Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1931-11-26
UN THREE PARTS-PART TWO

I'm THREE PARTS-PART TWO
A car suffered to a stop in the alley
and she saw Jimmy climbing out a bat
tered blue hulk, topless, ~cushionless,
but with a brave display of headlights
and plenty of noise in the engine. There
was nothing furtive about the arrival
of Jimmy and his establishment was
genuine. There was even a pleased
note in 1t.
why mom-you looking the plant
over?"
The grip she was holding on her.
self frightened and strained her voice
to a high note.
why don't you red up this place if
you've got to have a playhouse like a
little boy. OF all the trash and litter. . +.
l won't stand for it on my prem
ises-you hear me. Jimmy? And how
did you come by that carp"
There was hysteria about her but
the boy knew it as accusation and I'M
fairness. The welcome went out Of his
face and he was instantly Sullen and
slouching again, veering upon insolence,
she saw with dismay. In that mood
she could never get anything from
him.
ITS my own car. I'm going to fix it
up to suit myself"
your carl"
He faced her defiantly. I've saved
up a little money outside my wages. I
make some in this shop and I just had
to have a car" Something struggled
to come from hiding behind his stubby
freckled features but she was too angry
and troubled to help with the escape.
All she could think of was Jimmy's self
ishness; Jimmy's secrecy, so like his
father!
Why do you want a car-if you call
that a car? Don't you have enough
with the laundry wagon?" Bitterness
burned her lips. its hopeless ever
thinking you'd want anything better
than this junk heap. Rusty nails in
stead of pen and ink. Broken down
machinery instead of books of learn
gentleman. That's what I have for a
son! Useless, all my years of hoping
and planning. You'll never be better
than you are" She smothered dry
sobs with her hands.
The boy looked at her quietly and
his own features we're moved a little.
He was wounded and insulted but he
was touched with tenderness, too, for
it was terrible to see her suffering like
that.
Gee, mom," he said tiredly, II
couldn't be a lawyer if I tried all my
life. 1 just can't get the hang of all
those words. I'm no talker. And how
would 1 go through school when we've
got no money!
1t was his clenching argument and
it failed.
Ambition" she said in that bitter
whisper, ambition is better than
money. Mr.. Ellis Harding in that fine
house on the Ridge had to work his
way-a harder way than yours. He was
a poor boy, poorer than you. / knew
him when my family was well to do,
Nothing ever stopped him-nothing. He
walked on red hot stones, but he got
where he was going. He was ambitious
though. He wasn't content to walk in
the dust when other men rode"
Jimmy grinned slyly. He never would
be serious about that old story. We'll
l won't be taking anybody's dust when
I get my car tuned up"
She turned on him so swiftly that the
smile froze on his lips.
Unlock that door and show me what
you have hidden in there!"
"Mom!" He was shocked. He had
never expected her to say that. His
face was a pale blank.
Unlock it I say"
WHY can't do that" He was dis
tressed and ashamed, not for himself
but for her, and began a stumbling ex-
PLANTATION. 1T isn't anything you'd care
about, nom. You wouldn't understand
It's-it's-just some junk" His voice
broke there for he was lying and she
could see that he was.
Trudy could not endure any more
At the door she turned back to say ir
her coolest voice:
you aren't of age yet, Jimmy. I've
got some contOl. And you can't loci
doors on my premises. Remember that
I am your mother and you can't trea'
me as an enemy"
She did not see him again unit
breakfast and then his face was a sui
len mask. Though she had lain awake
far into the night there had been nj
sound Of his usual noisy going to bed
no stumbling on the stairs or shoe'
dropped on the floor. The little house
had been a tumb Of silence but there
had been outside sounds-a car creak'
ing through the dark alley, murmur o
mems voices and the sharp rap of
p~atrolman's stick on q distant pave