Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1923-11-22
CHAPTER ix-contInued.
"Yes," repeated Jim. "old friend

4tof ttlthtth 1Ahg OA AtA''
+. We are, aren't we, Jennler'
He reached oyer and possessed him
self OF her hand. She pulled 1t from
him gently, but he paid no attention
to the little muscular protest, and ex-
amined the hand critically. On the
back OF the middle finger he pointed
out a scar-a very tiny scar.
do o remember how you got
that2" he asked.
Because Jim chung to the hand, their
heads were very close together as
she Joined In the examination.
"Why. / don't believe / do" said
she.
II do" he replied. "We-you and !
and Mary Forsythe were playing
mumble-peg and you put your hand
on the grass just as l threw the knife
1T cut yol, and left that scar"
Ell remember, now!" said she.
'How such things come back over the
memory. And did 1t leave a scar
when | pushed you toward the red-hot
stove In the schoOlhouse one blizznrdy
day. Hike this, and you peeled the skin
of your wrist where Ii struck the
stDve7n
Look at IT," said he, barring his
long and bony wrist. Fright there !"
And they were or on the trail that
leads back to childhood. They had
talked long, and intimately. when the
shadows OF the early evening crept
into the corners Of the room. Jennie
recalled the time when the tornado
narrowly missed the schoolhouse, and
frightened everybody in school nearly
ia death.
Everybody but you, JIM" Jennie
remembered. "You looked out of the
window and told the teacher that the
twister was going north of us, and
would kill somebody else"
did II" asked Jim.
"Yes," said Jennie, "and when the
teacher asked us to kneel and thank
God. you said. Why should we thank
God that somebody else is blowed
swayY She was greatly shocked"
II don't see to this day. Jim as
serted. what answer there was TO
my question"
In the gathering darkness Jim again
took Jennle's hand, but this time shell
deprived him OF II.
He was trembling like a leaf. Let
II be remembered In his favor that
this was the only girls hand he had
ever held.
sXnn nunff An1 nnxv an |
IT," she said soberly.
Let me see how much II has
changed since l stuck the knife in
It." begged Jim.
Jennie held 1t up for inspection.
"Itis longer, and ~slenderer. and
whittier. and ever more beautiful"
said he, than the little hand cut;
but II was then the most beautiful
hand In the world to me-and still is."
II must light the lamps" said the
county Observation-Disclosures. rather
clustered, IL must be confessed.
Mammal Where are all the
Mrs. Woodruff and Mrs. Irwin came
In, and the lampllght reminded Jim's
that the COW was still TO milk.
and that the chickens might need at
The Woodruff sleigh came
to the door to carry them home; but
Jim desired to breast the storm. He
felt that he needed the conflict. Mrs.
scolded him for his fooIishness,
he strobe OF into the whiriing
drift, throwing back q good-by for
general consumption. and a pathetic
to Jennie.
He's as odd as Dicks hatband,~
said Mrs Woodruff. "tramping of In
a storm like this"
did you line him upY" asked the
colonel OF Jennie.
The young lady started and bIushed.
6he had forgotten all about the poll
lies Of the situation
Tim afraid ! didnst. papa" she
1nfess~d
-Th~s asv~ ~Ass u r-raasas~