Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1934-07-21

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starved Tor something almost anything
20 love. Nancy forestalled explana-
tons
"A dolly o daddyl" she exclaimed
ia shrin treble Of delight, crying as
she darted forward to clasp this new
conner to her child's breast. She did
not eat a bite Of breakfast. She was too
busily engaged on the floor, fitting a
red bandanna handkerchief about the
doll as q dress.
Mid-October arrived and with It q
visit from Gid He came out with a
wrapped cardboard box. But the instant
be glimpsed Nancy. running out to
meet him. hugging the now dressed
up doll. he was wise enough TO leave
his bundle IN the truck. Christmas
would be time enough for such q pres
ent from him.
Nancy was unaffectedly glad to see
him. She was less the mature hostess
now, and much more the little girl.
She climbed on 0id's lap and showed
him her newest treasure, the doll. This
was no ordinary rag creature, better
believe itl The nose. ears lips, and
eyes all came Off See, there were other
holes, too. You could put them any
place you wanted TO. and It was won
derful how many different people you
could make out Of the one dolll Each
member, like an ear, for instance, had
telephone plug attached which would
fit any Of the facial spots.
The girl expended fully, yanking out
her dolls eyes without trepidation.
"See, II I do this way il looks Ike
mans face, like Daddy. II I put the
nose up here, and the eyes closer to-
gether, then It looks more like you"
Many minutes passed. Gil Mccall
had been tolerant-then suddenly in-
terested. He carried several sidelines
Of specialties and toys In season. He
knew the chances. II e was eager but
not smiling when he asked leave TO exc
anime the strange doll more closely.
A queer, exciting bunch had germinat-
ed in his mind.
Gids actions were mysterious during
the next few days. BY dint Of some
persuasion he managed to get Odom
to make two more OF the dolls, slight
" improving the pattern. The sales
man declared he had two nieces he
thought would enjoy the dolls. and
insisted on paying dollar apiece for
them. That was really a low enough |
price, as even Cass Odom thought 70 |
himself, seeing that he had TO provide /
three separate sets Of features for each
doll. Thus either doll could be any
one Of three separate individuals-or 1
could be a queer hodgepodge when the
features were mixed and drawn ont
at random.
The noses, ears. lips. and mustaches
Of the new creations attached with
wooden plugs; Odom had exhausted
the switchboard metal, but wood was
more practical, anyhow. And both
Of these dolls were painted.
Gid Mccall drove away with them
wrapped. Next day he had q
conference with q lawyer In Mobile.
Three days later one Of the dolls start
ed long journey 10 Washington The
other Gid Mccall took with him to
. toy manufacturing center in Ohio.
In time Jessie Odom left the hospital,
sured but weak and paliid. She wrote
hat she would rest another week at
lie house Of friend, and then take
} part time JOB she had been lucky
enough to secure.
CasS had sent her two more money
riders for small amounts. with the
,uying Of books Nancy needed IN or
Ter to start fourth grade at Blackjack,
le remained penniless.
The little girls clothes were thread
rare, but she did not mind. Letters 10
aer mother were enthusiastic, albeit
hey stressed q note Of longing Cas-
sad ceased to add postscripts. To have
Isssie again he had needed success, and
he had failed.
On the nineteenth day Of November.
cornelius StrattOn actually came. It
vas nothing but stop over for him.
lie had wanted only 70 make sure THAT
DdOm was only one Of these rich farm
rs from whom q comfortable sum Of
money might be wheedled. He soon
aw otherwise, but he was q man Of
he world, and took his disappontmen
nth good grace. He spent half hour
Inspecting the sun machine, which CasE /
Aled and started running for him. j
The engineer found the contrivance
ust about as he had pictured it-Gse-
So, Of course. The condenser scheme
gas clever, though patiently impracttc-
bic for industrial use,
I'm sorry, doom" he said at length,
Or once he could afford 10 be frank.
You've got hold OF an idea which In
lme may be developed until 1t reaches
racticaItty. II were you and could
@ord IL. I'd patent the sum machine. :
g II stands now, however, there isn't
sou-marquee In It for any one. In I
feet It's Just an efficient water tur-
ine. Nobody wants one now. BY and
well, you can't tell =
IN farewell he thrust out his hand. !
lass doom grasped IL dumbly. This
ben, was the end.
That night he did something he had
ot tried Ia years. he spent dollar
a. q half gallon Of shiny green,
Grid whisky distilled from cane scum
nd corn that had been sproused with =
'e. Cass drank about q tumbler Of the
Dc stuff before his stomach rebeiled :
g1k then he was drunk on his feet
nging at the top Of his lungs. =
g7srn ksss tnzsnrq II maxssn into nfe via q