Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1935-10-10
CHAPTER VI-Continued

Its pitiless climbing, the road dropped
past a gathering of bluffs with look
of Indian fighting and a more recent
frontier, and came to Council Bluffs
to the broad bed of the Missouri river
with it's flats blackish and dry like
emery, and to the end of Iowa. Across
the river, there was the solidity, clam
or, and business of Omaha-the first
metropolis in so many swift miles
that Hal for once felt like country
man, come to cape at the sights. But
black -and-white route numbers under
Nebraslla's covered wagon marked an
escape from such frailty; and they
started for Lincoln, which Kerrigan
assured Hal was not on a longer way
and contained something worth look
ing at.
1t did. Straight up into the hot,
broad Nebraska afternoon, a slit shaft
of gray rose, dry and clean-sided, from
the terrace of square-spread build
ing. And where the high shaft ended
in it's gold, blunt cap Sewer crooked
his bronze arm full-muscled, fat
seedbag slung to the family arrogant
rhythm of his shoulders, his walk sure
and familiar upon the earth that re-
ceived the strewn handfuls and would
give them back to his labor.
Pulsipher said, 'Tha-tha-that's
the new state capitol, amt it?"
what would it be, old Gaunt," Ker-
rigan growled from the cigarette cor
ner of his mouth: "the Mauretania ?"
After lunch, Barry came to the front
seat beside Hal, Doc leaping eagerly
to her lap.
"Kerrigan says I'm to sit here,' she
said.
"Bless Kerrigan," said Hal
"He's an old peach" said Barry soft
~. "And he likes you a little, 1 think.
l wonder why" Then, more freshly,
"Hal, could we drive down to the cap
itol for one closer look at it?"
Let's" said Hal. won't take
minute. You know the real way to
make up your mind about it would be
to sleep on your first look and see it
again in the morning"
give made up my mind" said Barry.
Il think it's grand. could do with
out some of those names around the
outside, and the gold behind that relief
Of the covered wagon over the door,
and l don't think the buffaloes beside
the steps are strong enough, but"
"But outside Of that you like it,"
said Hal, grinning when you get to
be as old as I, you'll know one look
isn't"
Get to be as old as" she said,
affecting difficulty with her smile.
"Why, darn you, I'm old enough to be
your"
Daughter, in some ways" said Hal
blandly.
'Would you rather changed places
again?" she said. I'm darned if I'll be
put in my place by you-a mere-a
mere"
"A mere will do,' said Hal. "I've
never been called that before, but /
like It,"
what d'you know about life, any,
way?" she said, rueful mockery of
anger in her eyes.
Hal stopped to watch the slowly
passing features of the building and
said: swell, had parrot during the
psittacosis scare: fear of his getting
the fever aged me good deal"
"a parrot?" said Barry, quickly bright
ened. Gosh, how I've wanted par
rot! All my life. Was he fun?'
IAN absolute genius" said Hal.
when we get to Los Angeles, I'll
telegraph for him and you shall have
him." With the others all leaning to
the windows, Hal turned to her and
held her sobered eyes with all the
eagerness which her near, actual pres
ence commanded Barry" he said
quickly, and very low; 81 love you. l
haven't told you today, and it's harder
because it's more than yesterday-so
much more that"
"That you'd give me your parrot"
said Barry, and brittle stiffness held
her eyes, wooden quality the lovely
lips that said it.
Halls look hardened In the shock of
that treachery to his tenderness. "At
least" he said after clouded second,
you don't look as though you thought
that was so funny. Why the devil did
you say itT Where had that wretched,
stealthy shadow come from?
She let out the last of her breath
and turned her head helplessly, star
ing off through the windshield while
little shining wet trimmed her lower
lids. Then she leaned partly across