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

one handed Linda a plate laden with
: sSaSup and saucer, and bearing a slice
:. TOAST spread with jam. Bret stood
~ the hearth, half the room away.
Aa ~. sarah said 10 Linda:
MIN In Worcester"
20 yes" said Linda, and turned 10
what followed was extravaeantly
nplcated, completely CATASTROPHE
KEY II happened-or seemed 70 hapDen
20 slowly that no least detail could
When Linda thus turned. she tripped
oRet her own feet. Her right foot CAUGHT
On her left. throwing her Somewhat III
balance and forward. The effect Of this
Mss 70 make the cup and saucer slide
catch them.
Beside the table there was also a
standlng lamp.
q. Linda. sliding on the treacherous rus.
ssLlIew out her hands in a desperate ef-
aS 70 balance. The cup and saucer,
OF the plate and fell on the floor.
Sup and saucer splintered. the toast
zen soggily, stickiiy.
11lhoa Slid into the lamp cord. The
lamp tWitched out Of equilibrium bowed |
70 meet her. She embraced Il, but ike
an actual physical opponent Il bore
1er backward as though to thrust her
u o. Sne tried TO catch herself herl
aILnS whirling like windmills. but the
lamp was inexorable.
one OF her hands made contact with
tue table. The table was covered with
. piece OF tapestry. Her fingers fastened
on this fabric, clinging desperately
AT Ihe same time. embracing the iampl
e e,la esnngtng to the table cover, she fell.
one iel IN a sitting posture, and into
neI zap ana on the floor about her
flowing over the table edge borne n,
me tapestry as floating objects are
Ndteroorne over q cataract. The wreck
was complete and absolute.
Linda had sat down on the toast
instantly she tried TO get up again
'crambllng. Her foot caught somehoU
q the front breadth of her skirt and
= she Strengthened up the skirt ripped
. ~ IS and down, from right hip 10
.. She stood there like a statue un-
The thing had happened suddenly
nough slowly, too. Bret had had mo-
11le 70 move, but he did move now
1e 4eaped TO Linda's side and caught
nd Cried '-0''e'
Linda, are you hurt? Linda. are you
O. 6liIedH Linda, are you all right? 4
TInsP Legs? Broken anywhere7"
ont know"
Darling!" he stammered. Gosh. Won
ngnt have killed yourself. Are you all
ght, dear?"
Linda, in his arms, looking past his
louder at Aunt Sarah, was satisfied
18th what she saw.
Why yes" she decided. II think
m all right. Yes. Bret. I'm finel"
Aunt Sarah said crisply: "Hml Bret.
ng Tor Hester TO bring some safety
10 Of tea"
I'm SO. sorry" Linda protested. IT
IS awfully clumsyl"
Aunt Sarah nodded a drv twinkle in
= eyes. Its fortunate you're not q
Tmer's daughter" she said crisply.
.oud never be able to milk the COWS
thout breaking off their hornsl"
Ana Bret cried, in sudden illlmina-
N ana delight, as though this made 1
EN- suddenly akin:
Hey, Lindal That's exactly what
always says to mel"
When Linda presently said poodbv
mt Sarah held her hand long and
eyes were amused. You're a spIen-
actress, my dear" she said.
10 I'm not an actress, only a dane
Linda protested.
aunt Sarah did not contest the point.
no an understanding woman, too"
concluded. Come and see me soon
ain"
Bret had left his car in the garage.
] they went out to get it together. H.
In the Swallowed interior OF the
age Bret caught Linda to him, held
close and hungrily.
Gosh, darlingl" he cried. "You don't ~
w what q difference 1t makes in the Es