Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1937-11-06

bAt " S4aQ II your Sl&uQ py GkAA
someone me- comes along to take over"
Good So long, Madonna"
so long, John Allen"
Wanda broke IN.
VIII you pwease bwing my mummy
back, Uncle Jack? / want her"
The new uncle and aunt exchanged
I'm do my best, Wanda John
Allen said with a sigh. "And III bring
: you a new doll If there's q toy shop
IN Slater. III bring back her mothers
travelling bag too, If can find it,"
he told Hope. "Thereu be clothes for
Wanda IN that, Now get those baths,
and tuck In a big breakfast"
He and Hope had their first real
talk late that afternoon at the Slater
Inn. John Allen had found a brief
interval for shave and a meal. Wan
Ga played contentedly at their feet.
With the faith of childhood she had
accepceo them as her family and their
John Allen had discovered that
Wandas last name was Estabridge.
The Air Transportation Co. had put
Hope in touch with the home OF the
/ child'S maternal grandmother In San
FRANCISCO. The results Of the connec- /
! ton were depressing, as summed up
d
1t appeared that the grandmother +
was on her death bed, and that Mrs.
EStabridge, widowed only six weeks i
ago, had been on her way to that /
death-bed when she was killed. The I
grandmother, the nurse thought, had i
not more than two or three days to 1
I'VE. 80 lar as the nurse knew there 1
were no other relatives, but she had 4
gwen Hopes telephone number to the
EStabridge lawyer in Chicago. He had
promptly got into long distance COM
munlcation with Hope, but he con-
firmed the nurses surmise.
So far as he knew there were no
other relatives. Mr.. Estrabridge's death
In an accident had left his widow with
a very small income, he went on to
explain. Wanda would have that now.
OF course. and would undoubtedly in
her1t the little her grandmother had,
aside from the annuity that died with
the old lady. Wanda would have enough
TO pay her way and educate her and
her small affairs would be handled by
himself as guardian. This had been
provided for in her mothers will. made
soon after the fathers death.
But the unexpected responsibility
evidently appalled, the lawyer. He ex-
planned that he was bachelor in his
late fifties and that he knew nothing
about children. He would try to get
some woman friend to take in the
child until he had time to think and
make some plans
Why not let a woman friend Of
Wanda's do it?" Hope suggested. shes
IN my charge now and I've constituted
myself her aunt. I'll be more than
glad to take care of her as long as
necessary. OF course, can give you
the highest references"
She gave them, and the lawyers
voice warmed trffle over the name
of her lawyer, whom he knew, and
lne others But 1t cooled again when
she admitted, in answer to his ques- :,
ions, that she herself was only % and 2
81
However, he had been obviously re- :
ieved by her announcement that she =.
would stay in Slater another day or e
wo, to act for Wanda and the fam y
lies of her fellow passengers till rep =,
esentatives of them reached the town. ~
Ills name is Wendell, and he's a r
fusser and worrier," Hope In
eported to John Allen. His only quail ~
lcation for the guardianship seems to n
e that he had been a friend of Mr.. q,
father. He's evidently hon =,
st and wen-meaning, but that's not r
nough. Wandais guardian must give
er love and understanding He would J
OF hear Of leaving her In my care sin
lore than the few days we're here. to
ago with Wanda as soon as we can ' wn
ave here. When we get there III s ~
lrnish Mr.. Wendell with written ref ri,
-ences and I'll pull every wire / know uni
} make him leave Wanda with me VIII
lis summer at least
Does that mean" John Allen asked
oWly, that you want to adopt the II
oungster yourself? She viii be big 9TH arh,
sponsibility you know" BAL
to
Hope looked down at the mite on cat
lie floor VEG VEG
"rd Likely nothing better" she adj 10 o0I
tilted. The young man flashed his seal
-eable grin at her. =
You might marry Wendell" he sug-
sted. I'm afraid that's the only way.
leyn never turn over this infant to
unmarried girl Of twenty three"
I'm almost capable OF doing it."
lpe admitted, but not quite. And
ID run like a rabbit at the mere
ut Of it. know him from his words
d manner" she added depressedly.
good man, with tucked-in nature
d q horror Of personal RESPONSE
John Allen looked at her soberly.
DO you usually size UP people as
ickly as that?"
7pe sighed.
No. she admitted. NV insight Is
".
t that interest doesn't come from
Bambina complex, as you may
7gtne. It's because I'm so alone my
{. I've always been alone since nv
her and mother were killed in a
tor accident when was six. I can't
lure thinking of Wanda in the care
a machine-made guardian.
My own guardian was married, and
h he and his family were kind to
In their aloof way. I put In my
ations with them when 1 wasn't
h schoolmates But they had no
ldren and they didn't know any,
ng. about children. I was always an
slider. I never belonged I never
real home. I'm not going to let
nda. go through that" she added
lberly.
ohm Allen leaned forward.
Then why not marry me?" he sug-
5ed very quietly. Not now, Of