The Bozeman courier., 1927-12-16

she would see you in the office of the
lawyer who is the executor Of the family
estate"
Oh" said Alma meekly.
IT'S way down town. I'll drive you.
Will you go?"
'Well, 1 wouldn't want to hurt your
mothers feelings by refusing to meet
her." Alma unused. "I suppose I'll have
to go and get it over with.
"Oh, hell" fumed Blake, Tets beat her
to it. Let's skip out tonight after the
show and turn up tomorrow to be for
given"
But Alma thought she would prefer to
meet Mrs. Harkness as a free spirit rath-
er than as new daughter-in-law.
Alma found Mrs. Hardness to be a
gray, crisp, hard little woman with puri-
tan clothes and an angry eye. She was
in shining mahogany office, which
looked as if no work less impressive than
directors meetings was ever carried on
there, seated beside a sleek and dignified
rightness slightly embarrassed by the ma
ture Of the work in hand.
After Miss Hastings existence had been
acknowledged, with stiff nod and 6
curt How do you do" on the part Of
Mrs. Hardness, and friendly gesture TO-
ward a chair by the counselor -at-laW
who was identified as Judge Rutledge, ar
aW1WdAQ S44G4ACG OIOOpGO QOWn upon lLt
group. Blake began to hem and haw
and make other incoherent laryngea
sounds, as if threatening to break ouI
into a speech.
"That will do, Blake" snapped hi
mother. please leave us. You neeC
not hear what we have to say to Mis-
Hastings
Blake went out like a good little boy
, muttering to Alma that he would wal
for her in the car.
Then Mrs. Hardness seemed to ruffl
up her feathers and sit at bay.
+ Judge Rutledge will speak for me,
she clucked abruptly. Needless to say
e we propose to deal with your scheme t.
marry my SON."
o ''I should prefer to use the word in
, tention' rather than scheme, Mathilda,
3 said the judge gently. Miss Hastings
a consider that the word intention ha
been used. Now, then, we have heard
d we have been informed"
E please, Judge Rutledge," Alma inter
8 rupted, "let me talk first. I can sa
: everything you are going to say, thinl
Is in fewer words. That will save a lot {
d arguing, perhaps, and will prevent an
e of us"-with a glance at Mrs. HarkneS
?. from losing our temper"
e "An right. Go ahead, young lady
agreed the judge pleasantly. Let's hes
I; what you have to say"
d BLAKE Hardness has asked me to mai
T. That much is true. But it is not trC
if that have schemed to marry him
~ Mrs. Hardness suggests. 1t is also M
NJ true that have any intention Of ma,
se rying him."
III "You heard that, Alfredl" crowed MI
ll Harkness gleefully. I'm a witnessl'
a BLAKE is a nice boy" continued Aim
s. nicer than his mother has any right
expect. But I'm not in love with hiH
If might fall in love with him after '
to were married, but I'm afraid to take Il
30 chance. 1t would be dreadful to ha'
1t nothing to do but spend money ain
&c lessly, trying to get some amusement o'
to Of life with an idler for a companion.
Isl would be awful, trying to live up
he Blakes social position and gettil
90 snubbed by every one because had on
~ worked for a living. I used to be
ne waitress, you know, and I could nev
n live that down. And 1t would be hideo
having a mother-in-law who treated "
as like a leper. So you needn't worry; I
nv not going to marry him. When mari
as shall want kind, Warm-hearted hor
ail the sort Of G. home 4 had out west
ut fore-before had to go to work. WI
n Blake, my home would be the cafes