The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1936-05-28
CHAPTER I-Continued

There was no mark OF deterioration
upon him. 1t was plain that his I'M
pulses and his needs for closest, emo
donal contacts had not fed or even
retreated- Plain too. 1t had been for
some time, that they had failed him
here. What was he "doing"7 What
had he done?
Don't think about It," Instincts
warned her.
He swung about to her. aWhen
was In New York, got ,out OF some
thing got into awhile ago; and |
made half million. +. Tell me
what you want. little Light One"
Il don't want anything, Father" she
answered before she realized how
much she was disappointing him; for
she was thinking once more of her
mother. He would offer to buy her.
too, anything she liked; but 1t was
nothing that he need buy which Moth
er wanted from him. And this half
million additional In his hands would
not help her No; 1t would not help
Mother at all.
"Bob?" they both heard her voice.
Bob? Are you homer"
She had come to the top OF the
stairs and was calling down.
Agnes saw him start slightly Hello,
Tricie,' he called back. wait IN
there. Coming!''
They screened their first meetings,
these days. from their daughter.
Anybody for dinner tonight?" he
inquired Of Agnes, as he turned.
"Jeb, guess, Father" And she add
ed: Rod was here this afternoon
1.-The Deep Sea T. her father said.
and suspected aloud why was he
taking off the afternoon?''
He was going away. He's gone"
Il see" said her father, satisfied
with that, and he did not Inquire
whittier. Good fellow. But his broth
er--how that young man does know
his way aboutl" And he started, at
last, for the stairs.
Headlights played on the windows
and swung away as car skidded to
stop
Jeb came In, cold and stamping and
all alive.
She was his goal, this girl who
braved her bare arms and shoulders
to the chill from the door to meet him.
She, above all others and all else In
the world tonight, was the sole object
ne sought, and nothing could keep
him from her. That was how Jeb
made you feel when you faced him.
Hello. Glen!" He held her, max.
ing her palms press his. Hello, Glen!"
"Jeb, why did you drive tonIght?"
He laughed, and his happiness at
the triumph of this arrival thrilled
down her arms from her palms held
to his.
Thought the train might not ger
through, Glen. | had to. Are you
glad, a llttle7'
"Oh, yes, I'm glad, Jeb! |"
He ripped open his overcoat and
threw 1t Off and upon chair for
1iushiu w HlNh up
Rod Gamer" he asked as they
passed the blazing hearth before which
her father had halted.
YES; he came. He's-wonderful.
Jeb. wonderful. We talked In there"
Why did she Indicate the room-and
avoid 1t? She had no Idea OF taking
Jeb to 1t. Something quite separate
from Jeb had transpired In there, and
she would not have him -intrudt
upon 1t. !.
But you couldn't do lt?' said Jeh.
mo. couldn't do It,"
They were In the great drawing.
room, where. on this stormy night,
huge wood fire also was blazing. He
turned to her In the warm light, tail
as his brother, and straighter. There
was no ready-made suit, no marks of
carelessness, nothing could make Jeb
appear pitlful.
Her mind flew to her mothers room,
where there was another man whom
she could not picture pitifnl.
The four were alone at dinner.
Her mother and father had dressed,
for they were going out. There was
always, In these days. something for
them to go out to, If they wished
and tonight, though he was just home,
they utilized this escape from their
evening together. SO Father sat a.
his end of the table In his dinner
jacket. and Mother, at her end, In
decollete.
She was forty-seven, for she had
been twenty-five when she had borne
Bee, the Dark One, the daughter like
herself. But Bee, after barely three
years OF marriage and two babies Gas
Mother had had) was not now as
happy as Mamma had been for the
twelve years In the little" house
where she had been bride.
Was happiness Shortcomings What