The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1935-12-27

allowed to look at two presents before
he ate and he could take his choice.
The rest must wait till after breakfast.
This was the usual Christmas routine,
and in his choice Jerry followed the
same routine. He chose first his gift
from his father and mother, which TO-
day happened to be a superb tricycle..
Next he selected one of the gifts of
his fairy godmother. It was an amazing
mechanical train-the kind that has
a real track running all around the
room and that goes when it is wound
up with a dizzying speed and a soul
a whistle, too-shril and piercing, cut
ting into the atmosphere as it rounded
curves.
take care, old man." Donald De.
war advised his son, "or your eyes will
pop out of your head. If they do that
you won't see the train so we'll"
Children are amazingly intuitive.
Dewar's tone was light, but odd. It
made Jerry look at him quickly and
then at his mother, and as he looked
his brilliant little face sobered. Never
seen those two faces so serious. Never
before had he heard the sharp edge
on his mothers voice which it held
now.
tits the same old story" she said,
between tight lips. II pinch and save
to give Jerry something he wants. Then
when Christmas comes Eve sends him
taking that he hasn't the slightest in
terest in his other gifts. Shes very
foolish. She's done it every Christmas
since he was born. She seems to think
Jerry belongs to her and that it's her
privilege to spoil him. And he isn't the
only thing she thinks belongs to her.
I told her so yesterday"
you seem to have told her a good
many unpleasant things during that
row you and she had" Dewar said,
still in that new voice.
Jerry pricked up his ears. Row! He
knew that word and what it meant.
AS an only and rather %precocious child
he had always given close attention to
the conversation of his elders. At seven
he understood much more of it than
they realized. What he didn't under
stand he tucked away in his memory
n reflected on it at leisure. Quite
often something was said later that
made 1t clear. He was down on the floor
o apparently absorbed in his new
engine, but his small ears were alert
and his mind was busy. What was it he
had heard Nora, the cook. saying to
Janet, the waitress, only last night?
He remembered it quite we'll.
1.-THE pair of them had a devil of a
row in the lib'ry this afternoon. Her.
self laid out her fine friend good and
cold and Mistress Jennings left the
house with a flea in her ear. High time.
too, if you ask me. She's been here
too much for anybody's good!"
Janet, the Scotch waitress Mrs. De-
wal had employed ever since her mar
rage, was passionately loyal to her
mistress.
IF you're limiting that there's any
thing wrong between Mr.. Dewar and
Mrs. Jennings" Janet began with
cold fury.
I'm not" Nora said placidly. "ex-
cept that it's wrong to be letting them
selves drift into trouble. which is ex-
actly what the two of thin is doing"
Jerry, in the cooks pantry locking
for a piece of string from the supply
she always kept on a hook there, wait
ed till Janet had gone and then fol-
lowed her upstairs. Nora's eyes widened
as she say him cross the kitchen.
THE kid got an earful that time"
she told herself. and added comfort
ably, but devil a bit of it he'll take
in!"
He didn't take it all in-only enough
to make him uncomfortable. Put with
several other things it formed a haunt
ing pattern. His mothers and his god
mothers red eyes when they parted.
The fierce and hurried hug the latter
had given him in the hall. Her wet
cheek pressed against his face. And
this talk at the breakfast table and
the strange seriousness and silence till
it had begun.
Eve needs to come to her senses"
his mother was saying. She added, and
her voice still held that new sharp
note. and so, my dear, do you'll"
Donald DeWar pushed back his chair
and half rose.
IT you're insinuating-" he began.
MY dear, I never insinuate. I tell
you exactly what I think. I think it's
senses. I've told her 50, and now I'm
telling you"
Jerry's attention returned to his
train. He realized that he had been
forgotten. The words above him flowed
on. He caught and understood a phrase
here and there.
I'm blaming myself, too," his moth
er continued. II should have pulled
you up before all this gossip started.
blame myself for another thing. I
knew perfectly well the danger of hav-
ing an attractive widow around the
house so much. The trouble is" her
voice shook, - trusted you both"
That brought a choked protest from
her husband.
you don't think"
"Of course I don't" Jerry's little
nerves relaxed. His mothers voice was
natural again. It was a cajoling voice,
the voice in which she so often spoke
to him when he had been crying. Her
words had meant little to him but
words. Her tone brought him out from
under the table. Even yet she did not