Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1931-01-01


Jeems was fasSing at the hand of
Ids rowing vagabond Of an uncle, who
Wa his greatest here In Ill the world,
and dragged him back to get his gun.
Az they went, the happiness in Cath
crimes face was clouded for an Instant.
BEST keep good eyes on our .Teems
for time, Henri. she warned. -Hep.
Shah, you know very well, is a singu-
larry improvident and thoughtess
man. overfilled with foolish tricks and
cOntrivances most aIluring to boyisil
minds, and Of which. because OF Jeems,
l am bit afraid,
But Henri only ehuckled, for the
thought was In his mind that II was n
fAttening OF ones good fortune to be
taught tricks by I man like Hepsibah
Adams.
Then Catherine saw that a film OF
smoke was rising from the top of the
biz stone chimney.
@Hepsibah has already started a
ere" she said.
It was the aliveness OF TINS fireplace
which had drawn the expression of
surprise and pleasure from Cafh4rine
that and the aroma of cooking things
which greeted them. Since GATHERINGS
earliest memories, her brother had
boosted OF his excellence as cook.
and most assuredly he had been busy
since his unexpected arrival. Half u
dozen chains were dropped from their
bolts In the thick oak lug-bar of the
fireplace seven feet above the fire, and
from the pothooks at the end Of these
chains were suspended az many pots
and kettles, steaming and boiling and
giving forth cheerful sound OF dane
Ing pewter lids against which the bub-
bling water WAS playing an animated
and pleasing melody. But to Henri,
who always loved the sound OF these
busy pots with their lively cheer and
promise Of supper, still more delect-
able thing was the great roast OF veni-
son which Hepsibah had hung before
the fire.
Catherine took of her cape and
hood and patted her hair more prop
erly Into place before mirror hang
ing on the wall. Henri knew how fast
her heart was tripping as he took her
hAnds and held them FOR a moment
and SIM "A mist of tears behind her
lashfs 1t had been two years since
she had seen Hepsibah. two years Of
yearning and praying and hoping for
this irresponsible brother. the last OF
her close blood ties. who came and
went with the Inconsistency OF the winds
and yet had never succeeded In spoil
Ing her dream OF having him some day
as a permanent member OF her little
family. Each time he came to them,
Hepsihah was full OF promise, swear
Ing upon his soul that he had made up
his mind to remain with them forever.
as Catherine pleaded with him to do:
and then. some day or night, he would
disappear with all his belongings, and
no one would see or hear him 20. and
II might be six months, or year or,
as In this instance, even longer befores
he returned, ready to promise and
swear upon his soul all over again
but sure to steal away In the end as
before
Each time that he came, he bore a
huge pack on his shoulders, as IL
partly in penance, and the opening OF
this pack and the distributing OF its
contents had come to be the biggest
event ia Jeems' life, and also In his
mothers In slightly less degree. But
Jeezss had no trespassing thought OF
the never-falling bundle as he went
back for his gun In the company OF
his beloved Uncle Hep. AT the most
providential OF moments, his hero OF
all heroes WIS at his side, and secur-
Ing this mighty personage'g pledge of
secrecy he lost no time In telling him
about the boy he hated. Marking the
grip OF Jeems' hand, and catching the
telltale tremble In his voice, HepKibah
sat down upon the bag of ground corn
and did not leave 1t until by shrewd
questioning and sympathetic interest
he had drawn from Jeems' heart
large part Of what Ii had withheld
from his parents. At second loud
blowing OF Henri's dinner horn they
rose to their feet, and as Hepsibah
shouldered the corn, his round red
face was like full moon of promise
and cheer.
ut doesn't take size to win fight.
Jfemsy," he said, speaking In a con-
ndential way. Barring this Dutch
man at Albany. I've never been rib
roasted by big man vet, and I'm. only
tolerable sized, you observe. I've al
ways had a reasonable preference for
the big ones, come as come can, for
they are slower to move and fall harder,
and nine out OF ten of them carry fat.
This Paul Tache, now-I know BY your
telling OF him that you can cob and
comb him until he begs for mercy.
It's all what you've got your mind
made up to, Jeemsy-nothlng more
and nothing less. And you've got
your mind made up to warm him, so
go and do 1T, say"
Catherine came around the corner
OF the cabin to meet the plotters, and
Hepsibah discreetly held back further
ro ho -tvxlro