Glacier County chief., 1939-02-17

is that bully boys like the Boches
rise up every generation or so and
want to rule the world. Then it is
up to each nation in turn to decide
whether it would prefer not to be
enslaved by this particular bully.
Our turn has come just as told
you it would
Mother Tancill?"
Yes. Christine. just a moment"
Mrs. Tancill opened the door after
brief delay, and the girl who intended
to marry her son walked in. Even now.
at the start Of conflict between them,
Mrs. Tancill could approve Jacks
taste in choosing Christine Hastings.
More than that, she was generous
enough to concede that Christine would
not have needed the background of
mission school at Wochiang, Chinese
moon in September or the young mad
ness of navy leave limited to 80 days
Did you get some rest?" the girl
asked politely.
"Oh, yes" Mrs. Tancill said. WAS
there any message from Jack?"
Nope The oil dock is closed All
gone downriver chop-chop But that
gunboat will be along in the morn
ing. you betchum." Then having more
exciting things to tell Christine ratified
on in a mixture of first-year China
slang and literary Wellesley English.
The four soldiers under Lieutenant
Chi-Mah who had escorted Christine
and Mrs. Tancill from Wochiang in one
of Chang Kai-shek's staff cars had
demanded cumshaw. So Christine had
given them IS Mex Was that too
much? "A mite Mellican tourist" Mrs.
Tancill murmured Well anyway.
Christine. Lo Yu and Wang Ma had
searched the town for food. Christine
had bought six ducks first-chop; some
eggs of dubious freshness. beans, rice.
bamboo sprouts and soya bean sauce.
And Wang Ma swears she knows
how to fix chop suey," finished Chris
tine with triumphant sprightliness.
That will be nice said Mrs. Tancir
Still sparring the girl went on to
describe a garden owned by one WI
TIL Flu. head man of the village. and
age from an oil tank drifting into his
creek with backwater had killed all
his goldfish. For God for country
and for Standard Oil" was Christine's
comment.
Listening. Mrs. Tancill suppressed a
smile. The new crop Of teachers who
had come out to China from the states
were all like Christine-very concerned
about social justice and quick to adopt
tlllOlICIl anu lUtdllSllC dlllluutS lIltN
had picked up from professors in
women's colleges or radical columnists
But Christine had the soft. conceal
ing blondness that sometimes goes
with. and sweetenS an adamantine
nature Those blue eyes. thought Mrs.
Tancill, and that angelic fluff of hair
about her forehead gave her what Jack
would call. if Jack were ever maudlin.
"a sort of spiritual look" But that will
full. dimpled chin
Christine stopped sparring.
We'll, Mother Tancill, are you with
me? About Jacks leaving the navy?"
No. I'm sorry Mrs. Tanci!l said.
'Wh-Why?"
I think it is asking too much"
TOO much? Oh. Mother Tancill!"
Jack loves the service"
Has he ever said SOP"
His sort don't spill over"
The girl nodded, tolerantly.
Jacks never stopped to think what
it is that fascinates him. He likes the
adventure and his brother officers :"
Mrs. Tancill shook her head.
You don't know Jack very well yet.
I'm afraid
Christine lighted a cigaret. her fin
gers shaking little, Mrs. Tancill no
ticed. but when she spoke her voice
was calm.
Hes got to choose between the
navy and me-" she said.
Did you write him that?"
Yes
Wasn't that a little-arbitrary?"
Arbitrary? To say would not marry
hired killer-to live on blood money!"
Then angrily, You talked last night as
if you understood"
7 do understand, Christine. Who
would understand better than ~"
The girls eyes showed her feeling
of betrayal and hurt.
You should be the last person on
earth to defend that profession, Mother
Tancill," she blurted. 1T left you a
widow at my age. 1t robbed you of the
only man you will ever love. Why you