Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1935-12-28

(shIcaro Trisune-Naw YORK News Syndicate
1aparrurntea
tcopyrisht. 1895; BY Elisabeth 5ordanl
ON TWO PARTs-pART TWol
Jerry had let most Of their talk drift
mast his ears. But later when he was
alone and nok greatly interested IN
what he was doing, certain sentences
came back 20 him and fingered IN his
mind. One OF these was the sentence
about the table and the crumbs
Crumbs were given TO hungry birds. He
himself gave crumbs 70 birds every
day and Eve never came 70 their
table any more. He hadn't realized that
she was fond OF crumbs and evidently
in his mind. together with his father 5
quick. almost rough response.
you know perfectly wen we're play
ing with fire, Eve. We've had one
lesson We're fools 70 risk another"
Here was something at last which
Jerry understood perfectly. Fools was
not a nice word. Playing with fire
was q dangerous thing. He himself had
been emphatically warned against do
ing It. Yet daddy and Aunt Eve were
doing It now, In some mysterious man
ner he did not comprehend. That night
he tried TO get q little information
from Nora who was always willing to
chat.
Mora" he began. when grownup
folks are playing with fire and there
isn't any fire, what are they doing2
Is 1t Just a joker" he added hopefully
For q moment Nora stared at him in
silence. Then she drew deep breath.
Now, what do you mean BY that
question:" she wheedled. Tell me who's
playing with fire. and perhaps I can
tell you what they're up to-"
But Jerry was not to be drawn that
Il didn't see any one playing with
fire, he said remotely, and left her.
The kitchen was favorite haunt Of
his, however, and a few days later,
while he was in the pantry scraping
and eating the sweet dough left in a
mixing bowl, he overheard another
talk between Nora and Janet.
ITS all began again" Nora told
whats begun again?"
Janet's tone and face were dollr.
Janet had been out Of sorts the last
few days.
Don't pretend you don't know.
Didn't see your ears stick out when
Mrs. Roberts cook was talking about
It this morning. when she come in to
OOIIOW ItlOSe eggSR
And you've no right to lend eggs,
janet pointed out, TO the worst gossip
''Ifs no gossip" Nora said calmly.
It's truth, and I've heard it before.
The pair Of thim's been meeting in
The park, with every nurse In town
them and talking her head
0ff when she got home God alone !
znows how much Of their talk young
Jerry's been hearing. It's only the
1ther day he was askin' me, the poor
amb, what grownupS did when they
vas playin' with fire. I asst him who /
he grownups was, but would he tell 4
ne? Not him. 1t would be Gods mercy
I your Mrs. Jennings would pack her
trunks and go to Europe, like she's
always talkin' about doin'." /
You're talking nonsense, Nora KEEL
y" But Janets voice was weak and
worried and she left the kitchen
Without another word.
Everything was different at home
hese days, though Christmas was so
laughter. Just dark, stern, serious
aces. His father and mother were
almost as silent as shadows. No more
,heerful chatter at the breakfast table.
Ills father read his newspaper, his
mother read and reread her morning
etters. One remark she made to hts
ather three days before Christmas
eemed to Jerry to fit into his puzzle.
] suppose you and Eve are making
Ip your minds what to do, she said.
Ter voice was like the icicleS that
ropped from the outer window frames.
I think you ought to know by the
irst OF January. That's the proper
lme, isn't It, to make q fresh start2S
BE did not answer. He merely gave
Ter long look, which she met stead
y. He seemed about to speak but
lanced at Jerry, changed his mind,
nd went out of the room without q
'ord or backward look. Jerry wan
erred down to the kitchen, uncon-
ciously eager for Nora's ample pres
nee and warming smile. But there was
% smile on Nora's fresh face thisl
1Ornfng.
"If this keeps up IN be Ieavin', she
VaS telling Janet. Maybe you've got
be heart to stand and watch her sIlf-
sr TIL the place blows up. but I amt.
u give her my notice this day"
And that win help her q lot" Janet
sered. Have you never heard that j
ats desert q sinking shipPV
"A-h-- Then you don't deny that It
sink1nI" Nora spoke almost trium- ,
hantly, then s0bered at the look of !
on the other woman's face.
Don't be mindin' me. I say q lot I
lore than mean" she muttered con- I
1tely. "IU stay, Of course, till the end |
omes and we get our notice, which I'd /
~ win be right after New Years None /
them wants TO be spelling young !
erry's Chrtstmas-even your Mrs. Jen-
ings." ,
Don't call her my Mrs. Jennings,
anet cried out paSsaonately. shes mol
lend OF mine now, and YOU know she !
MT" IL
She dropped into a chair by the