Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1936-02-15

side OF the stairs. Bret on the left. and
the stairs were at least u feet wide
There seemed no least reasonable pos
sibility for q collision. and yet even
before 1t happened. Linda had q shud-
uertng premonition.
/ Bret and the woman would, under
normal conditions, have reached the
head OF the stairs approximately to-
gether and side by side. But half a dog
en- treads below her, Bret slipped. His
/ toe, half on and half off a tread. slid
off and his foot slapped down viO-
lently on the step below. He was thrown
OH balance, almost falling, and he half
caught himself with one hand. stag
gering, his head down, desperately try
ing to recover his footing.
AT the same time, he Veered to one
side. His body fell forward faster than
his feet could climb the steps, and IL
seemed that he must inevitably fall flat
on his face.
But he did not At the last possible
moment, head down, feet scrambling, /
he butted into the woman. The butt
was distinctly below the belt, a foul /
buttl A goat might have administered
such butt, even a Self-reSpecting goat. /
But not mani
The woman, thus abruptly assaulted
from the rear. bent backward ike a
DOW. Her feet rose from their good
ooAAA 4CNk4AS Oll L4lc JOpulOSI LEGHQ. o0E
flew through the air and alighted on
her feet, as duck lights on land {
with q little scattering run.
And turned around.
The butt, checking his momentum.
had saved Bret from falling As the
woman turned, strengthening her hat, 6
he came erect TO face her, and hts G
shame. 8
She looked at him, moved toward s
him. He tried to babble something. Ii
And suddenly she smiled reassuring- c
y and touched his arm. II
You don't need to say a word, young t
man, she said. Il know exactly how v
'ou feell" "
And head high, hat still proudly In
)lace, she marched away. I
Bret stood limp and paralyzed, star 81
ng after her, but Linda caught his IL
.rm. "Hooray for Bostonl" she whis- a.
'ered. That's a grand lady, Bret. If a.
our Aunt Sarah's anything like that, lie
ring her on"
He protested miserably: after that "
should think you'd be ashamed to be
cen with mel" -
Idiot" she cried. and squeezed his Il
rm. Even she was so sorry for YOU =
nat she loved you. Didn't you see? h,
Women sort Of like awkward men, my al
earl" -
But he would in no wise be COM
lrted. Linda was almost impatient ~
18th his stubborn gloom. a.
Bret lived with Aunt Sarah in one
those old, formless frame houses, DC
over quarter acre of land,
)mmon IN some parts of Brookline. He m
rought Linda there today in a des- lriI
ondent silence and ushered her in
40. introduced her to Aunt Sarah. Oh
nda, shrewdly appraising the older 81
fhnT1cnf fhnFn /
lderstanding in her-and q deep love
r Bret Just now, for example, after IN
Re glance at him, she said acutely:
WHAT'S the matter with you, Bret? rir
hat mess have you got into now?" Dill
SO Bret made a confession, and Gu
nda watched Aunt Sarah and saw
netting like rueful tears in the older va
'man's eyes, But Aunt Sarah's tone !
Is all evaporation. hel
Il declare, Bret, don't know how far
re- raised you" she protested hone 'eY
sly IF you can get across the room wit
thout falling over chair, go ring 4
: tea" tio,
6, Bret rang, and Linda said: HE the
Int finish the story, though" She q
0eated the woman's kindly wore. she
ret looked so pitifully sorry" Linda '
ded smilingly, "she couldn't help for Aul
ing himl" her
He always does" Aunt Sarah agreed did
ome day he'll spill BURBERRY pie on q
ne girls white satin and look so er. -
famed that she'll marry him out of A
". she tossed her head. tits the "AI
y way nell ever get married" she she
,olcLeo. Hell never up and ask any aga
!. Got complex. Thinks he's the Il
y clumsy man in the world. Here, and
Ster. Put it here" But
he maid set the tea tray on the low gar
lie before Aunt Sarah, and the older her
nan poured. Lemon? And a bit of "C
So and jam? There, Miss Nay" kno