Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1930-07-10
IN TWO PARTs-PART ONE

iOOpyrlRIts 1871. DS NiOtOAhhS pAih
IN TWO PARTS-PART ONE
4 FTER a time the rumor spread
u around town hat the Rice children
had drawn lots to see which one of
them. must first accept responsibility
for their Uncle Albert, a sociable old
fellow of sixty-elght years who always
stayed on in the living room talking
about the Spanish-American war, no
matter what elegant company was
calling, who nurtured a Scrubby little
beard and, in spite OF 1t, kissed his
nieces' babies on the sly; who wore the
most impossible old clothes and left
his false teeth in the most unexpected
places.
The umo was untrue. But it was a
fact that during the family conclave
which the Rice children held in order
TO decide what was to be done with
Uncle Albert they INDUCED freely in a
practice which is commonly known as
passing the buck.
All four of the Rice men and women
were present. The husbands of the
two girls were also there, Quiveringly
alert for anything that was said and
looking a trit1e depressed. They felt
that the situation vas rather unfair.
They had not counted on Uncle AL
bert when they married.
They all sat in a restless group in
the living room of the old Rice home,
which had been kept since MI. Rice's
death by Brighton, the youngest son,
the only one of the children who was
yet unmarried. He and Uncle Albert
had kept bachelors quarters there for
a week after the funeral, and when
Elisabeth and Frances, the daughters,
looked into the kitchen they gave little
cries and backed out again.
The house had been sold to pay the
debts which were Mr.. Rice's sole legacy
to his children. Brighton was moving
into a boarding house in four more
days. And Uncle Albert vas moving.
like a boat without a rudder, to any
n of several destinations.
So, having temporarily disposed Of
the subject under discussion by send
ing him down town to the showing of
a western picture, the Rice children
gathered in close conference, with the
threat Of discord already discernible,
like the scene OF an OncOming thunder
storm, in the air.
Let's jump In and settle it at once"
suggested Brighton when the front
door closed behind Uncle Albert. Hell
be back at nine-thirty, and, however
we may feel, I don't think any of us
would be Grass enough to let him know
he isn't wanted"
Brighton was standing. He leaned
against the mantel, his tall, thin body
relaxed, his fair, tousled head tipped
back, his expression casual. Neverthe-
less, mentally he wa in fighting posi-
ton. He knew that he was in for it.
He knew that his present circum-
stances were not to his advantage. In
asmuch as Uncle Albert was now in
his keeping, the others would insist
hat there was nc good reason why
things should not continue so. Also.
as the others would point out, he had
no family to support. Only himself
dependent on his salary.
But his salary was not large. 1t little
more than covered his own needs, and
that little more went into a fund dedi-
Gated to a shrine and an idol. A pic
ture of the idol IA always on Brigh-
tons dresser. She had an oval face,
beautifully contOured, with a soft, rich
mouth blooming in the lower half,
while a pair of wide set dark eyes Of
great intelligence and steadinesS en-
HANGED the upper part.
Her name was Doris Moon. She
wore the engagement ring which
Brighton had given her, and he ard
she were to be married as soon rs
Brighton could get enough money
ahead. The thought of having to pro-
vide a home just now for Uncle Al
bert was appalling to Brighton. He
had been getting on fairly well with
his additions of his Doris Fund, and
he could hardly bear the thought of
having the contributions int rrupted.
1t would simply mean hat for a Ger
tain length of time he would have to
exchange a future with Doris for a
present with Uncle Aloer,. And no
mar in his senses would have hest
tated in making a choice between the
two.
Let some of the others who were al
ready married and had homes take
him. That was only reasonable,
Brighton thought. He started to sug-
gest that they take turns, three
months each of Uncle Albert, in ro-
tation according to their ages. But, of
course, they would give him to Lucas
AAiot, oAiO oOAAiSAAOW, AOOhAAA6 ~ auSoo,
Brighton hadn't quite the heart to
suggest it.
Lucas, the quiet one, was sitting
slightly away from the rest of them,
over in the settle near the bookcases.
He sat with his head bent, and his
clasped hands dropped between his
knees. He looked harried and worn.
At thirty-five, Lucas had a busting
Of gray in his black hair at the temples.
He had a beautiful wife fourteen years
his junior. And he had an asking look
in his eyes. His wife, Genevieve, was
not with him tonight. She was not
the sort to bore herself with family
conferences. She was a royal, spoiled,
deadly kind Of girl who could make a
mans life heaven or hell, according
to the circumstances in which she
found herself. On impulse, she had
thrown over a millionaire for Lucas,
and in many small, subtle ways she
caused Lucas to remember it. Lucas
had gone in debt to give her the things
she wanted. But unless he could i'm
prove his finances, it looked as if he
might lose her.
Elisabeth was the first to answer