The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1936-06-26

LU1n S. Cobb
yonder. They'd come up the back serv-
ice stairs, and a nice long climb it must
a, been for them two stiffs, and one
OF EN- a fat guy at that. He's BLOWN
ahd puffin' like n Of these here old
not much better off than him. Well,
this time I don't waste no more kind
Woids on them two crooks. I rushes 'em
petore they got a chance to get their
breath back, and I clips 'em the old
one-tWo,. one-two, upper and under.
you oughter seen 'em cave. And you
service stairs faster n wot they came
up EN-. But in the mixup mi of EN-
the skinny guy Of the two-he,s got an
elbow floppin' loose, and it gets ram
med into my map, and that's how I got
this here blue mouse hung onto me. Not
Intentional, because not in one thousand
my, map this way. He done It accidental.
But I says to myself, I says, 'Wots a
sinner, more or less, Wen you're prob
ably doin' a big favor for a nice free
spender and a gen'rus centrum like
Mr.. Remington!' So I been stickin'
round to wise you up to wot come off
and tell you you needn't worry about
the job. and so-and-so." His voice
trailed off as his left hand, the hand
usually employed for accepting tips,
stole out, half open. Against that lump
padding of receptive flesh Mr.. Relning-
ton pressed a bill Of such denomination
that, on sight of the figures, Mr.. Sill
verberg gave a small cry of terrific
happiness.
That wasn't all. Mr.. Remington said:
Thanks, Brother Outer Guard. You've
done me the favor of my life. I'm eter-
nally grateful. This is just a payment
on account" And insisted on shaking
hands with so dependable a volunteer
Seneschal.
Back in the room where, seeing he
he very shortly was, the young man
passed behind the passive figure Of the
girl to reach the telephone, and in
passing, gave her a mysterious little
pat upon the shoulder.
He asked Exchange for a certain
number, and after a minute or so got
it. While he waited for the connection
yonder and don't shut your ears. :!
want you to hear this" So the girl
stayed where she a
Hello" he called into the transmit
ter. Hello, that you, Sis? Well, this is
Chad. I'm sorry if I've dragged you
away. from a bridge game or ANYTHING
too. I called you up to tell you that I've
changed my mind, and this notion Of
yours about a local divorce is cold. It's
Quits dead, stone dead. I won't go
through with it . . . What made me
change my mind so suddenly? Well, we
needn't go into that now. It's not a
long story, in fact it's a short story,
but it might bore you. The point is
I've changed it. Now listen, Sis, and
heed me, because for once what I say
goes. You're going to take your little
foot in your little hand and paddle over
to Paris or down to Mexico or out to
Reno. I'd suggest Reno. They've just
amended the law out there, so you can
establish residence after six weeks, or
maybe it's six hours, and then all inside
of three minutes they hand you an abb
solute decree with choice of bay rum
or witch hazel, and the judge gives his
razor a quick strop and yells, Next!
and the whole things done. Everything
else you asked for is yours, according
to promises, but the point I'm making
we're both unhandcuffed from each
other, the better it suits me So that's
flat and that's final -. How's that?
49,. o, I get you. Now, Sis, dear, please
don't jump at conclusions. I haven't
formed any new attachments else
where-not yet. I might-who can tell?
but there's nothing definitely afoot
:,::Q Q, yes, I have met somebody. I'm
almost constantly meeting people-peo-
pie I've known before and people I've
never known before. You know how it
is. New York is a big town, but it's a
small world" His tone was gay-the
first time in weeks his tone had been
gay:
ing back to him over the wire.
eyes, I have met somebody, Sis. I
don't even know her name yet. but
there's n thing about her I can tell
you. She's going to quit the rotten job
she's got now. And she's never going to
work at it again, either, so long as she
lives. She's going to have a job where
self-respect: I'm making it my business
to find it for her" He cast a sidelong
glance and saw the girls face just as
she averted it from him, but, even so,
saw 1t for long enough to see shining
upon it the great light Of JOY Of deliv-
erance from a cruel and an intolerable
bondage. He saw that much, and then
was busy readjusting the receiver.
mo, no, no, Sis! I told you just
now not to go jumping at conclusions.
| Who said anything about getting mar
ried? But, Sis. speaking of getting
married, I might as we'll let you in on
a little secret. If ever I should get mar
ried again, the best nan is already
picked out. This ought to give YOU a
laugh, if you're in a whim for laugh
SON.: %@ UeaA
81 ALICE elAKeS