Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1932-02-11
Chapter IA
NO IDIOTS

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Chapter IA
NOBLE IDIOTS
1.-THE devil take Wills growled
Dickey as he poured the coffee. THE
devil take all" Il
A knock at the door interrupted
them.
AS Dickey opened the door, one Mr..
Andrew Hall. walked in, and greet
ed the golden haired child sitting in
a white velvet evening gown with
a white kitten in her lap. He an
nounced himself as the manager Of
the hotel who had just talked TO Mr.:
Dale, the theatrical producer, and
Dickey's father.
Let him be the first to congratu-
late the young couple, said Mr.. Hall
suavely, his sleepless eyes glowing
with barely suppressed mirth. He
had asked Madame Rense, the lreal
modesto TO provide Mrs. Dale with
suitable apparel for going into town.
Mr.. Dale's orders. Mr.. Dale, Sr. that
isl
Excitedly Hope phoned this Ma
dame Renee, giving her size and ask
ing what were the possibilities in the
current wardrobe of the shop.
In a haphazard brown covert suit,
peach satin blouse, brown shoes and
brown felt hat, Hope was tucked into
the car beside Dickey and bade good
by TO Mr.. Hall, Madame Renee, and
a bill of a hundred and twenty-seven
dollars.
Ii was a glorious morning. A teas
ing, spring morning that seemed TO
he laughing at their fears. Good
morning Mr.. and Mrs. Are you hap
Ply? Terribly in love?
You'll stick by me no matter
| WHAT" Dickey demanded as they
flew thru the main street of the town
that was Hopes home.
NO matter WHAT she vowed.
| And meant 1t.
On and on they travelled. Talking
at traffic stops, of the future. OF
how Diokey would go to work. Real
work. And write plays on the side TO
| make a fortune for them. And how
| they would take a little studio apart
ment. And live within Dickey,s
! means. No more college for Dickey.
| Life was serious now.
SO seriousl
Hickey met them at the door of
| the hotel suite that he called homei
| and that, indeed, he a made home,
| by a mad collection of trinkets, rem
| iniscent photographs, pieces of stage
furniture. tapestries, curios, innum-
| cradle books, framed programs, and
a huge Great Dane, who, from a pup,
had been Hickey's solace In the lonely
months when his son was off acqulr-
ing an education. The Great Dane,
called Dobson after the play that had
made Hickey's first great success on
Broadway, was Hickey's ever-faith-
full shadow.
Hickey greeted them ,solemnly.
Kissing Hope and calling her ''dau-
ghter.' With remarkable dignity In
that word-"daughter."
In the great, o~yer-crowded living
room, Hickey sat, with Dobson at
his feet, and faced the two slightly
subdued young culprits. Heard ne
~r.x nf Goucxy xuhn TpGfpn nllifQ
safely in the crook Of Hopes arm
and called his man-servant for ale
Hickey loved his ale, and 1t was mnch
easier to keep stern and practical IN
treating with these two Impossible
young idiots with a mug of ale In MS
fist. Coffee was ordered for the bride
and groom, and Hickey began to talk
Your father" said he. hitching one
leg across the other with a notice
able effort. lis simply beyond speech
You've been a very bad girl, Hope
Wait, now o listen to me-, You're
going to have to do a lot of talking
Your father won't discuss matters
with me. / tried to hold my temper
| think l did hold my temper. Yes
/ couldn't change your fathers opinl,
ion. The man is quite out of hii
mind with worry and anger.
Hold on, / say, and listen to me
Both of you. You had no right to rur
off like that last night. I'm sur
you u WHAT'S done is done.
/ think you kids love each other. Tn
sure of it. And I'm willing TO bach
you to the limit To certain limits
} Hickey INDUCED in a long draugh
Of the ale, and cleared his throat
t Hand in hand sat Hope and Dickey
{ quite tense, glancing at each othe'
! occasionally, their eyes repeating tn,
vows to stick by, no matter what.
Personally" continued Hickey a
he wiped his mouth with a soft press
! ing of his handkerchief against hi
r lips, II want to make one demand
l must make one demand Of you"
= What is it, Hickey?" asked tn
: boy in the limp tuxedo opposite.
II want you to finish college.
8 think you owe it to me. son: Yo'
have only a year to go, and / wan
8 you to finish. Outside of that, /.
back you to the limit"
: II want to support Hope now
e out his hands in a hopeless gesture
e I'm married now Hickey. 70
s wouldn't want me not to be a man
not to face my responsibilities"
Hickey gulped some ale and stare
d at the boy.
n Sot = ACAA AN 0AJ AAhb W0o N
ried at your age myself. / had I
d support my wife And l know how
feels. / know what 1t means. No
/ believe in young love. I'm for !
p But not with all the hardships yo
will have to face If YOU want TO /
noble idiots. / know you, son.
q want you to be a man, yes. But /
s give you plenty of opportunity I
show your CUTS time enough. Plent
n of opportunity.
If Right now, / want you and HoI
III to go on a weeks trip. Then i
II go up to Yarmouth with you ar
pick out a nice little place for yc
" to live. I'll back you on your rem
vt and food, and all expenses. III eve
s. let you state what you think you
earn and give you only that muc
In years to come you can pay n
, back every cent and with interes
Je If you must, to feel happy. But "
Id owe IL to me. Dickey, to finish CO
,e lege. ] think ever Hope viii see tn
s. when she gives it thought"
Chapter Is
- PANIC TRAILS HOPE