Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1937-01-02

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wasn't q success with Eve; he hadn't
provided a single plot, he hadn't made
q single bright remark 70 Eve that she
might build UP a story from. In fact,
he rarely spoke at all when Eve wss
there. She knew that Peter was only
IN the fiat ION appreciation" and that
at any time he could be returned po-
litely but firmly TO the orphanage from
l whence he had come that fine spring
morning. She knew that 1t was only g
matter Of hours before he would be.
The crash came when Peter put a
toad IN Ewes bed. It was dead toad, q
very dead toad, and Peter had found
! IL In the park and brought It back In
the pocket Of hateful teddy bear coat
Eve had provided for him. II was a
s,,.si thing g DO, even jamie adj
I TO send him back to that stark gray
/ building . TO take him out OF the
] gay sunshine
jamie sat on the edge OF her little
bed and stared at the opposite wall
with stony eyes. She was very pale. and
I her fingers were trembling q little. The
clock on the table told her It was half
! past eleven; she had sat there for an
! hour, ever since Eve had emerged from
/ her bedroom and said shortly. THAT
brat goes back this afternoon, jamie.
I I've had enough. You can take him
after lunch" A small nerve In JAMES
throat began to beat. and presently she
swallowed. She got up off the bed and
smoothed the tawny wings Of hair
that lay against her cheeks, with hands
grown suddenly damp about the palms,
She walked across the narrow hall
way and into Ewes office"
Her throat felt dry and hot. and she
wished suddenly that she smoked; a
cigaret would help, she thought, a Gig
aret would give her weakly trembling
hands something to do -.
Eve" she said unsteadily. Eve. I'm
going to keep Peter" She noticed sub
consciously that Ewes dark head raised
itself quickly, that Ewes long eyes
shone with amusement: she heard
Ewes voice say. You're going to keep
Peter? What are you going to use for
money!" and laugh. And Suddenly she
lost her head. She had meant to be so
patient, so pleading. she had meant to
say that she would keep Peter in her
own little room, that Eve would never
see him, that she would do all Ewes
typing Tor her anything in
exchange for Peters keep; but she
wasn't. She wasn't patient, or plead
ing, or humble; she was a small. tawny-
fair virago. She said, Never mind how
I'm going to keep him. You'll never
see hlm again either Of us again
III work, III find something to do
somehow, so that we can live !" And
then the do0rbell Shrilled, filling the
flat with sound.
Eve said. Answer that" abruptly,
and jamie, through custom, answered It.
She swung the door back and found
q young man standing on the naas cut
side. A very large young man Win great
broad shoulders; the sort Of shoulders,
jamie thought tearfully, that It would
be grand to cry on; which just showed
her state OF mind. he smiled down at
her and said.
EXCUSE me, put nave you got a small
boy here with a pistol on his behind2"
like laughter and sunlight all mixed up
with q scrap Of gay music, then her
thoughts fell back to reality with q
thud. Good Heavens what
had Peter been doing now? She had
q horrible picture of Peter stripping
naked in Hyde Park and bathing IN the
like as not; how. other
wise. would the large young man who
by now she was sure represented the
police (plain clothes) force, know about
the birthmark Peter was so proud Of?
Then suddenly she saw Peter fished out
Of the river, very small, and STILL and
cold. One slim hand clutched at the
door convulsively. "O' she gasped, hes
dead - Her brain whirled. How
on earth had Pete got out Of the flat2
Then funny lights seemed to flash
through her brain as well as thoughts,
the hall grew dark and flew around
her. She heard the large young man
say Good God !" She felt an arm
around her and then there was nothing
=. Nothing, except q limp small fig
lre In faded blue frock, swung high
against a dark lounge-suit with q blur
of tawny-fair hair against q broad
nan with his arms fun Of jamie, look
ng wildly around the small hall for
somewhere TO deposit her.
A door creaked q little and opened
lowly for about an inch. The large
1oung man waited patiently: presently
! bright eye appeared. Just about three
eet from the ground, where the door
handle grew; then came tousled dark
read followed by the body Of Peter
Gordon.
Peter Gordon straddIed his legs. his
lands in the diminutive pockets Of the
White serge Knockers.
What you doing with my aunt7" he
wanted TO know For moment the
arge young man breathed very deeply
through his nice straight nose. Peter
;arstairs Gordon" he whispered, hard
Y daring to think peter Carstairs
5ordon" and then the door on
he other side Of the passage opened
nd Eve stood there, daryIy glamorous,
cigaret between her long fingers,
Ter head thrown slightly back so that
he light threw the shadow of her
ashes onto her cheek in a deep semi
ircie. Peter Gordon backed hastily into
lis own little room muttering darkly,
mt the large young man with jamie in
lis arms, stood his ground
Excuse me-" he said politely, but
Hiss this she seems to have
ainted." He smiled down at JAMES
title crumpled face against his Shout
er.
$50 see," said Eve shortly. you'd
etter bring her in here. Have you
ONE TO read the electric meter or
Eve was never terribly nice
Q what she termed the working
lasses."
I'm afraid not" the large young
nan said. 1--WE come to collect Peter