The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1919-02-28
ded the Imperial Valley Of California



here. isn't it," She flashed 1T him the
look he remembered 80 wildly. the
childish coquettish appeal. I'VE dine
ut home, till II becomes tiresome, and
then we come foraging for variety. But
you must come to US. say Thursday. Is
that right for your We should love It."
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-
suade him to take this job.
Hardin waited q acant minute to pro-
test what possessed you to ask him
to dinnerY"
"Why shouldn't I? He Is an old
friend" Gerry caught q glance Of APP
peal, from sister to brother. "Jealous2"
she pouted charmingly at her lord.
Jealous. NO !" bluffed Hardin.
He thought then that she knew. that
Inbes had told her. The Lawrence epi-
sode held no sting to him. Once, it
had enchanted him that he had carried
off the boarding house belle. whom even
lh1At OOVMAl0u QuO AVunu OC0lI AOkC-
bookman! A superior dude! He had
always had those grand airs. AS II 1t
| were not o to u mans credit to
struggle for his education. even il he
were older than his class, or his teach
or, than to accept 1t or silver plates.
handed by la~keys? Richard had al
ways acted as IL 1t had been something
to be ashamed of. 1t made him sick.
They've done II this time. It's .
fool choice"
Again. that look Of pleading from In
mes. Gerry had . shiver Of intuition.
Fool choice7" Her voice was oni-
nensly calm.
Hardin shook Of Innes' eyes. Better
he done with 1t! "He's the new gen
eral manager"
Hes the general managerr"
SIN to take orders from him."
Gerty's silence was Of the stunned
variety. The Hardins watched her
crumbling bread on the tablccl0th,
thinking, fearfully. that she was going
10 CRY.
Didn't I tell your" Her voice. re-
pressed, carried the threat OF tears.
Didn't I tell you how It would be?
Didn't ! shy that you'd be sorry II you
called the railroad ing"
Must we so over this again! ?" asked
her husband.
"Why didn't you tell me? Why did
YOU let me make q goose Of myselfy'
She was remembering that there had
been no protest, no surprise from In
mes. She knew! A family secret!
She shrugged. I'm glad. on the whole.
that you planned 1t as q surprise. For
I carried it of as If we'd not been in
suited. d~isgraced."
"Gerty!" expostulated Hardin.
'Gerty!" lmplored Innes.
"And we are In for q nice friendly
dinner!"
Are you quite finished?" Hardin
got up.
AZ the three passed out Of the dining
room, Richard caught their several ex-
p~ressions: Hardin's stiff, Indifferent;
Gerty's brilliant but hard. as she
flashed a finished, brave little smile in
his direction. The sisters bow was
distinctly naughty.
In the hall. Gerty's laugh rippled
out. It 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. It told him that she was In
different to his coming, as she meant
It should. And 1t turned him back to
q dark corner In the h~oneysuckle-
draped porch where he had spent so
many evenings with her, where once
he had held her hand. where he told
her that he 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 4 man ask q woman to give
her life into his keeping until he Is
quite sure that he wants it, He was
revamping his worn defense. Should
he live up to . minute of surrender. of
tenderness. II the next instant brings
sanity. and disillusionment7 He could
bury now forever self-reproach. He
could laugh at his own vanity. Gerry
Hardln. it was easy to see. had forgot
ten what he had whispered to Gerty
Holmes. They met as sober old
friends. That ghost was laid.
cAAerER "
Il Game Of Checkers.
The uneasy mood of the desert. the
wind-blOwn sand, drove people indoors