The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1919-08-29
CHAPTER x-Continued.

CHAPTER x-continued.
-
She didn't need to pierce those can.
vas walls to know that there had
been feverish activity for this dinner
A new gown would appear tonight
made secretly. An exquisite meal
and no one must comment on its elab-
Grafton. Twice Tom and she had
been asked to take their lunch at the
hotel. Because Of q headache" A
headache!
Toms wife could not even shop
openly! Bundles had always the air
OF mystery, never opened before Tom
or herself. She must have yards of
stuff laid away. kept for sudden emer.
xcncies
"She can't help 1t. It's her DISPOSE
eiu0- She can't help being secretive
Look at your face, lines Hardin "
What was it I'd her. the pettiness of
q woman whom an accident Of life had
swept upon the beach beside her?
Gerty was not her kind, not the sort
she would pick out for friend. She
was an oriental. one of the harem
wousen. whose business 1t Is in life to
please one man, to keep his home soft.
his comforts ready. keep him con-
WINGED, moreover. that it is the desire
of his life to support her. Herself dis
satisfied. often rebellious, staying by
him for self-interest. not for iove-ah
that was her impeachment. Not low.
sng,'
Soberly she covered her plain bras.
siere with white waist of cotton
dusking. A red leather belt and Grim.
son Il" she added self-consciously
where is my bloodstone pin?"
Hadn't she spent an hour at least
matching that particular leather belt !
f3ut ne was man, in battle. The
headgate held up: it was too bad.
Silent, Bodefeldt. Wooster, Grant, all
at them fightin: mad because of the
deadlock at the Heading All up in
arms, at last, against Marshall. be-
cause OF this cruel cut to their hero,
Hardin. Her eyes glowed like yellow
-s,.ss,s as she recalled their fervid par
,t4sanShio.
Only one man who can save the
Wiley. and that's Tom Hardin" Woos-
ter had said that: but they all be-
tievesd it. The LOYALTY of the force
made her ashamed Of her soft woman
fears For there We're times when
She questioned her brothers ability.
He had large, loose way OF handlin.
things. He was too optimistic. But
-,
It was probably the mans way of
sweeping ahead. ignoring detail. The
verdict Of those tield-tried men told
her that the other, the careful, plan
atng way. was the Office method. Rick
ard. as dinner neighbor, she had
found interesting; but for great I'M
s1ertakings man ''ho would let u
Gerry Holmes jilt him. ruin his life
Tor him! The whole story sprang Mt
Fast Clear from the dropped innuendos.
She adjusted "A barrette in her
Stnoo,hly brushed hair. Slowly she
walked over to the neiShboring tent.
Ass-,y frowneu at the white duck.
"TM s,isht at least have worn your
blue"
You're elegant enough for the two
Of us Isn't that something new?'
Gerty said carelessly that she had
had il for long time. For she had
had che material long time II
wasn't necessary to explain to hel
husbands sister that it had been
made up that week. She hoped that
she didn't look fused up" Would
Mr.. Richard think she was attaching
any Importance TO the simple little
visit? For 1t was nothing to him, OF
course. A man Of his standing, whom
the great Tod Marshall ranked So
nigh, probably dined out several times
each week, With white-capped maids
and candelabra! II Tom had only
made the most Of his opportunities
What a gamble. life to woman!
She made trip into her bedroom
aud took reassuring survey in he,
mirror. The lingerie frock would look
simple to q man who would never
suspect it Of handmade duplicity
kier glass declared the hand-whipped
n,csial'ons casual and elegant. And
q ioug time ago. Il lifetime ago. Rick,
ART had told her that she always
aAouii wear blue. because Of her eyes
tunes from Aae next room could hear