Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1930-06-19

Eddy started the motor for the ride
back to town.
Wont you come along, Alex?" In
vited Ginger pointedly. I'VE IAN take
one more"
"0h, no, thanks. Miriam promised
to take me in herself along about
midnight. My doctor prescribed more
Pay Dirt for me-
At the end of the driveway, they
+. looked back. Miriam sat on the high
gate, Alexander Murdoch steadyiDg
her with one hand, while he swung
the gate beneath her with the other.
Their father smiling, waved farewell.
poor father" mourned Ginger.
"What would you call 1t but preachers
luck, to lose his eyes just when there's
the most to see!"
A dull supper at the parsonage, fol-
lowed by the usual evening service at
the church.
Tub Andrews hurried up to them
after the service, offering himself as
an escort home-a mere formality for
those few safe intervening feet.
Il don't think we ought to-" objected
Marjory. you see, the minister is
staying with us-and think we ought
II don't think 1t would ieek we'll fer
US to go of and leave him"
"Ginger can take him." suggested
Tub generously. "She can give him
pointers on running church-Ginger
can give pointers Oh running any
| thing
but Ginger is SO young" STAN
mered Marjory. II feel that am
rather the head of the house now,
and"
Hiram Buckworth himself appeared
at that moment. Girls, II you will
excuse me-" he said gravely, Il will
walk over with Mr.. Westbury. We
are discussing some church business"
Murray for Jon," chimed Tub,
'.that suits me to d r. We've got
some church business OF our own to
talk about"
Hiram hesitated a moment, biting
his lip as though he felt annoyance,
but nodded at last, and went away,
not without reluctance. And Mar
jory Yielded her smiles to Tub An
drews, clinging meanwhile to Ginger
to ensure her accompaniment as they
walked slowly homeward. On the fa-
miliar old veranda, Tub started at
once, cheerfully, in the direction OF
The hammock.
You can't stay tonight, Tub said
Mariory, with smile warm enough to
soften her dismissal Il have to send
YOU right straight home. have been
under the weather for day or two,
and Miss Jenkins didn't want me to
60 to church at all. She has ordered
me to bed"
Tub, complaining loudly, submitted
nerforce to This election, and sauntered
away, whistIng lugubrlously.
Marjory still chung to her sisters
hand.
Ginger, wait minute. Shl Don't
let him hear you. Let's sit In the
hammock a WHILE
They sat down, huddled together,
and waited in silence until the sound
Of Tubs footsteps. and Tubs whistlIng,
subsidized into the darkness. "Ginger,
| want to ask you something. Will
you just sit here with me, and talk
nntil-Mr. Buckworth comes home?
And Ginger. IL he comes over, and sits
down-he always does. you know
would you mind-wonld you just as
lief You wouldn't mind, would
you--"
60 to bed, YOU mean?"
well, you see, Ginger, | want to
ask him about something
Il see. I'm to talk my head Off until
he gets here, and then I'm to 20 to
bed"
Marjory squeezed her arm about her
sisters waist.
You see Well, you see, Ginger,
1t Is like this. You remember that
night when yoH- crept downstairs
how long ago IL seems land he had
his arm around me. Well, Ginger,
didn't care a bit because you saw It,
1t didn't make any difference to me.
But ! think 1t embarrassed him, or
made him angry, or something, for he
hasn't SO much as looked at me since"
Il see" said Ginger duly.
Il want to tell him that you-you
didn't think thing OF it--a little
thing Ike that. I think maybe he
thinks feel bad about It,"
"You don't, do your"
NO Marjory's voice sank to a
whisper. mot bit like him."
SO the two girls sat. and waited,
and presently from the church, they
heard the two men, coming slowly,
talking as they walked. Marj0ry chung
to Ginger's hand, and held her breath.
At the end OF the fagstone path they
stood for while before they said
good night and parted.
"Y-you talk" whispered Marjory.
Ginger talked. II think it's such
silly name for farm" said Ginger.
Just like Eddy Jackson. Who else
would do such a dumb thing? Pay
Dirt. Everybody knows farm Is
nothing but dirt, and II 1t didn't pay,