Glacier County chief., 1939-04-07

that's ALL Not writhing in obscene mu-
tilation or blaSphemouS suffering. Now
Gwynne, use your imagination! Think
of a battlefield ravaged by the liquid
fire or hellish with chlorine gas"
Gwynne cried out and pulled him
away from the cages. Come and eat
my nice dinner and forget these raw
ings.'
John Brunius laughed ruefully. First
/ must neutraliZe this stuff I have left.
I'm taking no chances He Slipped
clinging mask over Gwynne's face and
his own. Then he released the contents
of the big tube into a prepared gas
chamber. II can diSperSe this outside
later" he said. The mixture entirely
changes its nature
The house stood on a lonely stretch
of the DorSetshire coast overlooking
the English channel. 1t was an old
farm Stoutly built of rough gray stone.
The heavy doors were strongly barred.
There were iron grilles on all the win
dows. Since Brunius had prepared for
possible trouble, 1t would be as easy
for an interloper to get into it unin-
vited as to break into fort.
He had Communicated the erstwhile
living rooms of the farm for his eX-
perimental laboratory. Gwynne had not
home-making she had made a most
comfortable all-purpose living room
out of the picturesque raftered kitchen.
She tugged her husband into it now,
and as she expertly broiled steak,
he washed his stained hands. brushed
the long cushioned maple settee. The
delicious odors had reused his appe-
tite, and now he watched her deity
serving the meal with interest and
pleasure.
Gwynne cooked well and delighted in
it. Being unable to grasp the nature
of his difficulties with his experiments,
she refused to talk about them. 1t was
good for him. 1t took his mind off
his work and relaxed him completely.
ready to go back with an open mind.
renewed and refreshed. She was young
even for her age, which was young
enough in comparison with Johns 80,
but she was loving and good-tempered
and invariably buoyant company.
Tonight life seemed particularly
agreeable. A fire of oak logs blazed
in a dim corner. sheltered from light
and drafts. Billyboy lay sleeping. a
tiny hand like an unCurled rose petal
thrown out over the edge of his antique
cradle. The night outside. though pitch
dark and keenly cold was calm and
miles from its nearest neighbor. The
silence lay on the ears like soft black
velvet.
"Gwynne. you're right said her
husband suddenly. 1T is difficult to
visualize war and its horrors in this
atmosphere of security and firelit
Now, don't talk shop" she said. set
/ ting salad bowl on the table. I've
something really important to think
about
She told him what was on her mind
while she ate. It's such an age since
I was in a civilized town I haven't a
thing fit to wear. I don't mean I
don't like Dorset love it. But look
at these pictures in my pattern book.
I guess I could make one if I tried.
I'm going to send to London for some
of this new crinkly wool stuff Red,
think. What do you?'
Blue. if you want to please me,
darling" He smiled at her. But red
if you prefer it yourself. You look a
knockout to me in anything you wear
Even my old Clothes" she said pout-
ingly. Il know you"
She opened the pattern book on the
table after she had cleared away the
dinner. and grabbed Johns sleeve as
he rose to go. Now just. a minute,
again. The next war will keep. John,
darling-please STOP. You have a few
minutes anyhow to smoke an after
dinner pipe. What's the matter with
you forgetting about that?"
John Brllnius sat down again, laugh
ing at her persistence. II feel uneasy
with my notes left lying about. that's