Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1932-09-14
Chapter IL
LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE

sinai 0iilliNtius
She was a little creature, fail
and fluffy with a passion for fril
ly clothes.
"Darling-how lovely to SCI
you," she kissed Sondra's cheek
And Mr.. Anderson, too" She had
what she called an favourable pas
sion" for John Anderson.
Anderson rose to his feet, bow
ing rather formally.
Beatrice irritated him; she re-
minded him of a tiresome insect
which always returned to the at
tack no matter how often and de-
terminedly one brushed it away.
TOO lovely to see you," she
said again to Sondra. But you're
SO pale-isn't she, Mr.. Anderson?
Haven't you been we'll, and is that
why you"
Sondra interrupted calmly.
Don't pretend, Bea dear. Nh.
Anderson knows all about our
little escapade-I told him that
you and had a disgracefully late
night out together. | suppose that
explains why | look such a rag
this morning"
Beatrice looked blank, then sud
denly she giggled-it always took
her some time to see the point of
anything.
80 you told him! Was he very
Shocked" She looked archly up
at Anderson's immovable face.
MY poor little mother will hard
ly speak to me this morning" she
gushed. What time did we arrive
home, Sondra? 1t must have been
quite five o'clock"
Il understood that Sondra was
out all night" Anderson said
calmly. "And let me assure you
that | am not in the least shocked.
Ny education has been liberal
Beatrice giggled once more, and
made a few vapid remarks before
she rushed away again. "Mr. An
derson always makes me feel so
small and young" she explained
afterwards to Sondra. "A mere
child!n
There was a little silence when
she had departed.
u cannot tolerate that girl"
Anderson said presently.
Sondra laughed. "Why not, she's
quite harmless. / like her."
She's such a shocking liar"
Anderson answered calmly. 81
don't object to people telling lies
if they're forced to, but I do wish
do it in a convincing man.
ner."
Sondra's eyes fell. She felt it
was impossible to ask him to ex-
plain what he meant.
The air seemed fraught with an
Something" which she
could not understand; or was it
her own state Of mind that con-
jured it? Perhaps she was just
imagining that there was an un-
DERIVING knowledge in everything
Anderson said.
Did he guess the truth? And if
not what would he say if she sud
told him mark and | were
married yesterday"
Anderson spoke suddenly, as if
reading her thoughts.
Il must send young Merriman a
wire to the boat, to wish him luck.
] daresay he feels a bit hipped."
"Oh, don't think So"
What a hypocrite she was! Son
.ra felt as if she stood aside and
stared at herself in shocked dis
may.
tits a good thing he's a single
man." John said casually. 81 al
ways dislike wives being left be-
hind when it mea a long sep
aration, as it probably does in
Merriman's case"
Sondra's lips moved stiffly.
why do you dislike-wives be-
ing left behind?"
He shrugged his shoulders.
Its unsettling for a man; it
takes his mind off his work, and
handicaps him."
isn't that rather hard? Why
shouldn't men who have to work
abroad be married."
Abroad is rather a vague
term. | was speaking of men who
have to go where young Merriman
has gone. It's not a woman's
country as you know"
"And if. if Mark had been a
married mani" Sondra asked.
He looked at her steadily.
IF Merriman had been a mar
ried man, | shouldn't have given
him the job" he said.
1t was not until late that eve
when Sondra was dressing
or dinner, that she remembered
he letter which John Anderson |