The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-04-18

Pink was too hot, blue too definite. A
parasol Of pastel green, and she looked
like sprig of fragrant mignonette.
She found the open space of the
trapezium swarming with strange
dark faces. So silent their coming she
had not heard the arrival of the tribes.
She isolated the Cocopahs, stately AS
bronze statues, their long hair streams
ing, or wound mud-caked under the
brilliant headcloths. Foregathering
with them We're 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 mat4
tresses. A squad Of short-haired Pi4
mas with their squaws and babies
and their gaudy bundles, gaped at the.
fair-haired woman as she passed. The
central space was filling up with Pr
mas and Maricopas, Papagoes, too;
she knew them collectively by their
shoHt hair. These were brush cutters
This, then, meant the beginning OF
real activity. Tom would at last be
satisfied. He would no longer sullz
and rage alternately at the hold-up of
the work.
Before she reached Richards RAJ
NADIA she saw that another woman
was there. Size caught an imprisoned
| gesture. Her emily surmise 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 is something you want to tell
me-" Richards patience was cour-
teots but firm. He would hear her err
rand first. Gerty, remembering the
imploring attitude of the stranger, de-
termined that she would not be sent
away.
"Will you excuse me, senora7 1t
will be only minute"
She was to tell her errand, and
briefly! Gerty swept past the intruder.
"Sit down, Mrs. Hardin"
Resenting the infection, she said
she would stand. Her voice was a
little hard her eyes were yelled, as
she told her mission. Her usual flu
ency dragged: she felt lack of sym
pathy. In short, she proposed a com
missary department, herself in charge.
I'D like to feel was Of some use"
urged Gerty. MY heart is bound up
in this undertaking; if I'm allowed to
stay, I'd like to help along This is
the only way can, the woman's way"
"Aren't you taking a good deal on
yourself, Mrs. Hardin?''
Then she forgave his hesitation
quite, as it was Of her he was think.
!. ing. mot if it helps" Her voice was
low and soft, as if this were secret
: between them.
''Why. of course, anything you want
Mrs. Hardin" And remembering hel
former position, he added. 1.-THE camp;
$ yours as much as mine"
A glad smile rewarded him. She
went out, reluctantly. There was 6
I new significance in MacLean's absence
from the ramada. What could thai
u woman have to say that MacLeaI
Il must not hear? For the first time
S the weak tenure on her old lover came
It to her. Not sign had he yet giveI
of their understanding, of the piquant
y situation. Themselves old sweethearts
, thrown together in this wilderness
A What had she built her hopes on?
o word here, translated phrase, o.
# magnified glance. She would not har
d Dor the new worry. Why, it would b.
e all right. In the meantime she woult
l. show them all what woman witt
executive ability could do.
10 "Sit down, sonora" said Richard Il
n the brown woman, Maldonado's wife
d Don't be frightened. We won't lie
$, him hurt you" Richard vulgarize,
i his Castilian to the reach of her rud
V. dialect. Familiar as was Richard wit
n the poems speech in their own coun