Nebraska Newspapers

    THE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE, NORTH PLATTE, NEBRA8KA.
The River
When the Colorado Burst Its Banks and
Flooded the Imperial Valley sf California
By EDNAH AIKEN
Copyrlaht, Bobbs-Merrlll Company
CHAPTER XIX Continued. I "Wo huvo nil tlio homo comforts, I nrd, sho wns the only woman there!
-10 hnven't we? Why shouldn't we bo coin- Becnuso she wus Tom's sister, sho hutl
Marshall's voice halted them. "Men fortuhlo when we are to ho here for a right to resent It, to refuse- to meet
of tho vullcv." Tho audience. Bwuyed months? I'm going to brave It out to his eye. Small wonder Tom did not
Hgnlri, listened. "Hear mc. Tho rlv- tho bitter end, even If I bake. It Is my come to the Delta 1
orB running nway again down yonder, duty" Sho would make her l-itentton Going In with MncLean, Jr., to tho
This Is a message from Itlckard. It's perfectly clear I "There ought to bo nt mcssroom for n glass of water, sho met
broken through the levee. It's started least one cozy place, one soft nook Itlckard, on his way out. Sho mnn
for the valley. Now, who's going to that suggests a woman's presence. Wo aged to avoid shaking hands with hhn.
stop It? Can you? Where's your have tea hero In the afternoon, some- She wondered why sho had consented
force, your equipment? Who can rush times. Mr. Itlcknrd drops In. Tho to give him tho next wnltz,
to that call but the company you are last was u delicate stroke. "He'll not find me," sho determined.
hounding? I gavo you Faraday's mos- "Afternoon tea? At the Front? Is MncLean followed her glndly to-tho
age. Ills hand's on the table. Not this modern warfare?" The girl draped dark corner of the deck whore's Jose's
nnother cent from him unlesA you her Irony with n smile. guitar was then syncopating an nccom
withdraw thbso suits. You say you Gorty was stealing a pleased survey punlment to his "umlgo's" voice
have given mo your answer, Ulnck's In tho mirror through the rough door To her surprise, Itlckard peuetrated
answer. Now tho river plays n trick, that opened Into tho division called her curtain of shadows.
at calls your bluff. Shall wo stop the her bedroom. Tho sunburned, uncon- "Our dance, iMIss Hardin? Glvo us
river, men of tho valley? Wo can. scions pronio of limes was close to her a0hr' Las Olns,' again, Jose."
Will you withdraw your suits? You own. rink nnd golden the head by Hie Tho hand that barely touched his
ran. What Is your answer. now, Im- tfnrlc one. alio looked younger oven nrm was stiff with nntngonlsm. Sho
perlal valley?" than Inncsl Good humor returned to told herself that ho had to danco with
Tho scene broke Into bedlam. Men her. her politeness, conventionality, do
'Jumped to their chairs, to tho velvet "Wo are going to dlno on the Delta manded it. Hut, Instantly, sho forgot
rim of the boxes, nil talking, scream- tonignt. ano pinned up a -scorning i,cr resentment, and forgot their awk
log, gesticulating at once. Tho Yellow iock," an ugiy misnomer ror tier sunny ward rciatlon. It wns his dnuclng, not
Dragon was never so fearfully vlsunl- clinging cunsi mo mirror was rcqui- Oertv's. then, that was "sunerb." Anv
leed. Ouf of tho chaos of men's voices sltloned again. "That's tho nnmo of bodv could find skill under tho leader
camo n woman's shriek. "For God's tho now dredge. It was christened Bi,in of timt irrc8iutlblo sten. And then
unko, save our homes." It pitched tho three weeks ngo, In champagne ti,0 motion claimed her. Sho thought
panic noto. "Snve tho valley I Stop brought from Yuma.' or nothlng; they moved as ono to the
tho river I" "ou saiu umo on mo ucitn. uo you ilqud fnin,1K i,ent.
Mnrslmlra Indian eyes were reading mean tney navo menis mere The ihubIc (hopped them suddenly,
thnt mass of scared faces as though It You should seo It," cooed Gcrty. solatlng them nt tho stern of tho deck
wero n sheet of typed paper. "Bnrton," "It's simply elegant. It's a floating The silence was complete. Itlcknrd
ho called through the din. "Whcro's hotel, has every convenience Tho broke u to nsk her what sho thought of
Barton?" camp cook, liing, lias ins nanus run." til0 enmn.
Two men lifted Hnrton's puny fig- "Uoing to wear that?" They wero ncr resentments were recnlled. Sho
uro upon their shoulders. His vlbrnnt standing now by tho door of Gcrty's blundered through her Impression of
volco rolled nbovo tho shouting. "Tho dressing tent, uver uie uea a wnito the lightness, tho gnyety.
volley withdraws Its suits ngalnst tho lingerie gown wns spread. a work camp docs not havo to bo
company." "I Hvo In them. It's so hot," shrugged siemn. You'll find nil tho grlraness
"Thou tho company," yelled Mar- airs, nnrdln. vou want If you look bencnth the sur
shalrs oratory, "tho compnny with- i n looic iiko your mnid, uorty I" in- fncc,
draws tho river from tho vnlley!" ties' exclamation wns rueful. "I didn't The irulturs wero tuning un. "Shall
Pandemonium wns loose. There were bring anything but khnkls. Oh, yest I j take you back? I havo this danco
cnoers, nnd tho sound or women sou- rcmoniDer tnrowing in, tno inst minute, Wlth your sister."
blng. Bnrton was carried out on tho two piques to fill up space." gi,0 thought of Tom on his lonely
shoulders of his henchmen. Black led "Why, wo have dunces on tho Deltn, cot outside his tent. Sho forgot that
n crowd out, hnrnngulng to tho street, nnd Sundny evening concerts. You i,0 i,nd been asked a question. Ho
On tho street, Murshnll fell back to know tho work at Laguna dam Is being was dnnclng again with Gerty I If thnt
MncLcnn. "That wns n neat trick tho held tip? Tho government men of tho snjy uttic womau had no scruples, no
river throw In our hands." nis volco Iteclnmution Servlco nro down hero nil fln0 feeling, this man should nt least
bad droppod from oratory; tho dc- tho time. But It's tlmq to bo getting guard iier. if h0 had been her lover,
rendy. ho should be careful : ho must seo that
Later, Tom flatly refused to nccom- people were tulklng of them. Sho had
pany tnom. sccn tho glances that evening 1 Tho
"I thought as much." Gerty shrugged business rciatlon between tho two men
nn airy Irresponsibility. Innes could I should "Suggest tact, if not decency I It
detect no regret. Wns outrageous,
They pnssed a cot outside tho tent. itlcknrd stood wnltlna to bo dls
I "Who sleeps there?" missed: puzzled. Through tho uncer-
"Tom." Tho byes of the two women tain light, her anger camo to him. Sho
did not meet. looked tnller. older: thero wns a flarao
innes mauo no comment. 0f accusing passion in her eyes.
"Ho finds tho tent stuffy." Gerty's it wns his mlnuto of revelntlon. So
lips wero prim with rcsorvp. They that was what tho camp thought l Tho
wnlked toward tho river In silence. As wfo of Hardin Hardin 1 Why. he'd
they reached tho encampment, Gerty been only nollto to her they were old
recovered her vlvnclty. friends. What had ho said to call down
"That's Mr. Itlckard's ofllco, that this sudden scorn? "Dancing again "
ramndn. Isn't It quaint? And that's Hml hn boon nil kinds of nn ass?
.... .. i "
his tent; no, tho other ono. MacLcan's
Is next ; there's Junior, now."
But his eyes wero too full of Innes to
seo Gerty's dimples. Tho difference In
tho quality of his grcotlngs smote Gerty
llko n blow. And sho hnd never con
Estrada hesitated over his answer. nn lnnusplclous day for Mrs. Hardin's
"You uro a friend of Tom's, Mr. Es- visit. Things hnd gone wrong. Vex-
trndn?"
"Surely ! But I ntn nlso nn ndmlrer
of Mr. Itlcknrd, I menn of his methods.
I can never forget tho levee."
Sho hnd to ncknowledgo thnt Itlck
nrd hnd scored there. And tho bum-
ntlons were piling up. A tilt with Har
din thnt morning, n telegram from
Marshall; he was feeling sore. Des
perately they needed labor. Woostor
had Just reported, venomously, It ap
peared to Itlckard's spleen, Increasing
lug of tho machinery hnd left n wound drunkenness nm'ong tho hidlnns
thnt sho still must salve. Gerty's ruffles swept In. Her dress,
"You havo no confidence In tho tho blue mull with tho lace medallions,
gate?" nccented tho hue of her eyes, and
"Tho conditions hnvo chnnged," looked dcllcloUsly cool that glaring
urged Estrndn. "You've seen tho mess, ucsert day. Her parasol, or pongee,
was lined with tno some nany nue.
Her dainty fairness nnd childish af
fnhlllty should hnve made nn oasis In
that strenuous day, but. Itlckard's dis
integration of temper was -too com
plete. He rose stlflly to meet her, nnd
his manner demanded her errand.
She told It to him, plnlntlvcly. ner
eyes wero appealing, Infantile. Would
It be too much to nsk, would Mr.
Itlcknrd mind In tho least, he must bo
perfectly frank and tell her If they
would be In the wtiy nt nil, but while
this hot spell lasted, could they, the
three of them, cat In the mess tent
with the men?
"Surely I" Itlckard met It heartily,
She would find it rough, but if sho
could stand It, yes, ho thought It a
good lden,
And then there wns nothing for her
to do but go. Her retreat was grace
ful, without hasto, dignified. Sho
smiled a farewell nt MncLean, who
was watching tho nppronch of Innes
nnrdln and Estrada. Itlcknrd did not
see tho nborted entrnnco of Hardin's
sister and the young Mexican. Ho
was Itching to be at his work.
Ho let out n growl when Mrs. nnr
dln was out of earshot.
"Shucks I What In Halifax do worn
en come to n place like this for?
There's Hardin brings In two women
to cook for him, and now, please may
they nil eat with the men?"
His secretary subdued n chuckle
right, n hurry-up defense. Mnrshnll Ho was vlsunllztng a procession of
nil along Intended tho concrete gate boxes of cholco Ilnvnpns from Bode
for tho permnnent lntnke. Have you feldt, Hamlin and tho rest of the
seen the gnp tho nardln gate Is to gang. He need not buy a smoke for
close? Hnve you heard what the last u year.
Hoods did to It? It's now twenty-six nicwrd throw himself hnrk In his
hundred feet, and Disaster island, chair. ..Tahe this letter, MacLean. To
wnicn your urotner pinnneu to aucuor Marshall." Then his worrv diverted
to, swept away I If It can be done, It htm. "Who-ln thunder Is selling liquor
win, you can rest assured, wun hick- to my Indians?"
m 1 A TT X 1. A I
nru - no saw mo iiarum mouui uieu .(1Tnlfl nn . Hlnf ,,. v.
-"and your brother's zeal, and tho get the honm MncLenD( nnd w
strcngm or mo rnuronu nac or mem. rlde uown to Maldonndo's. It's his
Tho camp formed n hollow trape- place to ston this llnuor business, not
zium ; tno iiardins' tents, nnu Airs. mine
uowuer's, were isolated on tno snort a few hours later thev wero nn
parallel. Rlckard's ramnda and his pr0nchlng the ndobo walls of Mnldo
tent wero huddled with tho engineers'. nado. They found the gnte locked. A
Across, townrd the river, behind Ling's woman, whoso beauty hnd fnded Into
mesqultcs, begnn nnother polygon, tho a tragic whisper, a ghastly twilight of
camp or roremon anu wnito moor, suggestion, came to their knock, nnd
She Waved Her Hand Gayly.
tent? As It wns planned, It wns all
"My turn, Miss Innes I" demanded
MacLcnn, Jr,
"Oh, yes," sho cried, relief In her
tono.
Itlcknrd did not claim his 'danco
with Mrs. nnrdln. Ho stood where
Gerty Welcomed Her Stiffly.
claiming flro was gone from tho black
sldered Tom's sister nttructlve, ns n tho glrl lm,i left him, thinking. A few
possible rival. Yet. after n handshake, minutes later, Gcrty swept by in tho
ioa mm w unciA-nn, jr., im uia anm of Breck. Lntcr, camo Innes
not exist. with .Tnnlnr? tlin twn. .thlnklntr tlnm.
Gerty wns deeply piqued. Until now, Rlvn nnsPPn. rn'mnlnir through n two.
tho field hnd been hers. Sho might per- stfm ,ikn tAVn vminL children, no wns
haps hnvo to chango her opinion of novcr Bhown that sido of her. Gay ns
Tom's sister. Boys, sho had to con- VMme kitten, chnttlnir merrllv with
cede, tho younger men, might And her MacLean I Should her eyes discover
attractive, uuyismy congenial; oiuer ,,, sho wouiu bo again tho haughty
men wuuiu inu to seo u cunrmi vminir -wmnnn I
Tho arrangement nt tnblo nnnoyed
He'd gone out of his way to be po
Gcrty. Tho boss MncLean explained to to tho wlfo of IItmlln WhfU m
eves. "It's onlv n break in tho lovee. .n ... i.i i. .i.
nieknrd snvs ho can control It: estl- V" ""T ho caro what thoy thought? Ho'd flu-
tnatos two weeks or so. It may cost thp iteeinnmtlnn Service, tried tn ontor. ,Bh. w" 3o.b' .nnd E.ct out
iuo u. i: n row tuousnnu uounrs, out tain Mrs. nardln.
It saved them nnir a million, inow
"It Isn't ,n hnHi." Tnnon InMrml
we'll have that gamo of poker, Mac- nrol,nd tho gay rectangle. "It's piny J"
I.Afltl I I .... .. ..... . ...
The thought followed her that ovo-
A mlnuto lntcr, ho wns being rowed
back to camp.
Lean I
In tho balcony, Hardin was staring
nt Brandon,
"if that wasn't tho devil's own
luck!"
CHAPTER XXI.
A Complete Camp.
"Complete, lsn('t It?" Estrada was
CHAPTER XX.
nlng. Outside, whero tho moonlight
wns silvering tho deck, and tho quiet
river lapped tho sides of tho dredge, tonMne intX0f, nnrdln through ti. .
Tada'ii ttfrlnrra nmT lila ''fimlfri'Q1' 41iiiK- I
.My ... ...a ....uu -i iMneors uuarters
1 I M . . , 1 1 I . 1 I "
ning irom u uuns corner, uinuu mo il
lusion ol ijouco gouviucniB. auia wns tjor Krother hnd told hep Iironl?
A Soft Nook. no battle It wns easy to bellove her- fnHt thnt mnrnlne how pmmiiv ii.v
Innes traveled, gleefully, In a ca- self again at Muro Island tho Delta n hnil ,.,, wnstinir timn ! Sim wniii
Joosc, from llumiln Junction to tho cruiser not let herself ndmlro tho precision of
leading. Sho could not stay nway a Later, Gorty passed her, two-step-1 tho arrangements, tho showers back of
day lougerl Never before had Los ping divinely. Uoforo her purtner Lti.n .vhtt mu nUnrtors. tho mosnnit.
. . .1 1 Tt 1 ..I i .1 I . I .. t 1 T (...! .1. . I " '
Angeies ueen n uiacipunc. vny una it iuiuc-u iu jiuuu, iiinea rccoKmzi'u i" shaded kitchen. Gerty s clabornto set
crettou ner, mauo uer restless, uome- suit uacn ami strnigui poiseu neau nnu tjjng wna 0I piecCt jt would seem,
lck? Then sho hnd discovered tho dnnclng step of Itlcknrd. Sho ndmlt- wHh fhn now ,nnnnCmCnt. Hnnanl
reason; history wus going on down ted ha hnd distinction, grudgingly. Slip i.ecpnK not fighting, then, the now
yonacr. uoing ou, wimuut iior. ano i mum uui uuuii i nun uxcupi uumimiu- order of things 1
Knew thnt that was what was pulling tiveiy; niwnys nntitueticniiy, unianceu Tom wnB nnro to gcit j,S gato aonQ
nor; mat oniyi uguinst ner -ioiu. Sho icnew what It meant to him: to
Tho exodus of engineers had started "I'm tired ; let's rest here." Innes tho vnlley. Tho flood waters had to
rlverwaru in July, ucrty went with urcw into tho shadow of the great nrm i.n onntroiinii. Timt ihmomloii. t
fXom, and sho hnd mndo It distinctly of tho dredge. They watched tho imd nroved to her. on tho gate. And
wear mat it wns not necessary ror in- iinncers as thoy passed, MncLean piny- tho men danco nnd piny house, ns If
nes to rouow mem. muicuious ror two ing tho wonmn In "reto's" arms, uerty they wero children, nnd every dny
women to couuio n xom iinnitn i un- with KicKard, two other masculine cou- counting I
less Innes had n special Interest I pies. Tho Iiardins wero tho only worn- sh0 thought sho wns keeping her nc-
Her prldo had kept her nwny. But tn nbourd. cusntlous to herself, but Estrada wus
from uiu not wrlto; Uorty's letters wero It wns because of Tom thnt Innes watching her face.
oclal and unsatisfactory; tho nowspa- felt resentment when tho uplifted up- "Wo nro here, you know, for n sleee.
er reports Inflamed her. Tho day bo- penllng chin, tho lnco rulllea fluttered There uro months of work uhcad, hot
iforo sho had wired Tom thnt sho wna by. Tom, lying outside un unfriendly months, hnrd months. Tho men hnvo
coming. Bho hnd to bo thero nt tho tent 1 got to bo kent well and contented. W
nu! It was easy, In that uncertain light, enn't loso nny Umo by sickness" Ho
I uenjr woicoraeu nor siimy, Assum- to avoid mcunru's glnnco or rccogni- wnnteu to mid "una dissensions." Tho
lag n conscientious hostess-ship, sho tlon. Estrada, who had como aboard split camp was painful to him, an Es
aught flro nt her waning enthusiasms, with tho mannger, sought her out, nnd trndn. "Even nfter wo finish tho gate,
' Gorty looked younger nnd prettier, then Crothors of tho O. P. Aguln, sho If .wo do finish It"
Her flush nccentunted her childish fen- snw Illckurd dnnclng with tho lingerie Sho wheeled on him, her eyes glenm
tnre& which wero smiling down her an- gown. There seemed to ho no attempt Ing llko deep yellow jewels. "You'vo
poynnco over thw uninvited visit. I tn cover Gerty's prefcreuco; for Hick- never thought wo could finish itl"
Somo of these tents wero empty.
"la this Mexico, or tho States?"
asked Innes.
"Mexico." Sho wondered why ho
unbarred the gate for the whlto
strangers. Mystery hung over tho In
closure like n pall.
Itlckard told his errand. Mnldonado
halted so nbruptly. Sho did not see, sputtered nnd swore. By the mother
for tho giuro in ner eyes, a woman's 0f Mnry the VIrcln. that thlnir would
skirt in the rnmndn they nppronencu. bo stopped, ne showed to the senors.
Estrndn marched on. with pride, his badge. Ho was a ru
Outside tho ramada, tho two women rale ; he was there to uphold the law,
met Gerty's step carried her past no had caught somo of those drunken
llko a high-bred horse, ner high heels Indians on tho road. Ho hod brought
cut Into the hard sand. Thero wns n them here.
suggestion of prance In her mien. Sho Maldonado showed-thrco men In n
wnved her hnnd gnyly nt the two, locked shed, deep in drunken stupor,
cried, "How hot It Is l" nnd pnssed on. Ho thought the liquor wns obtained
Innes snw Itlcknrd nt his long pine somewhere bnck In the sandhills. Ho
tnblo used for a desk. would find the place. But the senor
"I can seo It all from here." Not for must bo patient; his bunds were so
money would tho sister of Tom Hut- iu"-
din go In I Both men wero glnd to get nwny
At tnblo. thnt evening, her family from tho place and Mnldonndo. Ob
heard with surprise Gerty's announce- vlously ho wns n bruto; undoubtedly
ment thnt they wero to ent In tho mess ho wns n liar.
tent with the men. It was too hot to
took nnv Joncer: this hud been one of CHAPTER XXI 1 1.
tho hottest days In tho year.
Shn exneeted to henr n nrotest to A wnito woman and a Brown.
tho nnw iirrnntromnnt from Tom. Sho or a w weexs airs, unruin round
w.s tn Ron n now dnveloninont sullen tlo me8S ont diverting. Before the
reslgnntlon. If he would nccept it, sho P,elta hnd, expanded tho capneity of
must not nrmin. Both sister nnd broth. l"u t",u' "vi ou" "uuu "llu uuo" vel'
Inmv II-'wna inn wnrm in nnnr tnXCd, her llOSpItnllty Strained. TllO
. i-.. men of tho reclamation service, thrown
o-- I I , nnnt..l..
to accept tho opportunity created for
nnother. Fnlllng thnt other, her zenl
A Visit to Maldonado. "T....- "? .7' .r' , . t,.: . ' . "JT
Mrs. Hnrdln's descent on tho ofllco sorh0d. Mrs. Hnrdln tol.l horsoif thnt
tnnt ntteruoon wns successiui, out not u wns the ,lcl,t she w,she(1 tQ cscn
miuaiuviui ). oi.u ..uu mu.m u.u iuuu- not to hec own enr (j,d she whlsper
ngcr brief to curtness. Sho wns given tlmt sho wns following Itlcknrd, nor
no excuse to linger, ano traceu hick- ti,llt thn nPr.olntnr nnd HinflnP iIIhIi
i . ii -a v I rt -.
nru s munner to mo presence oi Aino her shelves and tov kitchen wero
Lenn, nnd snntched nt her cue. She. wnsted effort. She kept on good terms
too, couiu oo ousmessiiKo nnu oner. wIth herself by Ignoring self-confi
iter crranu was or nusmess ; ner mnn-1 donees.
UUr Hiiuum tutuiumum nvi I TMnlrnnV lin ilUr-nvoi-v ttnfnlrlnil
lucunrd hnd seen her mnuing si0wl.v. took his mculs lrreuulnrlv. HI
strnlght toward tho ramada. It was breakfast was gulped down before tho
not me nrst time; ncr enorts to line women appeared; his dinners where
ner nest nau invoivcu mem an nnu i10 found them.
often. But todny, ho was In a bad .No wonder!" reflected Gerty liar
humor. din. "Line's cooklne is so bad." Small
"For tho Lord's sake," he groaned wonder tho manager foraged for his
to Ainci.can as sno nppronencu. meals.
MacLenn's grin covered relief, no hnd Sho worked out a mission ns sho
never heard Itlckard express himself lay across her bed thnt hot afternoon
on tho subject bofcre. "Tho dead-set Her duty becamo so clear thnt sh
Uardln's wlto was making nt Cnsey," could no longer lie still. Immedlntcly
wns tho cholco gossip nnd speculation she must retrieve her weeks of Idle
of tho young engineers on tho Delta, ncss; whnt must Itlcknrd think of her?
MncLenn hnd n bet up on tho outcome. Sho buttoned herself thoughtfully Into
Ho grinned icoro securely. a frock of polo colored muslin, cream
"I am not golnj to sparo any more slipping toward canary. Whlto was
curpcuters," growled Rkkard, It was 1 too glaring ou a rod-hot day llko this.
Pink was too hot, blue too definite. A)
parasol of pastel green, and she looked'
like n sprig of fragrant mlgnonetto.
She found the open spaco of thof
trapezium swarming with Strang
dark faces. So silent their coming sho
had not henrd the nrrlvnl of tho trlbai
Sho lsolnted tho Gocopnhs, stately s
bronze statues, their long hair strcnni-J
Ing, or wound mud-caked under the)
brllllnnt headcloths. Forcgathcrlnjn
with them were men of other tribes;)
these must bo the Yumns nnd Degul-1
nos, the men needed on the river..
These wero the men who wero to work
on the rafts, wenve the grent mnt
trcsses. A squad of short-hnlrcd Pi
mns with their squaws nnd hnblutf
and their gnudy bundles, gaped at the
fair-haired woman ns she passed. Thoi
central spnee wns filling up with Pi-I
mns nnd Murlcopns, Pupugocs, too
she knew them collectively by thelrl
shout hnlr. These were brush cutteraJ
This, then, mennt the beginning of,
renl activity. Tom would nt last boj
satisfied. Ho would no longer sulk)
und rnge nltcrnntely at tho hold-up oC
tho, work.
Before she reached Rlckard's rnJ
mada sho saw that nnother womnnl
wns there. She cnught nn Impassioned
gesture. Her only surmise rested on!
Innes. Gerty snw that she wns dnrk ?
she looked tho halfbreed. Tho browni
woman drew back as the white woman.
entered. Gerty smiled nn airy reas
surance. She herself would wait. Sho
did not want to be hurried. Sho told
Itlcknrd that she had plenty of tlmo.
"There Is something you wnnt to tell
me?" Itlckard's patience wns cour
teous but firm. He would hear her er
rand first. Gerty, remembering tho
Imploring attitude of the stranger, de
termined that sho would not be sent
nwny.
"Will you excuse me, senora? It
will bo only a minute."
She was to tell her errand, and
briefly I Gerty swept past tho Intruder.
"Sit down, Mrs. Hnrdln."
Resenting the Inflection, she snld
sho would stand. Her voice wns a
little hnrd, her eyes were veiled, na
she told her mission. Her.usunl flu
ency dragged ; she felt n Inck of sym-
pnthy. In short, sho proposed u com
missary department, herself In chnrge.
I'd llko to feel I wns of somo use,"
urged Gerty. "My henrt Is bound up
In this undertaking; If I'm allowed to
stny, I'd like to help nlong. This Is
tho only way I enn, tho womnn's way."
"Aren't you taking n good dpal on
yourself, Mrs. Hnrdln?"
Then she forgave his hesitation
quite, as it was of her ho was think
ing. "Not If it helps." Her votco wns
low nnd soft, ns If this were n secret
between them.
Why, of course, anything you wnnt.
Mrs. Hnrdln." And, remembering her
former position, he ndded, "Tho enmp'a
yours ns much ns mine."
A glnd smile rewnrded him. She
went out, reluctnntly. Thero wns a
new significance In MncLcnn's absence
from the ramada. What could that
woman have to say that MacLenn
must not henr? For the first time
the weak tenure on her old lover came
to her. Not a sign had he yet given
of their understanding, of the piquant
situation. Themselves old sweethearts,
thrown together In this wilderness,
Whnt had sho built her hopes on? A
word here, n translated phrase, or
magnified glance. She would not har
bor the new worry. Why, It would bo
all right. In the menntlme she would
show them all 'what a woman with
executive ability could do.
"Sit down, senora," said RIckard to
tho brown woman, Mnldonado's wife.
"Don't bo frightened. Wo won't let
him hurt you." Rickard vulgarized
his Castlllan to tho reach of her rude
dialect. Familiar as was RIckard with
the peons' speech In their own coun-
CHAPTER XXII.
A Woman Unbarred the Gate.
try, ho could not keep up with her
story. Lurid words ran past his ears.
Out of the jumble of abuse, of shnmo
nnd misery ho cnught a new note.
"You say Maldonndo hlmseff sella
liquor to tho Indians?"
"Ssh, senor 1" Someone might hear
him 1 Sho looked over u terrified
shoulder. Thnt hnd. slipped out, the
selling of the liquor. She could have
told her story without that ; sho want
ed to-deny It. Relentlessly Rlcknrd
mndo her repent It, acknowledging tho
truth.
"Whnt mnkes you tell mo now?"
RIcknrd hunted for the ulcer, ne
knew thero wns n personal wrong
"Whnt hns Mnldonndo been doing to
you? Hns he left you?"
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
The consumption of newsprint pn
per by the dally, weekly nnd monthly
publications of Australia runs ubout
4,000 tons a month.