The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1935-09-20
BY Ethel Lima White

quaintance. This fear was unfounded,
for the other guests usually retired to
their own rooms for refuge. They were
all of them quiet, pleasant people ana
included an American family, two
English women school teachers, and
several French and Belgian married
couples.
As Stella was an attractive girl and
used to attention, she grew rather bored
and resentful. Ivan soon got on her
nerves, especially when she discovered
that her pity was wasted on a swollen
self-conceit. After she had made 1t
clear that free love vas mud to her
he left her alone.
All his attention was concentrated
on the millionaires, and in particular
the heiress, Mitzi Cross. He devoured
her with glittering eyes which missed
no movement of her slim figure, and
strained his ears to catch every word
Of her fluting high pitched voice. When
she laughed he shivered as though the
sound touched an exposed nerve.
II believe it's an inverted passion"
thought Stella. "1t's unhealthy"
But gradually she, too, became affect
ed by the adverse conditions, both
spiritual and climatic. Although the
"CdLl1C1 "d0 UdO DIG WC11U I'LL AoAy
motor excursions because the hotel was
so uncomfortable. The landscape look
ed savagely depressing, viewed through
sheets of %torrential 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 a tree lined valley,
so that from her bedroom window she
could see only a wall of sodden foliage.
After her light was switched off she
lay staring out at the gloom until she
fell asleep, often to dream of oubliettes
and medieval torture.
She had reached the point of decid-
ing to cut her loss and return to Eng
land and was actually on her way to
the bureau when to her surprise a
member of the millionaires' party ask
ed her to play billiards with him. .
Before the game was over she a
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 a
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 a 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 a relief, since it rid her of his
company, she expected a sense of dis
comfort and also of unmerited guilt.
Ivan's clap-trap speeches were usually
ridiculous, but his silence got on her
nerves. It changed him into the I'M
known-a figure of sinister and in
scrutable menace
But as gradually she was drawn into
the outer ring of the charmed circle
he remained in the background OF her
consciousness.
Two days before the end of her holi-
day she had just returned from a motor
trip with Lewis and was standing on
the bridge over the river when she was
startled by the sound of Ivan's harsh
voice.
"Are you going to the caves tomor-
row?"
eyes," she replied, stressing her smile
to show him that she was still friendly.
Are you?"
what does that matter to you? I'm
not your new friend-the millionaire"
20, 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
~ came to give you a warning.
Don't go tomorrow"
Her heart gave a little leap.
why not?" she asked.
Ivan stared down at the swirl of the
soupy rain swollen current and smiled
turgid depths of his Imagination.
These rich people feel secure" he
said, because they always herd in
crowds. They're towards who find
safety in numbers. But suppose an
Acknowledgements tomorrow they
would be trapped in the bowels of the
mountain"
what could happen?"
1.-THE light might be cut off. They're
all at the mercy of some poor devil,
but they'll never give n thought to
would be left in pitchy darkness-And
then-anything might happen"
AS she listened Stella's imagination
galloped away with her, 70 that she
gasped with a of blind, choking
horror, as though some n had crept
behind her and smothered her in a
black cloth. Before her common sense
returned Ivan had turned away.
While she was dressing for dinner
she was shocked to discover how shaken
she was by the episode. Her fingers
trembled and she hunted for garments
after she had put them on. Presently
she opened her suit cas- and drew out
her book of return tickets.
AS she checked the stages of her
journey home the fear coiled around
her heart, raised its ugly head.
Suppose these are never used. Sup
pose I don't go back"
Even while she told herself that
VANS threats were ridiculous she knew
that one thoughtless or irresponsible
person could precipitate a catastrophe.
Ivan was incapable of clear thought.
His head was a clouded broth of revo-
lutionary phrases. He talked glibly of
death, but knew nothing of life.
They were at the mercy of a child
an idiot-a drunkard-who walked amid
piles of gunpowder, Furnishing a light
ed taDer-