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X VV \J i * THE RT t By EDN/ C.V ' * ^ CHAPTER XXVIII "I wopder if you would help me Miss Hardin? Would you do some thing for that poor crazed woman I wanted to ask Mrs. Hardin, but fo some reason I've got intb her blacl books. Just the little kindness on* woman can give another. A man find; It difficult. And these Mexican worn en don't understand a man's friend snip." Her eyes met his squarely. His tan tallzlnt smile had gone. He was mat \ lng a demand of her?to believe him his request his defense. The glances of -ellow eyes and gray, met with i shock, and the world was changed fo ^ both. Life, with its many glad voices was calling to senses and spirit, thi girl's still rebellious, the man's sure. Bickard put out his hand. "Good \ night I" To both, it carried the soun< of "I love you I" She put her hand ii his, then tore her fingers away, furi ?us with thjem for clinging. Wher< was her pride? When he had time She fled Into her tent. Neither of them had seen liert; Hardin watching them' from her ten door. CHAPTER XXIX. ^ Glimpse of Freedom. The siding was deserted. The Pal myra had ran out to Tuscon. Marshal had gone without apprehension. The: did not expect now to hare setbacks to have to extend the time set for th< ultimate diversion. The days wen flowing like oil. The encampment wai filling np with rial tors, newspaper mei who came to report the spec taenia: capture of the rtrer. Rlckard,a day badly began, piled tn with vexations. By sundown, be waj wet td the Ikin, and mad as a sick Arl sona eat In this jaundiced juncture, Mac Lean, Jr., brought down his dlspatchei to the river. He read of the burnlnj at a-tralnload of railroad ties. Rickan Bwore. "Anything els? pleasant?" / "A letter from the governor?fron dad." MacLean read that, his fathei begged a small faror of Rlckard. "Godfrey, tho celebrated Engllsl tenor, Is on my hands. His doctors have been advising outdoor occupa tlon. I am sending him to yon, ask lng you to give him any Job you maj have. He Is willing to do anything Put him at something to keep him oc cupled." .MacLean saw Rickard's face turr red. ^'Suffering cats! A worn-oul opera singer 1 What sort of an opere does he think we're giving down here' Why doesn't he send me a fur coat 01 a pair of girl twins? Give the tenoi a role! Anything else? Pile it all on." "Oh, and one from Godfrey himself He's In Los Angeles. He says he'll bf here tomorrow." He did not wait foi ois cniers repiy. " v At the supper table, RIckard, dq and In restored humor, alluded to the invasion of high notes. "Pity the parti r are all assigned! The only vacancj is In the kitchen. I wonder how he would like to be understudy to Ling!'-' The next day*when the Incident had been /orgotten, and while Rlckard was up at the Crossing cq the concrete gate, Godfrey blew lotQ enmpi He Godfrey BMm? Into Camp. ?m Ilk* boy Mt oo i terfc. Hk brown *7h w?i? danein* otar the ad ttntvi E* ?xploc?3 tfca ?unp txtf Mm b*?k babbling a ' > *I?i flx Mnflewr ay. 5# ?J I , ?v.V / ' - V-. - J- >. ^ L-. ' I VER..... m AIKEN i ' \ ' ' v ; Junior, -that's what they call you, ( isn't it? .I'm the only idle man here. Can't you give me something to do? , I'll do anything. I'd like the boss to p find me bu?y when he comes in." ^ MacLean softened the offer. Perhaps B until Mr. Godfrey learned the ropes he 8 could be of general nse. They were K short-handed the present moment? j. there was another hesitation?in the kitchen! Ling, the Chinese cook, was 1._ overcrowded?so many visitors? > "Great," crowed Godfrey, slapping ,, him on the shoulder. "I don't want to ^ feel in the way. IVwant to earn my i board. Lead me to the cook!" r That evening, the dinner was helped i, 'on Its way by the best-paid singer of e England. In an apron, borrowed of Ling, he was "having the time of his - life." Ling, pretending to scold, had J been won immediately. Rickard, heari ing of the Jolly advent, forgot his vS atlon, and immediately on his return s made his way to the mesquit Inclosure 1 ?to greet the friend of George MacI T-onn f After dinner, MacLean carried off t his prize to the Delta, where Godfrey ' earned his welcome. Gerty Hardin for; got to flirt with the engineers; she had discovered a new sensation. The wondertcl voice twisted her heartstrings ; it told her that the h??rt that hfis truly loved never forgets, and she J knew mat she could never have really * loved, yet, because the youth In her ' Veins was whispering to her that she ^ could still forget Godfrey saw a mobile plaintive face turned up to the gibbous moon; he swept It with thrills and flashes. She was a wonderful ah* dlence; she was also his orchestra, the woman with the plaintive eyes. He } played on her expressions as though she were a harp. Later, he was presented to Mrs. Hardin. She fold him that the camp , would no longer be dull; that she nad i tea every afternoon lr her ramaaa. f She convicted him archly of Bcltlshj hood. "She knew he must have his tea P "You American women are the won, ders of the world! Nothing daunts you. f In the desert, and you five afternoon teas. Til be there every day!" x He gave her open admiration; she ; looked young and wistful In her soft . flowing mulls, the moonlight helping . her. She fell Into a delicious flurry of r nerves and excitement Later, she , wandered with him from a rude gaping . .world Into a heaven of silvered decks and gleaming waters. He told her of , himself, of his loneliness; his music I had dropped him to self-pity. i Gerty Hardin heard her bars drop i behind her. She snatched her first glimpse of freedom. ? i i I CHAPTER XXX. The Dragon Scores. i The Palmyra was once again on Its siding. Marshall was at the front,1 again; having made another of his', r swift dashes from Tucson. This time' - he expected officially to close the gate, j l Claudia was with him. She neter left' ' | the car, unless It were to step out to i J i fKo nlnffnmw fn una nrKnf ahn /tnnlH from there of the river work. j; 1 Hardin and Rlckard had been derot- \ 1 mg anxious weeks. A heavy rainfall:, 1 and cloudburst in the mountains, of > northern Arizona had swollen the feed- 1 ( era of the Gila river which roared . down to the Colorado above Yuma. ThS eroding streams carried moun- ( tains lii gpluUpn which settled against! ( the gfctfe, a scouf starting above and : below it Relief bad to., be given off ] ( the jump. A spur tracl was rushed , across the by-pass above the gate, as I the closing of the ill-fated gate with'] the flashboards was no longer possible. : < A rock-fill was the only means of, j closure. In the distant quarries men , were digging out rock to fill the call , from the river. Marshall came down to see the completed spur. Before he reached the intake, the first rock train had moved onto the spur track. The trestle had ! settled, the train had been thrown from the rails and wrecked. Marshall came in from the damaged trestle, bringing Rickard and Crothers. Mrs. Marshall had Invited lanes Hardin to dine with them. Innes fell to flushing, and chilling, as a lithe-muscled figure came directly to her. His oto!s?whpro TTfla tftf* lnnfc she had feared, of possessive tenderness? The quizzical gleam was gone. On guard I A solemn business, loving, when you know that It means?life! On guard, though, to her I She pulled J*er fingers from his strong lingering clasp, and joined Mrs. Marshall. I Rlckard had his soldier look en. She , was watching him covertly M he j talked with his bast sad Qrothsr* ss though ahs wars not tbsc*; as tboogfe something were not waiting for hiia Is ' &1&. MgXJttM livious of everything else in tne world except the river? Was that?loving? Could she think of anything else when he was in the same room with her? He'was a soldier of the modern army. It came to her, a sort of tender divination, that he would not divide Ms thoughts, even with her, with love, unt-l ui uis uuiue wua wuu. wvu, uuuiuu i she understand that? What her accusation against Gerty? Sex honorkeep off the track! Wasn't that her own notion? Oughtn't she to be profcd of him? ^ She had brought a nest of waspish thoughts tumbling about her ears. Gerty! He had loved Gerty. He couldn't love her, if his thoughts had ever lingered, with that same seriously solemn look on the false little face of her sister-in-law. / After dinner they were standing in the shade of the Palmyra. It was a soft still afternoon. The fierceness of the savage desert had melted to her days of lure. Beyond, the turbid waters of the Colorado bore a smiling surface. There was nothing to hint of treachery. . ' ? It was a minute of pleasant lassitude, snatched from the turmoil. Rickard had succumbed V> the softness of the day and his mood. He was enjoying the thought of Innes* nearness, though she kept her face turned from him. He knew by the persistence of those averted eyes that she was as acutely conscious of his presence as he was, restfully, of hers. Deliberately, he was prolonging the instant A stir cn the river had caught the alert eye of Tod Marshall. He swore a string of picturesque Marshallinn oaths. Rickard's eyes jumped toward the by-pass. The placid waters. had suddenly buckled. Majestically the gate rose and went out Months of work swept away I The gate drifted a hundred feet or more. Some unseen obstruction caught it there, to mock at the labors of man. Innes, aghast, turned toward Riekard. His face was expressionless. There was a babel of excited voices behind, them, Bodefeldt MacLean, Tony, Crothers, Bangs, all talking at once. Her eyes demanded something of Rlckard. A fierce resentment rose against fcls calmness. "He knew It" she rebelled. "H?'s been expecting this to happen. It's no tragedy to him!" There was a stab as of physical pain; she was visualizing the blow l? mfeheard Marshall's *olce, spea* ?Weu you're ready to? thl <Ud not hear ?er?for already Blckard W? *?*<* Rickard Was Heading for the ByP?f tor the ty-pasa. Mar8J,l! and ^ .oone Snelneera followed him. To Innes that wreck down yonder was worse than failure; It waa rain. It involved Tom's life. It was his life, rhls would be the final crushing of bis superb courage?her thoughts released from their paralysis were wtlppod by sudden fear. She must find him, be with him. The next lnstaut she was Bpeeding toward the encampment Estrada met her on the run. : Had Gerty heard? The pity that she must know I She would not be tender to Tom; her pride would be p ounded. She must ask her to be tender, generous. Her footsteps slackened as she came in sight of the tents. She heard voices in the ramada, a mon'o floor nntpn Tnlncrllne with Qer ty's childish treble. "Godfrey I" Her mind Jumped to other tete-a-tetes. Of course! So that was what was going on. And she not seeing 1 If not one man, then another I Horrid little clandestine affairs! The meeting was awkward. Speedily Inn'es got rid of the news. Mrs. Hardin shrugged. "I believe lH go out." Plaintively, she made the announcement, as though It were just evolved. "Now, the camp will be horrid. Everybody will be cross and everybody will be working." As she left the tent beyond, Ibnes could hear the vibrant voice of Godm sl-- 4>a ofntJ irey persuaumg nana, umuiu iu diuj there a few weeks longer. She could hear him say, "This will delay the turning of the river at the most but a few weeks. Richard told me so a week ago. And think what It would be here without you!" They were aU expecting itl" nets* ed Innee Hardin. She turned back toward the rtvee. She muet fiod Ton. oHAmwi xxxu ? *!&.?* As WW v V* grown berore It was recognized. Dls- , affection was ripe, the bucks were ( heady, the white man's silver acting , like wine. Few of the braves had dreamed of ever possessing sums of 1 mnnnr nrioh n a ttiAV ilrpw dnwn p?rh I Sunday ztornlng. Rlckard began to suspect liquor again. In the Indian camp Sunday was a day of feasting, followed by a gorged sleep; the next < day one of languor, of growing lncoheslon. Rlckard spoke of It to Coronel. "Like small,baby," hunched the old shoulders. "Happy baby. Pretty soon stop." i With the next wages went a reprimand, then a warning. Still followed bad Mondays. Rlckard then issued a formal warning to all the tribes. ; "The situation with the Indians lg serious," said Rlckard to MacLean. "They're getting liqaor in here, some way, the Lord only knows how. Any- ; way, they're not fit for burning Monday morning. I've just sent them word Dy (Joronei mat u s got 10 quit, or uiey do." ? "Suppose they do?" MacLean was startled. Not an Indian could be spared at that stage of the game. "Bluff I" Rickard got up. "They won't Jake the chance of losing that moneyT I'm off now to the Crossing, ril leave you In charge here." The next morning Wooster broke into the raraada where MacLean sat clicking his typewriter. , "Everything's up. Rickard's done it now. Sent some all-fired, Independent kindergarten orders to the Indians. Says they have to be in bed by ten o'clock, or some such hour on Saturday xand Sunday nights. It's a strike, their answer. That's what his monkeying has brought down on us." ' "They're not going to quit?" (To be Continued Friday.) Subscribe to The Press a*d Banner. PREDOIH / -'j 1-c CZi ! ' lOPER ' ' v . ABBEVILLE TWICE DAIL FRIDAY and Afternoon at 3 P. IV Prices, 75c. - - $1.( Children I "t I (Eighteen months cal material that ma Lloyd George, Prime Fvor?r?V> nffimflls PO-OD many important seen able to show, in comj recent struggle in Fn story of great tender Company's O * BETHIA NEWS. V V L'\ I , -f .1 Bethia, May 2.?Mr, D. J. Jenkins came over from Atlanta Saturday night to see his little daughter, Louise* who is with her grandmother, Mrs. M. E. Beauford. Misses Lola and Sarah Brown, of Troy, spent Saturday night at Bethia writh their cousin, Mrs. W. M. Hall., Mr. Edgar Woodhurst, from near McCormick, was to visit Mr. A. K. Woodhurst Saturday night. Mr. Tom Poore spent Saturday night with his friend, Mr. John Hall. Mrs. W., M. Hall and Miss Addie Woodhurst spent Friday afternoon with Mrs. Henry Beauford. Misses Grace Dansby- and Julia Link.spent the week-end with the Misses Evans at Lebanon. Miss Ruth Beauford, who has been in Spartanburg for a month, came home yesterday afternoon. Mrs. M. E. Beauford and Miss BLOWOU do not ruin tires if properly rep Let us examine and advise* casings. ? Tube repairing, 25c. up; C MARTIN ai At City . * . . ^ \ "" Hil ' ' . - . > o' - w v v> oi. at'rj'JAtfA- c a Hon . . . ... .. >|g|v ,;*?? y *' / I. PLU_S N L *_ , )0. tax . Pri Jnder 12 years, 50c. Pli ! ^ W c;JgH9^B I * v? * i/S HH jn kJ in the making in France kes up the latter part c Minister of England, 2 erated with Mr. Griffit es, with the r$so!t thai fcl )lete detail, all the intei mce. Aside from this f< ness and charm, and a 1 uuti oymyiiuiiy Twenty Pieces j Addie Woodhurst have been elected ' delegates from Bethia society to attend the meeting at Ninety Six May ]' m j . Mrs. Lucile Evans is spending tine week with her mothe*, Mrs. Jim Link Sorry to say that our Dr, Hunter has been very sick, bat gltfdto say I that he is better at this writing. ' > ? v/ . CLUB BUYING SAVES $6,000; Fourteen fanners' cooperative clubs have been organized by the agicultural agent in Rapides Parish, La. i T>I..j-T J j ..j I xiiiuugu tueui aecu, xeitiii^crs, auu I fanners' supplies have been pur* ! chased, resulting in a saving of more [ than $6,000 to the members. By eo| operative buying $4,000 has been 1 saved in the purchase of acid phos^ phate, $1,650 on potato sacks, $410 on Irish potato se^d, and $50.on seed wheat. The aeent is now nlannine to _ - buy two thrashing outfits on the cooperative plan for members of the clubs. * Engraved Cards and Invitaio'na? The Press and Banner Co. . , ,, TS | laired.* S ' 1 . ' V'1. you before throwing away your , "m asin&s, 50c. up. ' ad PENNAL. Garage. ECTACLE I mSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSZ'' ' - . -03 . V .'v.;v ; ;l mwi two i k B I - 'V " \h DAYS | Jli only I (9-101 I ights at 8:30 P.M. 1 ices, 50c $1.00, $1.50 Hj is War Tax. ' xv ^ s P- jfij- .., - H r; . ^H| s9H iBE^I^feSHk jjj^n n ^Hf - SB 1 3 securing the histori- I >f the play. David BH tnd other British and H h in securing the HB *? wwA/liinnv Vioa ViDOTI HNe 1C pJLUUUVCl liMU wvvi* mn resting events of the jM mature there is a love wealth of comedy. BB Orchestra of fl ?"?-J 1