The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-02-28

here, isn't itTs She flashed at him the
look he remembered SO wildly. the
childish coquettish appeal. eve dine
nc home. TN II becomes tlrcsome, and
then we come Forging for variety. But
you must come TO us, say Thursday. Is
that right for your We should love II"
Still those two averted faces, Rick
ard said Thursday, as he was hidden,
and got back to his table. wondering
why In thunder he had let Marshall per-
sunde him to take this job.
Hardin waited scant minute to pro-
test "What possessed you to ask him
to dinnerY
''Why shouldn't i? He Ii an old
friend Gerty caught glance OF APP
peal, from sister to brother "Jealous?"
she pouted charmIngly at her lord.
Jealous. nor bluffed Hardin.
He thought then that she knew, that
lines had told her. The Lawrence cpl
sode held no sting TO him. Once, 1t
had enchanted him that he had carried
OF the boarding house belle, whom even
that bookman had found desirable
bookmanl A superior dudei He had
always had those grand airs. AS IL 1t
we're not more to mans credit to
struggle for his education, even if he
We're older than his class, or his teach
err than to accept 1t Off silver plates,
handed by fackeys? Richard had al
ways acted as II 1t had been something
to be ashamed Of. II made him sick.
"They'ye done 1t this time. It's a
fool CHOICE
Again. that look of pleading from In
mes. Gerty had SILVER of intuition.
fool cholceT Her voice was omi-
nously calm.
Hardin shook Off Innes' eyes. Better
be done with It'll Hes the new gem
eral manager
Hes the general managerW
"I'm to take orders from him."
Gerty's silence was OF the stunned
variety The Hardlns watched her
crumbling bread on the tablecloth,
thinking, fearfully, that she was going
to cry.
Didn't tell your Her voice. re-
pressed, carried the threat of tears.
"Didn't tell you how 1t would be-?
Didn't say that you'd be sorry IL you
called the railroad int"
Must we so over this againT asked
her husband.
"Why didn't you tell me2 Why did
you let me make goose of myself?"
She was remembering that there had
been no protest, no surprise from In
mes. She knew A family secretl
She shrugged. I'm glad, on the whole,
that you planned 1t as surprise. For
| carried 1t of as II we'd not been in
suited, disgraced."
"Gertyp expostulated Hardin.
"Gertyl" implored lines.
"And we are In for nice friendly
linnerl"
"Are you quite finishedT Hardin
got up.
AS the three passed out of the dining
room, Richard cnught their several ex-
pressions: Hardln's stir, Indifferent;
Gerty's brilliant but hard, as she
flashed finished, brave little smile In
his direction. The sisters bow was
distinctly naughty.
In the hall, Gerty's laugh rippled
out. 1t was the laugh Richard remem-
bered. the light frivolous cadence
which recalled the flamboyant pattern
Of the Holmes parlor carpet, the long,
crowded dining table where Gerty had
reigned. 1t told him that she was In
different to his coming. as she meant
il should. Aud II turned him back to
dark corner In the honeysuckle-
draped porch where he had spent so
many evenings with her, where once
he had held her hand. where he told
her that ne loved her. For he had
loved her, or at least he thought he
hadl And had run away from her ex-
pectant eyes. A cad. was he. because
he had brought that waiting look into
her eyes, and had run from it,
Should man ask woman to give
her life into his keeping until he Is
quite sure that he wants It'll He was
revamping his worn defense. should
he live mp to minute of surrender, Of
tenderness II the next instant brings
sanity, aud disillusionmentl He could
bury now forever self-reproach. He
could laugh at his own vanity. Gerty
Hardin. II was easy to see, had forgot
ten what he had whispered to Gerry
Holmes, They met as sober old
friends. That ghost was laid.
CHAPTER v.