The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1935-06-07
By Ida M. Evans

You see. he ran away. And he did right,
700! l was the most cantankerous old
woman who ever lived. I tainted him
because he wouldn't earn his board. Yes.
ne Old right-but, oh, h thousands I've
spent looking for the wretch! Driver.
TURN round! No-tomorrow when I
feel stronger"
Valencia watched the car until it was
a mere glossy black blur on the sun
heated road. Her face was curiously
drained Of color, like an emptied glass.
Well, he had told her about his run
|nlng away. And he had been a fool, he
had told her. Hitch-hiking across Ne
oraska, he'd almost bawled from plain
inconsistencies.
Foolishly the listening girl had fan
cied that he implied that, after know
ing her, he recovered wonderfully from
any homesickness. Now, leaning her
elbows on untyped statements, she Won
dered.
She wished this disagreeable and i'm
perious grandmother had mo- found him.
He-he would go back with her. Glad
to go.
Suppose this imperlous old woman
the Rose bowl! That would be cruel,
and Valencia began to shake with emo
ton.
Yet, if Valencia had had time to re-
fleet, probably she would not ave even
tually done what now came into her dis
ordered mind to do. 1t seemed a simple
and harmless idea, at the moment.
Everything assisted her, too. Mike was
in Los Angeles. Her father was called
to the air express office in haste as dusk
crept foggily over the blue haze of late
afternoon.
Leaving, he tossed a paper with twen-
ty-odd names to Valencia. Lay those
men off tonight. Sign their checks"
For picking was thinning as December
days went.
That list of names took the girls few
Russell Downes at the bottom.
She did not really mean to do it.
Merely it was a tempting plan.
Children should not play with sciss-
sors. Valera reflected that the old
lady In sable and diamonds was tool m
perious to prove a pleasant household
tyrant for a dependent young man ano
it would serve her right If she found
Russ not on hand on the following
morning. Then, the men filing up fol
their pay checks took her attention.
She was conscious that Russ was
standing beside her and her smile turned
up toward him.
He was looking at his name at the
pOCIOm OF the uSC.
Russ" she said, turning pink. don
be silly. That's a mistake
Yes? Looks like a hint to me tx
scram. I understand n Of your ole
friends arrived yesterday from Stan
ford"
That fat boy? He drops around ever!
vacation to say hello"
Eyes! Well, good by. Give me m!
CHECK"
.lp,, +o,, -, what hoo.
pened, why I scrubbed your name"
Il thought the handwriting was yours
Keep your news" Off he strobe.
But in the road a bus cleaved intt
sight, like a gray schooner on dusk!
waters. He jumped at the step. Was on
Valencia went back to the office anc
finished paying the men. Then sh'
called one OF the older hands to TAXI
tcnarge n she got into a small car ane
went n the direction taken by tn
bus.
She did not overtake it, but she waitet
at Russ rooming house in Van Mugs TO
him.
But he did not come and present.!
she heard from the landlady who had
Vermont accent, angular nose and orang.
sweater, that he had moved last week
She didn't know where.
Valencia doubted the story. But shs
could only 60 home.
She was not really frightened. He'e
come back. She knew that. The wa!
he'd acted about the tickets n hi
sheepish smile when he came to patel
UP the matter.
But her throat felt tight, unhappy
Well, he'd probably appear in the morn
ing smiling sheepishly. And all night
the picture OF the little imperious ole
woman.
Morning came. Breakfast was hardly
over when the rented black car agar
stopped. And now the dc lady got out
Valencia helped her. Gilbert Redo
was leaving the office for the fields
Russell Downes had not yet appeared.
But Valencia began, rather shyly
your grandson isn't here this morning
But you mustn't fret. Well have hin
here soon."
She was astounded. The old frai1 dia'
mond covered hand struck away thu
girls arm as If it were q thorny branch
What do you mean. grip Why thu
falsehood? I see him!'
And the old frail feet stumbled to.
ward-toward Gilbert Redd: And thu
Pering cry. like a n animal.
Gilbert, my boy"
And Gil Redd, tall. gray. black Of Skin
from years in his alien hot fields, turned
as If a bullet had entered him.
"Gran!"
He brushed his tanned hands over hi
eyes as If seeing a vision.
Il thought you were dead years ago
Or I'd come back to see you"
Il couldn't die without finding you
Gilbert"
She was giggling and crying in hi
arms and he wa kissing the small whit.
head, crying himself. n Valencia nov
stared and saw h enormity OF he
blunder.
Presently. standing aside. she becam.
a little angry. Why hadn't her father