Henderson daily dispatch., 1937-12-29

1t had given all the facts--that |
you work like a slave, while I twid-
die my thumbs, we should be the
laughing stock of st. Louis"
"Do you think I care" 1 flung
out furiously, what st. Louis
thinks 2"
II care" obstinately, "they are
my people"
There seemed to be nothing to
say in answer to that, so we rode
on in silence. I had had another
letter which I did not show Mimi.
It was from the employment
agency, and it gave me no encour-
agement. At this season of the
year women preferred work in the
hotels to that on ranches. They
might be able to do better for me
later.
The news seemed at the moment
appalling. That very morning our
half-breed, Sally, had left us. She
and her husband had felt the call
of the open road, and she was 60
ing back to visit her own people
until cold weather came on.
I had cooked the breakfast, and
had carried Minis chocolate in to
her. She had been adorable in a
frilly blue negligee and lace cap.
The contrast between the luxury
encompassed by the four walls of
her room, and the state of the
kitchen after Sally's hurried de-
parture, had been startling. I had
sat and talked with her, trying to
make a joke Of it all, while my
heart was like lead.
I proposed, before left her, that
she should ride to the postofice
with me. I had found that out of
doors she was more like herself.
The untidiness of the house op-
pressed her, weighed on her spirits.
While she dressed I had made
things as straight as I could. re-
fused to face the fact that we
should have stayed at home, to
bring some kind of order out of the
awful chaos of Sally's housekeep-
ing.
Yet, should we have stayed?
And why face facts? It was with
a sort of at-drink- and be-merry
attitude that had closed the door
behind us, and had left Jason on
guard.
To push the joys Of our adven-
ture to it's extreme limits, I sug-
gested later that we ride back to
the house-get the little car, and
motor to the hotel for luncheon.
When we returned that night we
could have a picnic supper-there
would be no dishes, no cares until
the next day.
Mimi was at once lighted by
anticipation. you're a darling,
Jerry" And so young was I, so
ready to be happy, that I flung all
forebodings away from me, and
took my holiday with a. will.
When we entered the hotel, we
were much observed. We still
wore our riding clothes, and we
created, as always, a sensation. I
was picturesque in corduroys and
broad sombrero, while Mimi, in
gray, with her peacock feather,
was like q gallant boy.
I asked for a room, that we
might make ourselves presentable,
and when I had signed for it I cast
my eyes idly over the names on the
register.
Then, suddenly, the world turned
black. There was a scrawled sig
nature which seemed to have sim
lister significance; a name I should
never have looked for in that place.
I lost my nerve completely. I
wanted to pick Mimi up and fly
with her back to our ugly red
painted house and shut her in. I
was overwhelmed by a sense of i'm
pending catastrophe.
I controlled myself, however, and
followed the boy to our room. AS
the bright light from the window
streamed upon me, saw Mimi OBJ
serving me with some curiosity.
elbow pale you are, Jerry? Aren't
you well? ?"
I caught at that as giving me a