The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1936-03-20
Published by Special ARRANGEMENTS with The
Chicago Tribune-New York News Syndicate,
Incorporated
GIN TWO PARTS-PART TWO

Incorporated
GIN TWO PARTS-PART TWO
When she next saw June,s father he
was n of a line of men carrying q
ladder down the drive. The barn end
OF the Farmers Exchange had caught
at last. The hay was Smoldertng in
there; within thickneSSeS of smoke she
could just discern the rubber hat OF q
volunteer who had gained the roof. His
Ratchet made blurred strokes. He lay
flat for a second and suddenly he was
not there and rubber hats swarmed
along the ladder.
With the others she crossed the high
way to the Heller place.
II don't care about nothing else,'
Mrs. Heller cried, stalking up her flag
stone walk, "only them quilts for the
girls. I don't aim to feed them to any
fire!"
Sparks flew as from under a black
smiths hammer Over the Heller wood
shed: '"Whoo!" children ho1lered, watch
ing them flicker out on the decrepit
roof Of the little yellow house. June's
father was helping to carry across the
the hay. He had lost his hat and his
face was red as a beet and dirty. They
laid the volunteer down on the walk.
Mrs. Plummer pulled at the coat
sleeve Of June's father.
atom Strong" he explained. HE
got overcome by smoke. They're trying
to make a hole in that hay for the
hose. You better go on up to June's
and stay there. Go on away from here
anyhow. See. the front of the garages
caught. The tanks may blow up. Watch
1t! See that! The pumps!"
1.-THE pumps?" So many people crowd
ed about them she couldn't see a thing.
THE glass burst. The glass burst!
The glass of the pumps. Go on away!
the tanks!"
BY the time the fire truck from
for a shed by the wholesale house had
caught fire, too. It had no reason to
catch; the wind did not set in that d.
rection. But the force of example per-
maps had proved too much for it. There
it was burning. merrily with the help
OF oil soaked siding, while a covey Of
storage tanks, silver and red, perched
a few feet away. Each held a thousand
gallons OF gas. There were six tanks.
Yates, Mrs. Plummer tried to recall
June'S most precious possessions. Get
the kids and get in the car and keep
a-goin!" Mr.. Yates had shouted. If
the heat unsoldered the connections of
the storage tanks six thousand gallons
of gas would send the town flying to
kingdom come. most certainly those
houses whose back yards ran parallel
with the right of way. And wherell
you go?" Mrs. Yates shouted back.
Me? Maybe I'll go to heaven and
maybe I won't" Mrs. Yates. was a little
woman, much more collected than her
voice. She stared at her husbands re-
treating back. She drew in her breath
sharply. "May.Ne the tanks won't CO."
she said. u just don't believe they'll CO."
she said. do you think so. Mrs. Plum
mer?" Mrs. Plummer didn't think so.
Down the long block to Mrs. Yates
house they decided resolutely that it
was just a scare. Mrs. Plummer checked
herself on the point of saying how
thankful she was that June and Pete
and the boys were in Ava. She did not
mention June's father. Was June wear
ing her engagement ring? It seemed to
Mrs. Plummer. that June did wear it
when she went out -. that tiny gold
grandmother, and the silver chain,
trifles Of course, but June cherished
them :. what ought she to do? Ought
she to pack a suitcase of June's things?
Had she time?
In the center of June's living room
she stood and the set and the little
prizes Of ash trays like skulls and door
steps like black cats crowded upon her.
How much people could pack into a
room, into a house! She turned toward
the front bedroom, paused and started
for the dining rom lime had a Sat 0f