The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1935-03-15
The Magic Fluid

4n0 N4oSIC
Published by Special Arrangement With The
Chicago Tribune-New York News Syndicate. Inc.
(Copyright, 1895. by Mella Russell McCallum)
PART ONE
A STORY OF THE MAGIC FULFILL
MENT OF DADDY Belts ONE LAST
WISH FOR HIS CHILDREN TO BE
FRIENDS
Daddy Belts sat in the sun, a blue
plaid shawl wrapped about his shoul-
ders, an old medical journal open on
his knees. There was a chill in the
air off Lake Michigan, although the
September sun was warm. The back
yard was typical Of older Chicago. A
narrow fenced area of clothes lines
and stunted grass behind a gray wood
en- two-story and basement house.
A gold-headed ebony cane rested
against the arm Of Daddy Belts old
rocking chair. He wasn't reading. His
bright blue eyes were fixed OF the row
of sooty asters which his daughter Mel
lie had planted along the alley fence.
The thin face with the fine high nose
was calm, half smiling, half sad. He
wasn't really looking at the flowers at
would suspect that the frail paralytic
ting physician in a Michigan lumber
town.
The kitchen screen door slammed
and his daughter came out with a bas-
ket of clothes. Nellie Belts had been
a f~ine-looking girl. Even now, a. the
Woodworking wife of John Cooper, she
was still fine looking, tall, rangily built,
dark and vivid. But the eyes were too
intense, ~bespeaking a struggle against
terrible odds. "Are you warm enough,
daddy?" she called.
eyes, thank you, daughter"
She hung up the clothes, then sat
down cross-legged on the grass beside
her father. II mustn't stay long, I
haven't made the roomers' beds yet"
"You look like a little girl, Nellie.
I wish you didn't have those roomers."
"But I have to have them, if I'm 60
ing to send Rita to college. It's only
a year off now" At mention of her
daughter a fierce protectiveness came
into Nellie's voice. "Rita's going to have
her chance in life, if I can manage it,"
eyes. I want her to have it, too" The
old mar sighed.
you're the only one who sympa-
thizes with my ambition for Rita. John
pretends it isn't necessary to send her
to college-that's because he can't af-
ford it. And I know better than to
expect any help from the boys"
IF only you weren't so bitter toward
your brothers, Nellie"
"How can I help it? Forrest doesn't
yer send you any money" Her father
stirred uneasily and reached for the
gold-headed cane. ooh, yes, I know he
gives you lovely presents, but" She
broke off with a shrug.
"You mustn't be hard on Forrest. I
don't suppose actors are eve very
practical. And you know he doesn't al
ways have an engagement"
what did he want to go on the stage
for, anyway? Changing his name to
Forrest Ardmore-as if Belts wasn't
good enough?"
"Now, now, daughter. It's Forests
life, to live as he chooses. I've never
disapproved. In fact I always encour-
aged his fondness for music and the
drama. One winter when you we're
children I myself headed an amateur
dramatic company, and we put on
Sheridan's Rivals. Forrest was only
seven but it made a great impression
on him.. So if you want to blame any
one for Forests being an actor, blame
me-"
Nellie smiled and patted her fathers
thin shank. The smile passed. Forrest
is Forrest" she said fatty. Hell never
be any different. But Rod could do
more for you and never miss it. Rod
could help Rita, too, if he wasn't so
stingy." She saw the look of pain come
into her fathers face, and she was
sorry. But she kept On. "Both the boys
look down on Jim. They think he's a
stick-in-the-mud."
Nellie, Nellie, you shouldn't talk so.
OF course. the boys respect your hus-
band. Why can't you have more faith?
Oh. If you could only see each other
as I see you. Then you'd understand.
It's all so clear to me-"
whats clear, daddy? What would
we understand?"
you'd understand that your lives
are the logical results of my life. I
was no business man. Look at the way
I sold my formula for a song. And I
was seldom home. Your mother went
through great hardships. The life of
a country doctor is most irregular. You
and Rod reacted against all that. I'm
consciously you chose a man with better
regulated habits"
Nonsense, daddy. You were wonder
What if you didn't get rich out
OF your formula? Think of the good it's
doing. That gold watch from the medi-
cal society shows what they think Of
you."
Year ago Daddy Belts had worked
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