The Elbert County tribune., 1919-04-25

months? I'm going to brave 1t QUITO
| the bitter end. even IL bake. 1t is my
| duty" She would make her intention
perfectly clearl There ought to be ut
least one cozy place. one soft nook
that suggests a woman's presence. We
have tea here in the afternoon, some
times. Mr.. Rickard drops In" The
last was a delicate stroke.
Afternoon tea7 At the Front7 Is
this modern warfare?" The girl draped
her irony with smile.
Gerty was stealing n pleased survey
in the mirror through the rough door
that opened into the division called
her bedroom. The sunburned, uncon-
scious profile of Innes was close to her
own. Pink anc golden the head by the
dark one. She looked younger even
than Innesl Good humor returned to
her.
1--WE are going to dine on. the Delta
tonight" She pinned up n "scolding
lock-" an ugly misnomer for her sunny
clinglng curls The mirror was requi-
sitioned again. That's the name of
the new dredge. 1t was christened
three weeks ago, in champagne
brought from Yuma"
"You said dine on the Delta. Do you
mean they have meals there?"
"You should see It," cooed Gerty.
"It's simply elegant. It's floating
hotel, has every convenience. The
camp cook. Ling, has his hands full"
Going to wear that?" They were
standing now by the door of Gerty's
dressing tent. Over the bed white
lingerie gown was spread.
II live in them. It's SO hot" shrugged
Mrs. Hardin.
''Tll look like your maid, Gertyl" In
nes' exclamation was rueful. II didn't
bring anything but khakis. oh, yes 1
remember throwing In, the last minute,
two piques to fill up space"
"Why, we have dances on the Delta,
and Sunday evening concerts. You
knew the work at Laguna dam is being
held up? The government men of the
Reclamation Service are down here all
the time. But it's time to be getting
ready"
Later, Tom fatty refused to accom-
pany them.
81 thought as much" Gerty shrugged
an airy responsibility. Innes could
detect no regret.
They passed cot outside the tent.
"Who sleeps thereY"
''Tom." The eyes of the two women
did not meet.
1nnes made no comment.
"He finds the tent stuffy." Gerty's
lips were prim with reserve. They
walked toward the river In silence. As
they reached the encampment, Gerty
recovered her vivacity.
That's Mr.. Richards office, that
ramada. Isn't 1t quaint? And that's
his tent no, the other one. MacLean's
is next there's Junior. now"
But his eyes were too full of Innes to
see Gerty's dimples. The difference In
the quality of his greetings smote Gerty
like blow. And she had never con-
sidered Toms sister attractive. as a
possible rival. Yet, after handshake,
she saw that to MacLean, Jr., she did
not exist.
Gerty was deeply piqued. Until now.
the field had been hers. She might per-
Toms sister. Boys, she had to con-
cede, the younger men. might find her
attractive. boyishly congenial; older
men would fall to see a charm
The arrangement at table annoyed
Gerty. The boss, MacLean explained
gaily, would not be there for dinner
He might come in later. Two men from
the Reclamation Service tried to enter
tain Mrs. Hardin.
'It isn't a battle" Innes looked
around the gay rectangle. Its play |"
The thought followed her that eve
ming. Outside, where the moonlight
was silvering the deck, and the quiet
river Tapped the sides of the dredge,
Jose's strings, and his amigos" throb-
bling from dark corner, made the IL
fusion Of peace convincing. This was
no battle. 1t was ensy to believe her.
self again at Mare island-the Delta a
cruiser.
Later. Gerty passed her, two-step-
ping divinely. Before her partner
turned his head. Innes recognized the
stiff back and straight poised head and
dancing step of Rickard. She admit
ted he had distinction, grudglng!y. She
could not think of him except compnra-
lively; always antithetically, balanced
against her Tom.
I'm tired; let's rest here" Innss
drew into the shadow of the great arm
of the dredge. They watched the
dapc1rs as they passed, MacLean play
ing the woman In "Pete's" arms. Gerty
with Rickard. two other masculine cou-
pies. The Hardlns were the only wom-
en- aboard.
1t was because of Tom that Innes
felt resentment when the upllfted ap-
pes ling chin. the lace rufiies Huttered
by. Tom, lying outside an unfriendly
tenti
1t was easy. In That uncertain light.