Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1920-11-30

the announcement only confirmed to me
the vague fears | had experienced since
Dicky told me Of the surprise" he was
going to give me, yet the realization that
my home was gone crashed against my
spirits as a physical blow might have
done against my body.
Mother Graham was the first to speak
Indeed. / was in the mental state where
I could not speak if | would and GER
tainly would not if I could. Fierce prim-
tive rage against my husband was hav-
ing its way with me. That he should
dare to sell our home without consult
ing me,
'Sold the Marvin house" Mother Ora
ham CALCULATED "Sold my home! What
do you mean? Have you gone insane n
''Never was more clear-headed in my
life.' Dicky said defiantly, but / saw
that he was looking furtiyely from his
mother to me, and that he was palpably
disturbed by our reception Of his news.
You don't seem to grasp what | got
for it. Didn't you hear? Twenty thou
sand bucks. iron men. simoleons-"
"Quit that foolery!" his mother said
sharply. 1T doesn't matter if you got
a million dollars for it, you had no right
to sell it without consulting me-or-
Margaret" she added, lamely, as an
after thought.
Don't Weaken, Margaret
Dicky threw up his head arrogantly
Il bought it. didn't I, with my own
heard-earned money? I guess | have a
right to sell it if / get chance like this
without running home to ask any wom-
ems consent"
Across the fog Of my wrath struck the
CLEAN of an Illuminating, whimsical
thought. one which | caught. imprisoned,
turned into a weapon.
The bargain is all completed. / sup
pose?" | asked meekly
"Ail but the signing of the papers
Dicky answered. The man who bought
it has left it IN the hands of an attorney
down here, as he had To 20 back north
today. and he will send the money right
back, SO as soon as | sign the papers
I'll get the mazuma"
Ny mother-in-law's eve caught mine,
with grim comprehension. She !ncw
as we'll as / lid, Dicky's absolute ign9r-
ance Of ordinary business matters. a
fault common to the artistic tempera-
hc was unconsciously digging for him
self
Don't weaken. Margaret she eau
toned. mo matter how much he pleads.
He's brought it on himself
Dicky looked from one to the other of
us, his face the picture Of puzzled
amazement
What the devil" he exploded.
w hats all this tommyrot? What's
Margaret got to do with selling the
touse|'
Dicky Is Determined
Better ask her." his mother sag-
gested slyly.
II will" He turned to me vehement
". What is all this tomfoolery, any
way?'
Simply that you cannot sell the house
no one will buy it-unless my sigma
ture is attached to the deed, and that
do not intend to give. 4 least. / shall
consider the matter very carefully Ee-
fore consenting."
] made my voice as matter Of fact as
if | were declining a proffered piece of
bread at the dinner table, and bent in
differently over my sewing as | fin
ished, but not before l had caught grim
but mirthful approval in my motheri in
laws eyes:
Dicky sat silent for a minute, then
sprang to his feet so vehemcntiy that he
almost overturned his chair.
Richard, | beg you to remember that
] am still an invalid" his mother re
marked fsigidly and | saw with n say
age glee that only q woman can under
stand. that she had indeed joined forces
with me to make the recreant Dicky as
uncomfortable as possible.
II beg your pardon, mother" he said
perfunctorily, then hurried into excited
speech.
"Of all the bunk l ever heard in my
life that's the limit" he said scornfully.
II suppose you think you're the original
little Cutie, springing bluff like that?
Well, right here's where you fall down!
You don't get away with anything like
that where I'm concerned, and don't you
forget it. I'm going right ahead and