Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1930-10-16
CHAPTER X
Will Has a Vision

lished beyond question. II owed its
success to Wits terrific efforts. He
had met and overcome one after an
other of their natural foes: Mr.. Poole's
idleness and intemperance. BY kind
of fierce affection lie had dominated
and controlled the old man and kept
him working. The profits were di-
vided, after he had his fifty week,
and Poole his hundred. And out of
his share OF, the profits. VIII repaid
his partner for the loan for Ernes.
tines hospital bill. He repaid him the
exact half OF the amount Poole had
sunk into the business at the begin
ming.
And after two years he found him.
self face to face with the one enemy
he could not conquer Ernestine no.
ticed that he grew thin and pale, that
fall that the baby, Elaine. was two.
what Is 1t, WIFI" she asked him.
u thought everything was fine now"
ITS Poole" said VIII. Hes not
drawing-hes BOOKING. but. OF course,
that's not new. Only-he's lost In
terestr
what do you mean, WIFI"
He seemed reluctant to put bis
thought into crude words.
He's failing-his health. His eyes
are bad"
you mean-he's old?"
"Yes." said VIII. That's what |
mean. He can't help it--poor devil
he struggles against it--but It's show
Ing on him"
but, VIII. what are you doingf"
"Why, I'm managing-but that's al.
When can get him to help. we work
together. We've got the strip all
planned out for another year, the gen.
eral sequence OF things But | don't
feel that can do Poole's stun. NV
own ideas would be different. Gun
do the Drawings well enough--nobody
would nQtice. prohahly-but--"
You don't want to go on--without
himfr
1.-THE stuff Is his, Ernestine. don't
want to-theres something funda-
mentally wrong-even when I'm his
partner. and all. For while, as
makeshift, can go ahead, and take
care Of the mechanics OF 1t, and do the
conyersation-but actually. we haven't
any business at all. We only have
hJyu-Ond NH hnf -
VIII sighed, and then squared his
shoulders.
"Well-here's hoping" he said, and
grinned at her. Il guess the old boat
will sail another season. You see
It's hard for me to crowd him, Ernes-
tine. He Is old. and his eyes are about
gone. and he hangs on me--it's like
making a sick old horse pull In the
harness--for us. Or course, It's for
him, too, but 1t Is really for us. We
are the ones that will enjoy the money
not him. | find myself soft with
him"
Il know" She understood this ex-
actly, and her young face was troubled.
She was blooming again with beauty
and vitality. She had been a lovely
bud but now she was In flower-in her
middle tWenties-young with beauty
and grace, but with poise now, too,
and a strong sense OF accomplish
ment. She had background now OF
new kind--not the background OF
parents and school and a fine home,
but the background Of effort and self
control.
TIL take Peter" she said. "You
can lopk after Elaine"
She was going to Lillian's, to see
mamma who was home from New
York for another visit.
VIII watched the family away,
Elaine perched on his arm. Elaine
was happy with her father and they
made game Of supper. Now, at two,
The was beginning to be a bonny baby.
they had had long struggle with her.
But at last her heart was beginning to
,eat rhythmic tune-a healthy or
ran Instead OF an undeveloped heart
n an undeveloped body. 1t almost
eemed that they could breathe again.
After the little girl was sleeping
VIII sat beside her, smoking and
her-dreaming those things a
ather dreams for his little daughter.
The daylight was going, and the last
4 the light seemed to gather In an
about the baby's face. Sud- |
lenly WIN was shot through with an
motion more powerful than anything
70 had ever felt. For just an instant
he baby face seemed the only thing
the world-the lashes down In a
nudge against her cheek--he saw not
esh, but color-not bony structure.
ut pure line-idea--
He stared at her, and saw not the
HID but her picture. In that moment
e sensed the true identity OF her be-
lg. as one hears In establishment clear
one and harmony where there Is no
ound- He was profoundly disturbed.
Vhy he could paint her--thls was new
this feeling; he had not felt like this
efore. not even when he daubed 30
onstantly In col0rs as a child. He