The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1935-05-24

ing that strangeness for which true stor-
les are famed. But why fiction cant
duplicate it Is beyond me. However,
having given full warning. you may con-
tinue at your own risky
That evening Mamie and Charlie we1e
cozily domiciled in her neat but SHABBY
little room in an equally neat but snaD,
by boarding house. But neither seemed
able to enter heartily into the armours
and delightful caresses of former eve
nings. Charles mind was filled WIN
thoughts Of the big brunette-and now
he was going to make the break-won-
dering II Manned throw a fit and MAKE
a scene-O, we'll. he'd spring it Just as
he was going through he door-and ne
wouldn't let her o a him back into tne
room for no soldering goodbys, neither.
NAMES mind was filled with h
thoughts+black, disturbing. h mus
tell-but it was so hard to start abrupt
ly-almost impossible to lead up to tne
subject-if she could only think-tnink
Of some way to begin .,-
Finally, with her arms clasped tightly
about his neck. she said: Charlie gov
somethin' to tell you"
"Uh-huh?"
II got-something the matter with
mel"
"Huh!" He disengaged himself.
Strengthened up and looked at her.
"You know what I mean," she wenG
on h%urredly. II hoped it wasn't so, SO l
didn't say nothin', but now I know.
Amt it the limit? What'er we goin' to
do?"
He looked at her blankly. Disturbing,
murderous thoughts raced back
forth through his brain. What a hell
of a break! Why the little-who'd ex-
pect it. What a break-what's to be
done-doctors?-big risk and expensive
and she only seventeen-under age
Jail, that's what it meant-what a hell
Of a break!
He got to his feet and paced up n
down with angry strides. "Jeeze!' he
muttered.
Mamie came toward him clasping and
unclasping her hands, her drawn face
white with fear M worry.
II amt blamin' you, Charlie" she
said plaintively, I'm just as much TO
blame as you are. I knew what I was
doin'-and I knew all h risks-and I
thought it was worth it. I amt blam-
in nobody: I'm just askin' you h
can we do?"
Charlie paused and looked at her with
bitter hatred in his glance. Got any
folks to go to-" he asked, but his tone
not hopeful. He knew she hadn't.
He was just saying something in an at
tempt to stave off the inevitable, which
he knew in the first flash of revelation.
must come about.
"No-I'm an orphan-like I told you
don't you remember"
Sweat stood on Charles forehead
great beads hat showed only when his
charcoal fire was it's brightest. What
can we do?" he muttered. But he knew
the answer. Gone was the chance Of
filtration with the brunette-for the
time at least.
would it cost much to see a doctor?'
she asked timidly.
He glared at her. You know damned
well it would-more'n we could dig up
and there's the risk-lots of EN- die
and then all he others go to Jail"
II wouldn't tell on you, Charlie"
That's what they all say-but they
spill the beans when they're about to
croak."
"well-o, I don't know!" she moved
with weary steps to the morris chair
and sat down heavily. (
Charlie eyed her resentfully. AND
don't get any sap notion about bumpin'
yourself off, either" he said. "That'd
make it tough for me. Everybody knows
We been goin' together n when they
1t make me look?"
h said nothing. just gazed at him
dry eyed as he continued to pace back
and forth.
Finally h came to a stop. He did not
look at her but gazed off into space
and spoke slowly, impressively. as though
having come to a conclusion after pom
fact. the conclusion was apparent to
him from the beginning. 1--WE looked
at this thing from every angle-ev-ery
ANGLE" he said. "And i've weighed all
the chances. They amt but one way
like it or not-just one way. We got to
get married."
Her face lighted up with Joy. relief
rushed to him. 20, Charlie -" she
began.
He brushed aside her extended arms.
Its a hell Of a note," he said harshly,
but it's got to be, and we gotta get
married pretty quick, and have it over
with-rotten luck!" He turned and
slumped into a chair.
died in her eyes. A dull, heavy express
sion took its place: Il guess you're
right" she said numbly. THAT seems to
be the only way"
(The pot Of gold at the end Of n
working girls rainbow dream, a proposal
OF marriage! In this case bereft of the
usual hating speech, the blush Of sweet
LAC pow oOo4AA4s III III GlIC
wise old moon to spread its silver rad
ance over all-but a proposal of mar
riage just the same.)
At 6 O'Clock h following Friday eve
ming Charlie Summer, cook, and Mamie
Crouch, waitress. appeared at the resi-
n OF Judge Roland D. Jessup. situat-
ed on the Burbank highway. Just north
Of Glendale.
Mrs. Jessup answered the bell and
ushered the couple into the combination
office and reception room.
Charlie turned his hat around and
round in his hands. I'VE want to see the
judge" he said nervously. Mrs. Jessup
did not have to ask their business-it
was obvious. She beamed on them with
what h imagined was the proper roguish
attitude to fit the occasion. do sit
down." she said. THE Judge Is out
but he'll be back any minute now. He's