Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1930-07-24
The Martyrs March
By Victorine Kirk

| more about the SpaniSh-American war
than she had ever expected OF aSpfred
to know Of any historical vent. Also,
she became an authority on condltl0nS
in the Old Mems Home. For q tlme
she fought this unwelcome nooo OF
information. But after a montn or so
it occurred to her that she was pass
ing over a priceless opportunity: quite
| suddenly she saw Uncle Albert as q
Type. From that time on she De-
| wildered him by encouraging nun 10
stay at home and inducing mn 10 De
even more conversational than ne was
by nature. She ~painstakingly pumped
him as dry as possible OF his opinions
and impressions and took an UMPIRE
cedented interest in everything tnat
had ever happened to him.
After she had finished with him for
the time being she would hint that the
baby hadn't been out that day, and
after Uncle Albert had cot out the
baby carriage and wheeled Howard Jr.,
away she would write down all OF his
talk that she could remember.
Now and then she had qualms about
sending the baby off with him, for she
| EQcSScO tlldl lC SOlIlCtAilto toON
| Jr., out of the carriage n walked
with him on his shoulder, and that
little beard of Uncle Albert's wa GER
tainly not the proper plaything for an
infant. But she had SO little time to
herself!
Her guess was quite correct. Except
when he wa with Tommy Hicks, Uncle
Albert was never happier than when
he and Howard Jr., were enthrOned
under one of the brooding oaks in the
park. Dandling Howard Jr. on his
meager chest, Uncle Albert would sing:
Little old man came riding by.
Sez l, "Old man, your horse will die"
And if he lives I'll ride him again."
If he dies I'll tan his skin,
This, and similar classics Uncle Al
bert submitted for the approval Of his
granddaughter, who in return would
pull that beard and utter chOrtling
cries. ),
Sometimes Brighton found them
there when he cut through the park
after the Office was closed on his way
to see Lucas. Brighton would stop.
talk for a moment, then hurry on. He
was keeping closely in touch with Luz
cas- these days. He was worried about
Lucas.
The garage which Lucas owned had
a light going late every night in the
| welding room, where Lucas himself was
making a small, intricate model.
Il don't understand what it is all
about, but Lucas does Brighton told
Doris. Its some appliance to use IN
drilling oil wells and it's supposed to
cut down costs. A chap Lucas knew
at college invented it, and he's giving
Lucas an interest in it to make up the
model properly for him. Lucas is
working and worrying himself half tc
death over it. He's convinced that
there's money in it, and he's trying tc
make a success OF the thing in time
to sell it and get some money out OF
it before his turn comes to have Uncle
Albert. Genevieve has told him that
she won't live in the same house with
a tireSome old man, and that If he
can't get the money to send her to
Europe or Palm Beach during those
three months she's going home to her
father and stay"
THE creature!' said Doris, softly
and angrily.
Lucas is crazy to care" Brighton
ucCldl Gu. nc OuSllt w 1OFC q ASdi 81
one who would stick even'-hiS voice
dropped roughly-'if a man is a fail
ure."
You're not a failure!" she protested,
1T isn't your fault that you didn't get
your raise. Business has been rotten"
He kissed her sadly and tenderly.
The leaves were gone from the moon
vine that had covered the porch dur
t~V a.. Coorr ~ mould bn ton
cold to sit outdoors.
Indeed, the first cold weather set in
on the day when Uncle Albert came to
board with Brighton. Unfortunately,
on the second day after his arrival,
Mrs. Hutchinson's furnace refused to
function. In spite Of the attentions OF
reputed furnace experts, the boarderS
went to bed that night in a clammy
house. And, though the registers once
more eXhaled heat the following morn
ing, Brighton found when he went in
to get Uncle Albert up for breakfast
that the old man breathed with diff
Guilty and with a sound Of tearing paper
in his chest. +.
Now, pneumonia, when it attacks
the aged, is likely to be a quick and
mortally decisive affair or else a very
long drawn out battle. Uncle Albert
had been a fighter in his younger
days. And, in regard to this engage
ment, he said that it got his dander
up, that he hadn't ever thought he
would take sick on the children, but
that he would soon get over it because
when he died it wasn't going to be Of
a rattle in his tubes.
He did his best, but because of his
relapse he spent six weeks in the hos
pital before he finally left it, dis
charged by the grace Of God, the doc-
tors, and the prayers Of Tommy Hicks.
The Rice children had shared ex-
pense. But, even with three other
people to help meet the bills, Brighton
found when 1t was all over that his
Doris Fund was almost nonexistent, a
mere memorial marking the grave Of
his dreams.
I've got to do something" he said
IN nOric at copf Stand thic And