The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1936-01-03
Jerry's Fairy Godmother By Elizabeth Jordan

OGIIW $ Na]
Published by Special ARRANGEMENTS with The
Chicago Tribune-New York News Syndicate,
I~neorpuratea
tcopyright: 1885: By Elizabeth Jordan)
ON TWO PARTS-PART TWO)
Jerry had let most of their talk drift
past his ears. But later when he was
alone and not greatly interested in
what he was doing, certain sentences
came back to him and fingered in his
mind. One of these was the sentence
about the table and the crumbs.
Crumbs were given to hungry birds. He
himself gave crumbs to birds every
table any more. He hadn't realized that
she was fond Of crumbs and evidently
she was -. He turned the idea over
in his mind, together with his fathers
quick, almost rough response.
"You know perfectly well we're play
ing with fire, Eve. We've had one
lesson. We're fools to risk another"
Here vas something at last which
Jerry understood perfectly. Fools was
not a nice word. Playing with fire
was a dangerous thing. He himself had
been emphaticaIy warned against do
Ing H.. 1c1 dduoy dIIu jkAu!II eve were
doing 1t now, in some mysterious man
ner he did not comprehend. That night
he tried to get a little information
from Nora who was always willing to
chat.
NORA" he began, when grownup
folks are playing with fire and there
isn't any fire, what are they doing?
Is it just a joker" he added hopefully.
For a moment Nora stared at him In
silence. Then she drew a deep breath.
que Na%' % she w dS yGg mfen m by v fhSs
playing with fire, and perhaps I can
tell you what they're up to-"
But Jerry was not to be drawn that
II didn't see any one playing with
fire." he said remotely, and left her.
The kitchen was a favorite haunt of
his, however, and a few days later,
while he was in the pantry scraping
and eating the sweet dough left in a
talk between Nora and Janet.
ITS all began again." Nora told
Janet.
whats begun AGAIN."
Janet's tone and face were dour.
Janet had been out of sorts the last
Don't pretend you don't know.
R 4Fs Rd ! see your cact ears u.s. STICK iesi, out when when
it this morning, when she come in to
borrow those eggs?"
"And you've no right to lend eggs"
in the block"
otis no gossip" Nora said calmly.
Ills truth, and I've heard 1t before.
The pair Of thim's been meeting in
the park, with every nurse in town
Watching fhan or1 70 11>inr ho~ had
off when she got home. God alone
knows how much of their talk young
Jerry's been hearing. IT'S only the
other day he wa askin' me, the poor
lamb, what grownups did when they
was playin' with fire. I asst him who
the grownupS was, but would he tell
me? Not him. It would be Gods mercy
II your Mrs. Jennings would pack her
trunks and go, to Europe, like she's
always talkin' about doin'."
You're talking nonsense, Nora KEEL
ly." But Janets voice was weak and
worried. and she left the kitchen
without another word.
Everything was different at home
these days, though Christmas was so
e No smiles any more. No gay
laughter, Just dark, stern, serious
almost as silent as shadows. No more
cheerful chatter at the breakfast table.
His father read his newspaper, his
mother read and reread her morning
letters. One remark she made to his
father three days before Christmas
seemed to Jerry to fit into his puzzle.
Il suppose you and Eve are making
Her voice was like the icicles that
dropped from the outer window frames.
II think you ought to know by the
first OF January. That's the proper
time, isn't 1t, to make a fresh start?"
He did not answer. He merely gave
her q long look, which she met stead
tly. He seemed about to speak but
glanced at Jerry, changed his mind,
word or a backward look. Jerry wan
dered. down to the kitchen, uncon-
sciously eager for Nora's ample pres
ence and warming smile. But there was
no smile on Nora's fresh face this
IF this keeps up I'll be leavin'. she
was telling Janet. Maybe you've got
the heart to stand and watch her SUI
III give her my notice this day"
And that will help her a lot" Janet
jeered: Have you never heard that
rats desert a sinking ship?"
"A-h- Then you don't deny that it
Is sinkin'!" Nora spoke almost trium-
phantly, then Sobered at the look of
u%nhappiness on the other woman's face.
Don't be mindin' me. I say a lot
more than I mean," she muttered con-
tritely. "I1l stay, Of course, till the end
comes and we get our notice, which I'd
say will be right after New Years. None
Of them wants to be spelling young
Jerry's Christmas-even your Mrs. Jen-
nings."
Don't call her my Mrs. Jennings"
Janet cried out passionately. "She's no
friend of mine now, and you know she
isn't"
She dropped into a chair by the
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