Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1935-09-14

English women school teachers. an@
. several French and Belgian naaxrae6
couples.
As Stella was an attractive gira and
used 20 attention she grew rather bored
and reSensfuL Ivan soon got GA heT
i. nerves, especially when she discovered
tfat her pity was wasted on q swollen
z self -conceit. After she had mace h
: clear that free love was mud TO her
: he left her alone.
An hts attention was concentrated
on the millionaires, and II particular
the heiress, Mitxi Cross. He devouxed
2 her with glittering eyes which missed
: no movement of her slim figure, mnd
strained his ears to catch every word
! OF her Nuttng high pitched voice When
she laughed he shiyered as though the
sound touched an exposed nerve.
I believe it's an inverted passion.
thought Stella ITS unhealthy"
But gradually she, too. became affect
ed BY the adverse conditions, both
spiritual and climatic. Although the
weather was bad she went on daily
motor excursions because the hotel was
so uncomfortable. The landscape look
ed Savagely depressing, viewed through
sheets Of torrentlal rain, and she left
the car only to stumble through melan-
choly ruins which smelt Of moldy damp.
Presently she began to sleep badly
from lack Of air and exercise The
village lay deep IN tree lined valley,
so that from her bedroom window she
could see only q wall Of sodden foliage.
After her light was switched off she |
/ lay staring out at the gloom until she I
fell asleep, often to dream OF oubliettes 1
and medieval torture.
She had reached the point Of decid- 4
ing to cut her loss and return 70 Eng
land and was actually on her way to
the bureau when 20 her surprise a /
member of the millionaires' party ask
ed her to play billiards with him.
Before the game was over she had
not only shed her depression but was
pledged to stay out her fortnight. The
young man, whose name was Lewis
Cough, had an interesting personality
besides charm She discovered that in
spite Of his fathers wealth he was
keen worker and a clever chemist.
Her pleasure, however, was partly
spoiled by the presence Of Ivan. who
sat and stared fixedly at Lewis and
herself as though they were q pair Of
performing fleas, hopping about for
his ironic amusement The next time
she met him he cut her dead.
Although this extraordinary behavior
was relief, since it rid her Of his
company, she expected a sense Of dis
l.
VANS clap-trap speeches were usually
ridiculous but his silence got on her
nerves. It changed him into the un-
known-a figure Of sinister and in
scrutable menace.
But as gradually she was drawn into 5
the outer ring OF the charmed circle z
she thought about him less, even while a
he remained In the background Of her
Two DAYS before the end OF her hoIi- t
day she had just returned from motor
trip with Lewis and was standing on 9
the bridge over the river when she was z
startled by the sound Of Ivan's harsh z
voice.
care you going to the caves tOmOr- !.
row?"
Eyes" she replied, stressing her smile e.
o show him that she was still friendly. y
Are you2" y
what does that matter to you? I'm q
not your new friend-the millionaire" II
%, don't be silly. IF you mean Mr..
Cough he's not a millionaire. And he ~
probably works harder than you" ~
Probably. But not between meals g
came to give you a warning. "
Don't go tomorrow"
Her heart gave q little leap. 81
why not2" she asked. ~
Ivan stared down at the swirl of the 50
oupy rain swollen current and smiled
arkly, as though he were dipped in the W
urgid depths of his Imagination.
These rich people feel secure" he
aid, because they always herd in
rowds. They're towards who find
afety in numbers. But suppose an
ccident-happened tomorrow they
Tould be trapped In the bowels Of the
fountain"
What could happen?"
The light might be cut off. They're
Il at the mercy Of some poor devil,
ut they'll never give one thought to
Inn. Suppose he was one Of Us? They
ould be left In pitchy darkness-And
en-anything might happen"
As she listened SteIla,s Imagination
alloped away with her, so that she
asped with a sense Of blind, choking
orror, as though some one had crept
shind her and snothered her In
ack cloth. Before her common sense
turned Ivan had turned away.
While she was dressing for dinner
le was shocked TO discover how shaken
lie was by the episode. Her fingers
embed and she hunted for garments
ter she had nut them on. Presently
le opened her suit case and drew out
y book OF return tickets.
AS she checked the stages Of her
urney home the fear coiled around
7 heart, raised It's ugiy head.
Suppose these are never used. Sup
Sc don't go back"
Even while she told herself that
ans threats we're ridiculous she knew
at one thoughtless or irresponsible
rson could precipitate a catastrophe.
AN was incapable Of clear thought.
5 head was a clouded broth OF reVo-
,ionary phrases He talked gIibly Of
ath, but knew nothing Of life.
They we're at the mercy Of a child
idiot-a drtInkard-Who walked amid
es Of gunpowder, flourishing a light
taper.
Suddenly she decided to trust to her
tinct and not 60 to the caves. 1t
S lowering her flag Of superstition.
IN the circumstances the excursion
uld prove penance instead Of
asure.
after she made the decision she felt
opy again. Dinner was quite q festive
al and she ordered a bottle of wine