Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1933-05-18

upon him with such open hostility?
A year." he replied briefly.
He's going to stay with us. Isn't
that keenf" Cary asked eagerly.
Geofr glanced at Miss Mona little
curiously. The happiness had all gone
from her face, the warmth from her
voice. Something like fear looked out
of her soft brown eyes. What brute
of girl this was, Geoff told himself,
whose mere arrival so changed the at
mosphere of her home. The Captain
had extinguished the fat cigar he had
lighted and tossed napkin over 1t.
The maid, summoned by Miss Mona,
murmured something In low tone to
her mistress who In turn murmured
back. glanclng apprehensIvely toward
her daughter Cary pulled nervously
at his cigarette Only Tenny seemed
happy in Cynthias arrival. She kept
her thin little arms about the other
girls waist and when Cynthia said
something about running upstairs to
wash her hands. Tenny went with her.
Geofr tried doggedly but In vain to
restore the former gaiety to the party.
A blight had fallen, Cary could only
smile In slckly fashion, Miss Mona
looked from the table to the door and
back again.
Presently Cynthia returned, still
wearing the dark swiss frock which
nft htrt
curls and ripples testifying to the wet
comb she had run through her hair.
I'm starved" she began as she took
her seat. mo lunch at all today
and,
mo lunch7 oh, CynthialH
absolutely no time for lunch--and
/ didn't quarrel with that fact, you
may be snre!" She stopped as the maid
set plate before her; raised her
eyebrows questloningly.
Miss Mona hurried into speech, I'm
so glad you could come home for
good hot meal, dear. Was 1t terrible
downtown today 7"
Pretty hot. Even the tourists felt
the heat, and you know they're usually
interchangeable However, we sold about
q peck of abalone rings, and silver
bracelets with turquoises In EN-, and
shell chains
ibid you sell any more rings like
your Jade one7' Tenny's voice asked
interestedly. Wasn't It lucky your
godmother sent you that Just when the
lady from Detroit wanted one?n
There was an appalled, silence.
Geoff was maliciously pleased to see
the color rise In the girls face until
1t flooded her temples and was lost In
the waves OF her hair. He asked
blandly:
1.-THE jade dinner ring7 Too bad you
didn't like 1t. | rather flattered my
self 1t was a bit unusual. helped my
mother select 1t, you know"
1T was a mistake-Tenny. you
shouldn't" Miss Mona began agi-
tatedly.
Cynthia bit vlciously into the roll
she had -hnttered.
ut wasn't a mistake at ALL 1t hap
pened that needed other things more
than did a ring, and as had n spe-
cial customer who wanted 1t, sold IT.
| Sorry II your mother will be hurt !"
The implication stung the young
man. Il hope you don't think | mean
| to tell her"
She lifted her shoulders In little
shrug. Il didn't know. You might
| feel 1t your duty to write her about it.
She pushed her plate away. Il don't
seem to be so very hungry, after all
The heat. | guess. Tenny, where's
Hadii? Tell the rascal he's lying down
on the job. He didn't meet me at the
| front door tonight
This time Geoff partook of the feel
ing which kept them all silent. No
| matter how much of a dislike you had
taken to girl, 1t wasn't pleasant to
| tell her that her dog was dead; had
| been murdered by another dog because
he had been allowed out against her
orders.
| He glanced across the table and saw
| that Miss Nonas eyes were trimming
| with tears and that her chin was quiv-
ering like that of q terrified child.
| The sight gave him back his own COM
| posure. A girl who could frighten her
| mother like that deserved anything.
| Quickly before Miss Mona could falter
out the news or Tenny blunder into 1t,
Geoff spoke
I'm afraid I've got bad news Of
your dog" he said, real sympathy In
| his voice. you see-he got out some
| how this afternoon and the dog next
| door"
Cynthia sprang to her feet. Miss
| Mona! You didn't .. after all
| said after I'd warned you"
She stopped, visibly fighting down the
| emotion that shook her. II beg your
| pardon, dear! I'm sorry" She turned
to Geoff. How badly is he hurt7
Where is he? Oh, why didn't you tell
me when / first came home instead Of
letting me-
Tenny's arms were around her neck,
Tenny,s cheek was laid lovingly against
| hers.
"Hadji's dead, Cynthia she said