The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1919-04-17

fly today as II scared yesterdays Rick
ard was finding that Gerty's more ma
ture charms did not accelerate his
heart-beats, but they were certainly
natterfng TO his early Judgment. And
he had expected her to be a shock!
He was staring into his plate Of
chilled soup. CaIf-lovel For he had
loved her, or at least he had loved her
chin, her pretty childish way of lifting
1t. She vas prettier han he had pic
tured her. Queer that a man like Har-
din could draw such women for sister
and wife-the blood tie was the most
amazing. For when women come to
marry, they make often q queer choice.
Ii occurred to him that that might
have been Hardln-he had o wanted
to stare at them.
That was not Hardin's face. II held
strength and power. The outline was
sharp and distinct, showing the strong
lines. the determined mouth OF the pio-
neer. There was something else, some
thing which stood for distinction-no,
IL cOuiunt De Hardin.
And then, because an outthrust lip
changed the entire look of the man,
Richard asked his table companions,
who vas the nan with the two ladies,
near the door.
THAT. subj" his neighbor from Ala
hama became Immediately orntorical,
"that Is a big man. sub. II the I'm
perial valley ever becomes a reality, q
tixtuah. Ii will be because of that one
man, sub. Reclamation Is like a seed
thrown on a rock. VIII IL stick7 VIII
1t take root7 win 1t grown That is
what we all want to know"
Richard thought that he had wanted
to know something quite different, and
reminded the gentleman from Alabama
that he had not told him the name.
1.-THE father Of this valley. of the
reclamation of this desert. Thomas
Hardin, sub"
Richard tried to reset, without at
tracing their attention, the group of
his impressions OF the man whose per
sonality had been so obnoxious to him
In the old Lawrence days. The Hardin
he had known had also large features,
but OF the iaccid Irritating order. He
summoned q picture OF Hardin as he
had shuffied into his own classroom. or
up to the long table where Gerty had
always Queened It among her mothers
boarders. He could see the rough I'M
polished boots that had always offend
ed him as a betrayal of the mans in
ner c-oarseness; the badly fitting coat,
the long awkward arms. and the salts
fed. loud-speaking mouth. These fea-
lures were more definite. Could time
bring these changesf Had ne changed,
like that2 Had they seen himf Would
Gerty, would Hardin remember him?
| Wasn't 1t his place to make himself
known; wave the flag of old friendship
over an awkward situationf
He found himself standing IN front
| of their table, encountering first, the
eyes OF Hardin's sister. There was no
surprise. no welcome there for him. He
felt at once the hostility OF the camp.
His face was uncomfortably warm.
Then the childish profile turned ON him.
A look of bewilderment, flushing into
greeting-the years had been kind to
Gerry Holmes!
"Do you remember me, Rickard?"
II Hardin recognized a difficult situa-
ton. he did not betray It. 1t was a
a Richard did not know who shook
him warmly by the hand. and said that
indeed he had not forgotten him.
"rve been expecting you. Ny wife,
Mr.. Richard, and my sister,"
"Why. what are you thinking of.
TOMB To introduce Mr.. Rickardl i
introduced you to each other. years
agoi" Gerty's cheeks were red. Her
bright eyes were darling from n to
the other. "You knew he was coming.
and did not tell mel"
"You were ut the Improvement club
when the telegram came" put In Innes
Hardin. without looking at Richard. No
trace of the Tucson cordially In that
proud little facet No acknowledgment
that they had met at the Marshalrsl
oh. you telegraphed to usf" The
blond arch smile had not aged. "That
was friendly and NICE"
Richard had not been se~lf-conscious
for many a year. He did not know
what to say. He turned from her. up
turned face to the others. lines Har-
din was staring out Of the window.
over the heads Of several crowded
tables; Hardin was gazing at his plate.
Rickard decided that.he would get out
of this before Gerry discovered that II
was neither friendly nor nice"
.If l had known that you were here,
I would have insisted on your dining
J With US. In our tent. For IT. tsrEible'