The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1927-09-23
The BITTER SAMARITAN
BY
Ida M. Evans

ana ROG lnBO ner BdlOSQeS ana Il
coat and took herself and her vanity bag
and her Indifferent eyes out to Waddy's
car e he drove up. And the evening
was much as she had expected. Most Of
the crowd was young n loud. Part Of
1T she had known all her life and was
a familiar ensemble. She wondered how
certain Of the SiXteen-year-olds could
Shrek so loudly. h was bored by some
Of her own group. Still, after a drink
from Waddy's flask she felt ~livelier. Not
very. 1t was not a very strong drink.
Ill many men as youth wanes, Waddy
had grown a trife close with property.
BY midnight Diane was ready for home
and bed. Frankly and coldly n i'm
patiently and boredly she was o~verready.
But Waddy was not. Several Of the older
crowd had got to recalling old times, and
what was rare Of late yearS-Waddy
had found himself furnishing entertain
ment to a group with his stories Of the
past.
It marked a point in Waddy's nature
that he was able to recall without shame
old dates that fixed his age unmistak-
ably. Say, boys, I remember lei NUT
ton leg meant sleeves, not a table d'hotel
And when horseless carriages drew a
crowd. n when women had waist
lines. And some Of 'em"-Waddy howled,
and so did his hearers-"nightly rubbed
cocoa oil on to coaX a big bust! And
watches went on chains around a lady's
neck. And" On, on, Unfortunately.
Encouraged by. hearers, Waddy was ex-
hilarated at finding himself the center of
attention and his words greeted with
have kept on until morning, perhaps, lac
not some Of his audience belatedly re-
membered home and went of to hivvers
or better cars.
Diane, who had not been much
amused, was cold and naughty when at
N2-A -
demands to be taken home. She reflect
ed impatiently to herself that she should
have phoned to Saranaton for a cab and
taught Waddy a lesson, or let him
reminisce in his silly way for hours
longer.
So, two souls with two distinctly diff
ferent humors, they rode homeward. A
pleased smile quirked Waddy's wide
mouth. He repeated some Of his most
telling 81 remember whens." Diane was
silent and bored. She had a sense Of
dull injury, which, perhaps, had once
been sharp Injury. Like Job, she re-
preached somebody, possibly her Creator
What had she done that her days and
her nights should thus be eaten with
unsatisfaction? And 1T last she had to
bite her lower lip with fine white teeth
n order not to tell the droning, pleased
Waddy what she thought.
He shut up at last. W miles from
O1 ~~ 0- O LOB
stopped. "Oh, myl" In a pleasant re-
hash Of olden days, Waddy broke of IL
anxiety. 81 bet I know what's happened.
He got out with a shudder Of distaste
Diane waited without comment. Some
thing small or serious might be wronl
with the car.
/ Ten minutes later Waddy was still
2 looking ~anXiously into the interior Of thu
l hooded front Of his car, and he had be
= gun to mutter irately under his breath
Diane demanded Grossly, "Oh, my good
ness, what's wrong?"
Y well, I guess w run out of gasoline
n I guess there's a eak No water. o
maybe I forgot to I'LL it. And it nigh
: be that this oldest cylinder has gone BAG
t Should have tended to it a while back
9 but 1 thought the old bus would stanI
by a spell longer"
I'm other words,"-her voice was a
S crisp as burned bacon-"it's nearly tn
one-horse shayl"
e HAL Hal You're bout right, Diane.
Waddy's almost perpetual good hume
responded to the least chaf from an
other.
But Diane had not intended to b
funny. Now she exclaimed undo he
% breath and drew her coat closer. 81
minutes later she asked coldly, What al
you going to dol"
d Waddy rose from his knees in the sno
as if glad to be called upon to state h
1t exact intentions.
well, Diane, I don't exactly knoV
d Maybe somebodyn come along and to
)r us in, or give us some gas and water ar
lie look at this engine"
She pointed out chilly: tits late f
a car to come along. We were the las
Re nearly, to leave. It's half past two"
That's So" He was troubled. But
RS don't know what else to do"
lg Diane started to speak. She change
n her mind. She looked around. No farm
at houses were within sight. Home, hoy
1e ever, although the roa had few house
was only two miles distant.
- w might as well get u and walk
to town." she said Grossly. cts not
ad But waddy's wide fac became blar
ee "Say, Diane, I couldn't leave my car.
might be stolen"
at "How could it be stolen if it VOL
to runP"
"a rum runner might come alor
l." Those chaps know machinery and c
I run anything" declared Waddy, wi
feeling.
p well, I'm not going to sit here
to night in the cold and watch your jul
wagonl"
rk But Waddy, so good natured in ge
nd eral, was like many folks where proper
I'm is concerned. He was adamant. 1t
&c true he was no longer young. Like K
Sc, ling, he had reached the point VIII
10, paraphrasing, a woman was only a wo
C4 / ~ 00b a AAdAL . a 0AAACACAAe
l a Moreover, the chain store had cut 10
air. back into his h-aberdashery trade. A n
if car did not hang on a low branch Of
ZEN tree of life.
act 81 can't help what you want to
No Diane" he said testify. "I am not go.
an. OF and cave my property" He blew
ids his fingers, ungloved and cold, and pee
down the road.
ave "I don't care about getting home
hat dawnl People will talkl"
wn, Comfortably came reply: "Oh, I dc
cts. think so, Diane. Not as long as you
on with me-"
In a gust Of emotion she flung her
18th out of the car. Perhaps If it werV
not man with whom I might be tai
Of about" she exclaimed, "I wouldn't
me. much mind the delay. AS it is, I tn
f a I'll be On my way"
.sed With his head down and close Il
this jumping lever, he heard only the
words. "Well, If you insist, trot ale
like Diane. Course, there's nothing for
an to be afraid Of. And you'll be war;
I'm walking. AS for me, staying with
way, car, you understand"
I'd Nothing for me to be afraid
out Knocked Diane. Possibly I wish Il
She werel" And she swung of, her galos