Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1928-09-27
Tommy Fixes 1t

ne started 10 MS Ieel, Staring IN Stupe-
faction. his visitor added, with a familiar
wide-mouthed grin, Don't you remem-
Der me. old scout?"
Eliot had not forgotten that grin.
though for an instant he was unable to
say so. He looked at the freshfaced.
stockily built. broad shouldered young
man with the upspringing red pompa-
dour and the clear brown eyes with a
twinkle in them and caught the firm,
outstretched hand in a grip that made
the visitor vince.
Tommy Davisl" he said huskily at
last. ashamed of the emotion that surged
over him.
Yep"
Tommy Davis was not in the least emo
tional. He put down Eliot's huskiness
to surprise. if indeed he noticed it at all.
His name was as casual as 1T had been
twenty years before. when he had run
over in the morning from the next yard.
I'm mighty glad to see you. I've Just
been thinking of you," Eliot said, with
An effort to pull himself together.
Tommy was interested in that, and
pleased. too His grin widened.
rs that straight?" he asked.
Eyes. SO you came as If In answer to
an invocation. I suppose there was really
some thought transference about 1t, as
you were looking me up at the time"
Eliot was bustling about now. drawing
to the fire a comfortable chair for the
caller. and conscious of a tingling excite
ment that was in sharp contrast to the
visitors easy nonchalance. Tommy wasn't
showing the least excitement. Neverthe-
less, the fact remained that Tommy had
taken the trouble to look him up.
Take off you coat. Have a cigar" he
urged. pushing the box oward his guest
| when the latter was seated. and he tossed
an additional log on the fire before re-
seating himself as another outlet for his
inner excitement.
Tommy Davis selected a cigar with the
old characteristic grin and lit it at the
match his host held for him.
do yourself pretty we'll, don't your" he
commented, settling down comfortably
On the end of his spine and exhaling a
mouthful of smoke while his brown eyes
roamed appreciatively around the cheer
full little room. Books, smokes, reading
lamp, and all the rest of 1t. Setting of a
regular movie hero. Where's the smok-
ing jacket?"
Eliot looked at him with shining eyes.
He was beginning to realize that this
amazing thing was really happening.
Haven't got one. But can offer you a
drink" he said. Phelps, the junior part
ner of u firm, gave me a bottle of
Scotch Christmas eve. SO it must be all
right. I've been saving 1T for an occa-
sion, and this looks like the real thing.
BY Jove, Tom. Tam glad to see your
You haven't changed as much in looks
as l expected" Davis commented, as he
the same old sobersides. Well, here's to
you. Happy memoriesl" he ended as he
watched his host fill the glasses. Still
raised the glass.
Eliot drank to the toast with a swell
| ing heart They upra hannu rnernpriac
to which he drank-memories of the only
happy days he had ever known; those
days of fishing and swimming and bird
nesting and skating n bobbing with
Tommy Davis.
you haven't changed a whole lot,
either he told Tommy. I'D know you
anywhere. Here, let me fill hat glass
again"
Evidently the suave old Scotch had
mellowed Tommy. The twinkle died out
| of his brown eyes and his fresh, smooth
shaven face sobered.
I'm glad you haven't forgotten me"
he admitted. Il was afraid before I blew
in that I'd have to furnish blue prints
and a letter from my pastor. Twenty
years is a long time" He slipped his
whisky thoughtfully. Il sure did miss
you when we went to Chicago" he con-
tinued. Mother said l moped like a
sick kitten. 1t took me about a year to
get used to the other kids. n I've
thought Of you off and on ever since"
Il hope you're here for a good long
visit" was all Eliot dared to say in reply
to ibis.
you bet I am-that is, I'm here for a
year or so, but it isn't going to be a visit.
It's going to be darned hard work. I've
got devil of a job" Tommy mentioned
q we'll known firm of automobile manu-
fQrf1rrQgc hThnufra nCtahltChin0 nauy
branches in different cities" he wen on,
land my job is to start a branch. run 1t
for a year or two till everything is going
well, and then hand 1t to a man I've
trained, and move on to another place
and do the same thing all over again.
I've started three branches in the last
-four years, in st. Louis. Buffalo, and Bos-
ton, n now we're going to break in
here"
Then you haven't married."
Nope. This sort of thing would be a
dogs life for q girl. But I've told the
firm that / wouldn't keep it up more
than a couple of years longer, and they've
promised me a good job In the home Of
flee eventually"
He declined a third drink, and settling
deeper in the big chair. bridged the years
for his host in a brisk monologue in
| which he unconsciously revealed more of
AiAAiDt1A IlAl Aito ~ t&1tsA4 Az 49, -
was clear that all had not been beer
and skittles'' in the life of Tommy Davis.
His visionary father had died soon after
the move to Chicago and his mother had
followed in three years. Tommy had been
on his own ever since. He had known
| struggle, hardship, even hunger. But dt
was clear that he had never known fear
or despair. He was a born fighter. al his
bulldog jaw and red topknot suggested.
He repeated that he had often thought
of Eliot, even in these latter years, and
had taken the trouble to write to the
postmaster of the old town for his chum's
present address.
Got any spare evenings on your
hands?" he asked as he reluctantly rose
toward midnight and shrugged himself
into his overcoat. I'VE don't open till
next Monday and I'm hustling to get
the showrooms in shape. But my eve
nings are pretty vacant. Can you have
dinner with me somewhere tomorrow
night and see a show afterwards"
Tomorrow night the dinners on me.
Got to give you the keys Of the city, and
all that" Eliot insisted.
1t was settled that they were to dine
at Eliot's club the next night, and that
Tommy was to be the host on the night
following, which would be Saturday.
II always go out of own for a tramp
ON sunday Eliot caid tprfotiualu &C