Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-05-17
nEY
PROBLEMS
Adele GarrisOn'S
New Phase off,.
OF A WIFE
WHAT TOM CHESTER HAD TO
TELL LILLIAN AND MADGE.

| realized now one reason for Lii
lian's unusual loquacity. She generally
is most taciturn when engaged upon
any problem Of her work. But the
explanation she had just given showed
me that there was a good hour of
waiting before she would be sure
enough of the return to slumber of
the TIGER family in the ~neighboring
farmhouse to risk young Tom Ches-
ter's nocturnal expedition to the roof
for the salvaging of Smiths rope lad
der.
And she is a good enough psyche
logist to know the tension which silence
gives the nerves. She wished the young
ex-service man to have steady nerves
for his crawl on the roof with the
darkness only illuminated by a flash
light, which he must keep as much
concealed as possible. Therefore, she
meant to talk about anything or moth
ing until the hour passed, and expected
me to abet her efforts.
III admit ! was a little bit up in
the air when Jerry breezed in" Lii
han went n. You see, he was over
here in an incredibly short time-and
the sketchiest of toilets. Being an in
g~enious youth where saving toll is con-
cerned. he has made a path across the
fields near the edge of the fence where
the ~ploughing will never disturb it, and
he rides his bicycle across it when
ever he makes the trip. He has attach
ed an old automobile headlight with a
clever battery continuance to the front
of the wheel SO he can come at break
neck pace even on the darkest nights.
But | was on pins and needles for fear
ynn'd lrnn in'-Cho ftlrnad IN Tnn
Chester-"while he was here. And he
hadn't been gone but two or three
minutes until you did arrive"
Tom Chester smiled.
You forget" he said boyishly, that
Jerry's headlight is not exactly one
hidden under a bushei. l heard the
shots, and was hurrying down the road
toward the house, when j saw that
light coming along the fence. Naturally
! kept under cover, as | came on, and
when | heard your voice, and knew
by its tone that no one was hurt, |
waited in the shadow of the bushes
until Jerry went away again. Lucky
/ did, too, for Brennan came putting
along a few seconds later with the
news that a strange, tall boy in a
stocking cap, sweater and knickerbock-
ers had com out of Briggs barn on a
bicycle. and beaten it down the road.
Smith Slips Away
Brennan" Tom Chester went on,
had seen Smith go into the kitchen
a little earlier, and later had seen his
shadows If undressing-on the cur
tain of the room above the kitchen,
which Brennan, by shrewd inquiry
knows to be his. The few seconds
Brennan lost in making up his mind
that the strange boy was Smith in dis
guise were just enough to let the fell
low lose himself in one of those wood
paths. | sent Brennan skirting around
the fields SO that he would come into
the orchard from the side away from
the TIGERS, and instructed him to
watch for Smith.
Luck certainly was with him. Tom
Chester smiled. "He was able to pick
up Smiths trail-the fellow evidently
sprained or broke something in his fall
and wasn't able to get back to the
Briggs farm in as noiseless fashion as
he came over, and Brennan said when
Smith mounted his bicycle his whis-
pered cussing was enough to scare the
owls. / caught up with Brennan after
my talk with you. and we saw Smith
get back into Briggs barn. Then | beat |
it back here, leaving your instructions
with Brennan. He WAS sure cut up
about having let Smith slip. and tickled
to death that you permitted him to
keep on with the job. ] think he ex-
pected to be shot at sunrise or some
thing like that"
"Hobson's Choice
I'm not saying | wasn't tempted to
order out the firing squad" Lillian
answered dryly. But. on the other,
hand, Brennan is a good. faithful man,
though he'll never be jailed for a sur
plus imagination. Tinker, the other
man, can't work day and night, and
I can't spare you. Mr.. Chester, So
it was Hobson's choice. And Brennan
will work twice as hard because of
stumbling his toe tonight. Mr.. Smith
won't be able to get away for another
try at us until / give the word"
I stared at her in open-mouthed as
constituent, which added to itself a bit
Of chagrin when Lillian laughed mer-
rily at my face.
Il haven't quite gone out of my
mind, old DEAR" she said, "and I don't
blame you for not relishing the idea of
receiving another call from the gentle