Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1932-02-18
LAueHlNe.srock OF THE TOWN

Or n lOWN
"Hasn't-been here? Haven't you
heard from him?' Hope asked.
Then he's hurt, Something hap.
pened!' Papa Ross thought quickly
sound he lied gruffly. His father
has talked to me on the phone"
What did Hickey say" Q
Papa Ross cleared his throat. and
sought In his pocket for a cigarette.
Hickey, as you call him, tried tc
be very placating at first" Papa
Ross told her quietly. But when
Yes? Yes? What, Daddle?"
Really, Hope, | hate to tell you
| knew about them all along. I'm
a better judge of people than you
are. child. | was right in the first
place"
Tell me- stamped Hope storml-
ly. when he found out what?'
when he learned that both your
mother and | intended TO cut you
off entirely, your friend Hickey had
a rather different tune to sing"
Hope stared at him. Brushed her
hand against her eyes and stared
again. For one brash moment came
q singing memory. Dickey ask
Ing her to sign a pledge, hat turned
out to be her wedding license. i.
Dickey drawing as he asked her TO
sign, Sign 1t cricket, will you. so |
can sue you for breach of promise
drew in her breath sharply and snouk
the thought from her. remembering
It was a joke-a loving loke.
She flung back her head and looked
calmly into her fathers eyes.
Il don't believe it," she mumbled.
No, IL isn't true. Hickey had Of
fered to back us-give us an allow
@Taik-aii talk" snapped Mr.. Ross,
Ticking his match out the window.
"Windbag. Just putting on a facet
When Ii came to a showdown, he
was perfectly willing to listen to rea-
SON. The minute he heard | would
disinherit and disown you"
You wonid do that to me?"
Her blank disbelief was punishment
enough to Papa Ross for the sins
he was committing.
Yes, daughter. | would. Rather
than see you ruin your life."
Two blue eyes studied him mar
rowly. and then up went the yellow
head with a defiant toss.
wouldn't care. I'd stil want
Mr.. Ross drew his lips in between
tic lCGhhf HI ltlu Oif TO MS IGInDET.
I'm sorry to see you like that,
Hope. II cuts me deep!s that the
boy got such a hold on you. Even
II It's only In your Imagination"
II isn't my imagination. / love
Don't talk utter nonsense! Crack
The mere discovery at seventeen mat
ycu have emotions. Good God, Hope,
use your head Does it mean nothing
to you that he'd been drinking? That
hes laid Rusty Crandall up with a
broken eardrum2 That instead of
being able to talk to me like a man,
ne nearly threw me over and sprain-
ed my arm In an effort to show me
my word meant nothing?"
lie didn't mean to hurt you. He
was probably trying to get to me.
You shouldn't have separated up like
that! Why wouldn't you listen to us?''
Papa Ross treated her to the kind
Of foggy superior stare he often used
"Oh, I'm sorry you're hurt she
thickly, but"
Certainly you're sorry" Papa
Ross seized on the phrase. "The
boy Is sorry too. That doesn't make
my arm pain any less. Nor does any
II make the pain IN my heart less
acute. You know I've loved you
Hope Redeemed and turned with a
restless shrug toward the window.
TT know you've loved me-" she
thickly. You know I've
loved you, Dad. But you don't seem
think ! have sense enough to love
anyone else. Well. you're wrong: ]
know what I'm talking about. I'm
married to Dlckey, and / love him,
and I'll go &c him the moment he
And he will comet"
The break in her voice caused Papa
to vince.
She turned, as soon as she had
conquered the desire to weep.
she flared. What are you
waiting for? What did you mean
is no Dickey?"
You mean - because of the mon
ey? Is that 1t? You think because
backed water when he heard
| wasn't to have any inheritance. that
will desert me too? Well,
fit for an asyluml"
Papa Ross crossed his knee and
out the crease of his dark
gray trousers.
I'm afraid his voice was thin
as a wire, Il will be fit for an asy-
before you get thru with your
nonsense. Now, look here, Hope.
trying to be very patient with
the laughing stock of the town. And
so Is your family. Every one Of us
Is going TO feel cheap over this whole
/ shall try to keep things as
quiet as / can. But the long and
short of 1t is, that your bull headed,
hero has already deserted
you"
what do you mean? Why don't
tell me what he said?"
sT told yoli I haven't talkad with