The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1922-01-05
I'm just standing

greater in volume. Tn just standing
here"
81 told the porter to get me a taxi
cab" she said. IF you're going home
for dinner I'll drop you at your house."
Il I'm II His articulation
encountered unsurmountable difficult
ties, but Julia had been with him
through many such trials aforetime.
She said briskly. Pm awfully hungry
you like"
He walked waveringly at her side
through the station. and followed her
into the dim interior of the cab. which
became fragrant OF violets-an ema-
nation at once ineffable and poisonous.
I'm so glad | happened to run
across YOU" she said. as they began
to vibrate TREMENDOUSLY in unison with
the fierce little en4r.ia that drove them.
II want to hear ali the news. Nobody
knows I'm home. didn't write or
telegraph TO a soul: and I'll ne a
complete surprise to father and every
body don't know how pleasant a
one You didn't seem so frightfully
glad to see me, Noble !"
Am II" he whispered. 81 meant
mean-I mean: Didn't II"
mol" she laughed. You looked
you looked shocked! 1t couldn't have
been because | looked i'll or anything,
because I'm not and if | were, you
couldn't have told it, through two
wells. Possibly I'd better take you
expression as a compliment" She
paused, then asked hesitatingly, "ShaH
I?'
This was the style the Atwaters
held Julia responsible for; but they
were mistaken she was unable to con-
troll it. She at once went cheerily on.
perhaps not, as you don't answer I
shouldn't be sc bold! Do you sup
pose anybody1l be glad to see me?'
Il L" He seemed to hope that
words would come, all in their own
good time.
"Nobler' she cried. Don't be so
glum |" And she touched his arm
with her muff, a fluffy contact causing
within him a short CONFUSION, natural
1y invisible. "Noble, aren't you going
to tell me what's all the news?"
'There's-some,' he managed to in
form her. "Some-some news"
"What is it?"
HIt'S-it'S-'
s"Never mind" she said soothingly.
"Get your breath | can wait. | hope
nothing's wrong in your family.
"No-oh, no."
at isn't just my turning up I'M
expectedIy that's upset 0 so. Of
course" she dared to say. Naturally.
| know better than to think such a
thing as that"
"Oh. Julia !" he said. "Oh, Julia !"
What is it, Noble?"
"Noth-ing," he murmured, d~isioint-
ing the word with a gulp.
"How odd you happened to be there
at the station" she said 'just when
my train came in You're sure YOU
going away anywhere"
mo; oh. no"
She was thoughtful, then laughed
,o~nfident!alIy. you're the only per-
son iii town hat knows I'm home.
"rm glad" he said. humbly.
She laughed again. II came all OF
/. sudGen-on an impulse. It's a little
diotit. I'll tell you about it, Noble.
You see, ten or twelve days ago J
the family a more or less indis-
erect letter. That is, | told them
something ! wanted them to be dis
rect about, and. of course, when | got
o thinking it over, | knew they
wouldn't. You see. I wrote them
ornething | wanted them to keep q
ecret. but the more | thought about
t, the more | saw I'd better hurry
Jack. Yesterday it got into my head
I'd better hop on the next train
or home"
She paused, then added, $50 | didf
bout ten or twelve days is long 3S
nybody has a right to expect the At
rater family connection to keep the I.
eadliest kind of a secret, isn't itT
as he did not respond, she ex-
modestly, "Of course, it
g very deadly secret; it was
eally about something of only the
east Importance"
This was so frightful an under
tatement that the jar of it restored
voice to a startling loudness.
Only the least Importance !" he
with a nan named Crum p
"What!' she cried.
"Cruml" Noble insisted. THAT'S
Sactly what it said his name wasl"
"What said his name WASP" asked
nlia, excitedly.