Glacier County chief., 1940-07-19

1t was a cross between a rattle and
gasp and sounded somewhat as
though a kettle were boiling over. AS
it appeared to come from her huS-
bands study. she hurried to the door
and flung it open.
Mint vas Slumped back IN his chair,
fighting for breath. His face was gray
and dripped with sweat-his mouth
gaped open like a gaSping fish.
Hes dying"
A. the thought flashed through
kathys brain, she rushed into the
dining room and snatched up the
whisky decanter Supporting her hus-
bands head, she managed TO dribble
some of the spirit down his throat,
drON by drop. 1t was slow business,
for most of it stopped down his neck,
but gradually his heart began to re-
sponG to treatment.
After he regained consciousness he
recov cred rapidly from his fainting fit.
BY the time the doctor arrived, he
was almost normal although his face
shaken after her second shock, kathy
left the men together. at her husbands
request, and went into the drawing
room.
The reek OF whisky was still in her
nostrils. as, for the first time. she
was able to realize the situation, to-
gethtr with its possibilities.
If I had stayed for lunch
She dared not dwell on the conse-
quenceS, lest she should be compelled
TO admit the horror of her own regret.
As she tried to wrench the thought
from her mind, Mint entered the room.
what did the doctor say?" she
asked.
The verdict is satisfactory" he re-
Piled. My condition is static. have
the family heart. I thought I had es-
capped 1t was an unpleasant experience,
but I've had my warning"
u thought your family were all long
lived"
That is true. We have iron consti-
buttons, but we suffer from valvular
disease 1t is chiefly dangerous in case
of ignorance When one knows ones
vulnerable, one is naturally careful to
avoid violent exertion or shock. All my
fathers family lived to be 90 or more"
1t was in vain that Kathy struggled
to force her concern and show decent
interest, She knew that she could not
speak naturally, when she thought OF
the years that stretched ahead. Years
and years of dissension and misery.
AS though he guessed her thoughts, her
husband probed her face with his
bright little eyes.
IF you had not come In. at this
minute. you would be widow he
reminded her.
Suddenly she found courage to make
an appeal
"Hector," she said, "you say you owe
your life to me- I am going to ask
Tor something in return for it. A very
little thing"
"What?"
"a dog for Una"
Certainly not. You couldn't have
done less than you did. without oeing
a murderess. Are you going 70 use "a
mo but Hector, If we are to
have a long life together, 1t won't be
worth living If we cannot put more
happiness into It, must be to plane,
too. Will you tell me where nave
MINIS smile was acid.
"You failed me before you married
me-" he replied. You carea e., more ti,d LOT
than for my whole body. You can't
undo the past"
The following days were charged with
misery for Kathy. She knew that II she
were to avoid an inevitable crash; heI
future meetings with Alan must De
mere casual encounters, IN the prs.
ence of others. Such ban meant thaS
loss of much Of her remaining happl-
ness She suffered as acutely from the
sudden deprivation as drug adolct
from the abrupt cessation Of his source
VI A SaRh she tried to appear bright
for Una's sake, she felt Ike q putter-
nv irving to soar with sodoen Wass
TO add to her depression, o., .,'e downnnSIr