been hauled up TO high
ground farther away for safety. She
went hunting through the ghoulish
gloom for the darby, turning her lam
tern in every dark corner. She knew
that she would find him sleeping.
Then she heard steps on the veranda.
She ran toward them, expecting to see
Sam. She swung her lantern full on
two figures mounting the shallow
steps. Richard was with her sister
in-law.
"Oh, excuse me - she blurted blum
deringly. OF course Gerty would take
wrong intention from the stupid
words.
The blue eyes met those of Innes
with defiance. 1t was as though she
had spoken: "Well, think what you
will of it, you Hardins I don't care
what you think of me!'
What indeed did she think of it?
Why should she feel like the culprit
before these two, her words desert
ing her? 1t was Gerty's look that
made her feel guilty, as though she
had been spying. To meet them to-
gether, here at midnight why should
not they feel ashamed? She had done
nothing wrong. And Tom down yOn-
der fighting-and they make his abb
sence a cover for their rendezvous.
I'm looking for Sam!" The effort
behind the words turned them into an
oratorical challenge.
$50 are we. l want to send him
home with Mrs. Hardin. She's worn
out"
"She can go home with me. am go
ing directly. AS soon as 1 give mes
sage to Sam" She instantly regretted
her words. abruptly halting. 1t came
to her that Richard would insist upon
delivering her message OF course, he
would oppose her going. Some petty
reason or other. She knew from the
men that he was oppositional. that he
liked to show his power. Not safe, he
would say, or the horse was needed,
or Sam too busy to wait on her!
you cannot go home alone, you
two. The town is full of strange In
dianS. Give me your lantern, Miss
Hardin; I'll rout out that darby"
Rebelliously she gave him the lam
tern The light turned full on her
averted angry eyes.
A naughty Thusnelda followed him.
Sam was discovered asleep in the
only room where the windows had not
yet been attacked. His head rested on
bundle of sacked trees which the
ladies of the Improvement club had
planned to plant the next day. Deep
snores betrayed his refuge.
Here, Saml 1 want you to take
these ladies home. Chase yourself.
They've been working while you've
slept yOu u nave al lLl1SS
windows out by now"
Gerty had to supply the courtesy for
two. She told Mr.. Richard in her APP
pealing way that he had been very
kind; that she would have been
frightened to death 70 go home alone"
Times had to say somethingl "Good-
night" The words had an insulting
ring.
The wind covered a passionate ST.
lence, as the two women, followed by
Sam, yawning and stretching, made
their way down the shrieking street.
1T was true" InneS was thinking. She
had at last stumbled on the rout, but
it was not matter of personal, but
moral untidineSs; not n carelessness
of pins or plates. of tapes or dishes. 1t
was far worse; n SlackneSS of ethics.
1t meant more unhappiness for Tom.
Her aching muscles told her that
she could not have slept four hours
when the darby was back, knocking at !
her door.
lines horse Hoped through the
silent streets.
I'll run past the levee; perhaps |
Tom has come back" 1t occurred to
her that there might be a message at |
the hotel. She pulled on her left rein, |
and swept past the deserted adobe
AS she refined in her horse, Richard |
stepped out on the sidewalk. He, too, !
was heavy-eyed from a snatched nap.
Were you looking for me?"
The Scorn in the girls face told him /
that his question was stupid. For |
him.
HAS my brother come backT
He said he did not know you can |
see 1 have been dreamingI'' She would |
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