The Meeker herald., 1919-09-06

Pink was to ~. bauo too definite. n
parasol Of pastel green, and she looked
like sprig Of fragrant mignonetts.
She found he open space Of the
t1apexium swafming with strange
dark faces. 30 Silent their coming she
had not heard the arrival Of the tribes,
She isolated the Cocopahs, stately a.
bronze statues. their long hair streams
Ing. or wound mud-caked under the
brilliant headcloths. Foregatherina
with them were men Of other tribes:
these must be the Yumas and Degui.
nos, the men needed on the river.
These were the men who were to work
on the RATS. weave the great mat.
tresses. A squad Of short-haired Pi.
mas with their squaws and babies
and their gaudy bundles, capped at the
fair.halred woman a. she passed. The
central space was filing mp with Pi.
mas and Maricopas, Papagoes, too;
she knew them collectively BY Their
shoxt hair. These were brush cutters.
This, then. meant the beginning Of
real activity. Tom would at last be
satisfied. He would no longer sulk
and rage alternately at the hold-up Of
the work.
Before she reached Richards "a.
NADIA she saw that another woman
was there. She caught an impassioned
gesture. Her only surmiss rested on
lines. Gerty saw that she was dark:
she looked the halfbreed. The brown
woman drew back as the white woman
entered. Gerty smiled an airy reas.
surance. She herself would wait. She
did not want to be hurried. She told
Richard that she had plenty Of time.
'There il something you want to tell
mer Richards patience was cour.
teous but nrm. He would hear her er.
rand FIRST. Gerty. remembering the
imploring attitude Of the stranger. de-
termined that she would not be sent
away.
"win you excuse me. senorai II
will be only q minute"
She was to tell her errand. and
brienyi Gerty swept past the intruder.
"Sit down. Mrs. Hardin"
Resenting the infection. she said
she would stand. Her voice was
little hard. her eyes were yelled. a
she told her mission. Her usual au.
ency dragged: she felt lack Of sym,
patty. In short. she proposed . com.
mlssary department. herself in charge
I'D like to feel was Of some use"
urged Gerry. my heart 10 bound up
in this undertaking: II I'm allowed t.
stay. I'd like to help along. This Il
the only way can, the woman's way
"Aren't you taking q good deal q
yourself. Mrs. Hardinr
Then she forgavs his hesitatios
quite, a. It was Of her he was think
Ing. "Not II It hsips." Her voacs wa
low and soft, a. u this were Q secsvt
between them.
why. Of course. anything you want
Mrs. Hardin" And. remembering hen
former position. he added. The camps
yours ~ much - mine"
4 glad smile rewarded hin. M
went out. reluctantly. There was
new sisnincanes In MacLean's abssnes
from the ramada. What could that
woman have to say that NaeLea1
must not heart For the nfst time
the weak tenure on her old lover CAM
to her. Not . Sign had he Jet gives
Of their understanding. Of the piquant
situation. Themselves old swsetheartA
thrown together In this wilderness
What had she built her hopes ont 4
word here, q translated phrase, q
masnined glance. She would not har
Dor the new worry. Why. It would b
all right In the meantime she would
show them all what . woman With
executive ability could do.
-Sit down. sonora" said Richard II
the brown woman. Naldooado's wtfA
Don't b frightened. We woa't lsl
him hurt you" Richard vulgartsed
his Castilian to The reach Of hee suds
dialect. Familiar - was Richard WITH
the psons' speech In thsle own eeaD
@zuMlNH