Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1933-05-31

OF its usual s%moothneSs. She was
laughing when she escaped.
But the irritability persisted.
Cynthia, my DEAR" the Captain
said gravely m evening, 81 really
must protest against your over.
working as you are doing. Is II
necessary for you to remain so long
at the shop every night7"
Cynthia made no reply beyond q
weary smile at him. II was Tenny
as usual who struck straight from
the shoulder. "She's let Elsie go.
She has to stay till closing time
every night"
you've let Elsie go?" Miss
Nona's voice rose protestingly.
Darling. why did your"
"Just giving her a vacation" was
the evasive answer. "She's coming
back when business picks up again.
Elsie was tired. She needed a
rest"
To Geofrs amazement no one sug-
gested that Cynthia herself was
badly In need of a rest, no one said,
as Geoff thought they ought to say,
that 1t would be a good idea for
Cynthia to sell the shop. He began
to watch her. to notice how little
she ate, what an effort II seemed to
be for her to go upstairs; and one
evening he tackled her again on
the subject of the shop.
look here, Cynthial Why don't
you sell that internal shop of yours
and take a vacation yourself? You
look like the wrath of God these
days. | don't understand what your
family Is thinking of. not to realize
you're half sick II +" He
stopped abruptly for she had risen
and crossed the room to him, put
n hand on his arm.
"Geoff, you're not to say one word
to theml You've got to promise me
you won't, do You hear? I'm all
right" She slipped her hand down
his arm till she touched his hand,
pressed 1t urgently. Promise!
Promise you'll not speak to Miss
Mona"
"But good heavens, child She's
your mother-she has q right to
know. Anyhow, what's the use of
being so foolish-ruinins your
health by sticking to that dlnky
shop? Suppose you do a little prom
Ing" he went on. Promise me
you'll take a vacation Yourself"
She sighed. "Out of the question
just now-both of them"
Then | think" he averred, "Td
better just see Miss Mona"
Her blue eyes blazed. whats
my health to you, Geofr Ensloe?
After all, you have no right to In
terfere with my private affairs"
Rot" he said inelegantly. II
have the right of a friend"
Friend? You're no friend of
minel"
"Ill say I'm not" he answered
with grimness, Anything less friend
ly than your attitude toward me
I've never encountered. But I'm a
friend of your family--you're my
mothers goddaughter-"
Swiftly her face underwent an en-
tire transformation. Her smile
Geoff admitted Cynthia had q lovely
smile when she Uses 1t, which Is
darn seldom FLASHED, her ewes
softened.
"Then promise for their sakesl
You must have seen that Miss Mona
is not strong. / don't want her
worried"
Il suppose she won't worry If you
fall I'LL"
She walked to the window and
stood looking out into the garden.
"Geoff, listen to me-" she said
after q while. she spoke seriously,
as though sure of his understand
Ing. I'm not very WE'LL admit that.
I'm going to get Elsie back Just as
soon as it's possible. | can't sell
the shop. For M thing, there's no
one who would buy it just now. If
| promise to spare myself as much
as p~osslble-if / come home and rest
will you not say any
thing to Miss NonaT'
He moved uncomfortably. There
had been a hint of tears In her
voice Just at the end. Why was
she so determined to keep her moth
er In ignorance Of her fatigue? Why
did she hang on like grim death to
that id shop?
please, Geoff7"
IT'S not my business, as you Just
pointed out" he said sharply.
She shrugged, left the darkened
window, walked out Of the room.
For the next few days she made
a speci& effort to appear cheerful
and rested. She spent her evenings
down In the parlor with the rest of
them Instead of shutting herself up
stairs with her accounts. Geoff alone
knew that she paid for these hours
of leisure by other hours stolen from
sleep. he walked several times and