Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-09-17

Clark assented curly and for the sols
purpose OF taking the boy down 8 bit
he did it, hut he was forced % admit
that Terry's game was careful and m
teiligent for his age He compliance
to Mary that the boy was getting
"cocky."
hes getting some weight on hin
} and getting strong again." Mary sale
conpiacently. Hes only been here Q
month but he's gained eight pounds
\ BY the time he goes back to town
and takes up his new job he'll be N
fine condition
Her husband asked about the new
Hes to be boarded out" Mary ex-
4 planned. The family that's taking him
/ Is q fine one. Sister Veronica told me
about 1t. A lot OF people have wanted
him, but the BTkes are to have him.
Hell have kind treatment with them
and hen go to school"
Terry proved to be no boy saint. sew
| eral times he went swimming In the
river against orders. He climbed various
1 trees, and tore TO ribbons the new
| clothes Mrs. CLARK had bought him.
I Half a dozen times he forgot his
meals IN his interest in rural delights
and came home an hour or more late.
Ills LtcLcS1 was AIlQLHH6ut.
I'd be worried about him il he was
too good, she said mildly. It developed
that young Terry had q voice and sang
soprano In st. Roses choir.
That's the last touch" was Michael's
comment. He must look sweet IN q
white lace ximono."
He said something to the boy about
his singing and saw him flush.
Ny voice is changing all the time,
Terry said defensively. Pretty soon It
WILL pc gone. II breaks sometimes now
and am glad"
But he sang for the men In the even
ing and he often sang unconsciously
as he went about the house. He had
quietly taken on himself certain duties
70 help Mrs. Clark, and brought IL
baskets OF wood and coal, swept the
rear porcheS and steps and kept the
rear paths around the house in order
ran up and down the cellar steps bring
ing supplies to the kitchen. Ellen. the
cook, and Katie, the dairy maid. were
devoted 70 him and loved his singing.
Hes like a blackbird around the
place" Ellen said admiringiy.
But Clark disliked the singing. To
him it accented the note Of weakness
suggested BY the boys pallor and thin
neSS-eyen though both pallor and
thinness we're so rapidly passing.
The truth is that you've made IN I
your mind 10 see nothing good in the /
boy, Mary said almost reSentfully.
Il like boy to be boy" CLARK re-
torteds and not prima donna"
Iouu never Like him." Mary sighed. 4
You've made up your mind not To- 1
It'll take miracle to change you"
It was not until he had been at the
Clark farm more than two months That
young Terry made his last convert
Then he did 1t by being for seven
minutes 9 boy enough to satisfy even
Michael Clark. Despite his prejudice
Clark had gradually come round to a
gruoging tolerance OF the youngsters
presence during that second month.
though he still disliked him.
Today he and the boy were playing
checkers. There was nothing of the
sycophant about Terry.
You play q dandy game" he told
Clark, but 1t isn't as good as Father
HearnsF Michael grinned. He had no
use Tor compliments or for what he
called boot hckers"
This afternoon they were playing
out on the veranda, where as usual
Clark was passing most Of his time.
through the thin mesh of the wire
screen they had perfect view of the
lawn before them. on which
Mary had planted a few new flower /,
beds that spring.
The real garden was off at the left
u the house, but she had thought
little color in the foreground would
brighten the view for her Michael. She
1ad planted the beds with gay, many
,oloreo Annias, and was fussing over
hem now, water pot In hand. The late
An . gay was not, and there had been
From time to time Michael raised
lis eyes TO look at his wtfe's Comforts !
lble figure. She had taken on a little
90 much weight in her SOS. but she
Llu moved quickly and easily. Michael.
hough he never admitted It even to !
himself, was always more at peace
when she was In sight. Fer presence
low took his mind from the game. and :
.erry suddenly uttered q triumphant
row: !.
Got you'll" he cried. :
But Michael Clark did not hear him n
ne boys little yelp had blended with n
noener cry-Mary's cry. Even as a
4ichael'S eyes rested on her familiar q
Igure 1t had vanished from siQht as n
! he told himself In the horror Of the ii
loment, the earth had opened under a
er. He uttered a choked shout and v
Jared with starting eyes at the place
here she had been. There was a hole
lere now, and from IL came muffed h
A wordless prayer went I'D from ID
1chael's pounding heart. HIS helpIess- N
essl And all the farm helpers were al
work In distant fields or paddocks. "
ut even as he writhed under the real- m
alton and shouted again the boy OBJ st
,site him had Ieaped up, had hurled bs
mseh down the steps. had vanished IL
'oamd the rear Of the farm toward
Ie cooks clothes lines Haunting q az
ave array OF table linen. $50
Almost before Michael missed him wi
e boy was back. scout knife and long al
myth Of clothes line Ia his hands. til
aeellng at the edge OF the mysterious TO
:pths that held Mary Clark ss
Catch this" the b0yish voice Clark co
Vi criticized was calling down to the
lseen woman. There was excitement liz
that voice but no CULVER. II guess hi
5 the right length. rye knotted It ch
"a made q no0@a. Catch hold Of the MI
'ose and slip it under your arms. m LA
my end OF the rope around this
e "a ~~@F~@@@N@ S%A~%r