Glacier County chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1931-1940, 1940-11-15
CHAPTER XV-Continued

Sheila looked at Frank steadily,
unable to speak, unable to smile or
move, chained in her chair, the april
cot color flooding her face, her blue
eyes fixed on his.
For a long time they looked at
each other in silence. Color had
come into Franks face, too. After
while he smiled, his kindest, his
simplest smile.
I'm sorry" he said. And after
pause he repeated it. I'm ter
ribly sorry"
'Oh, that's all right" Sheila as
sured him politely, clearing her
throat again. And for a long time
neither could seem to find anything
further to say.
1T must sound-kind Of flat-for
me to say that l like you-awfully,
more than any-any girl your age I
ever knew" Frank presently ven
tured, with an awkward laugh.
mo, I'm glad" Sheila responded
very simply and honestly.
She looked up at him, looked down
again. She was young, almost child
ish-looking in the big chair, with
her blue hat curving off her face
like a baby's cap, and her coppery
film of hair almost in her blue eyes.
my father says you're moving to
Astoria" Frank said.
Next month";
"Will you be glad, Sheila?"
Glad" she echoed. angela and
I'll have a room to ourselves!"
"Oh, and where'n Joe be?"
Joe and Ceely want to get mar
ried."
"Ah, and now they CAM"
Your father told Ma that if she'd
keep the eight houses rented for
him she wouldn't have to pay any
rent; she'd get paid, herself"
Does she like that idea, Sheila?"
'She said it was an answer to
prayer, and Joe is working"
There was a long pause. Sheila
knew that she ought to go, now. But
her limbs refused to obey the Ian
guild impulse of her mind. She
ought to go-she ought to 60
But that would end it. When she
went now, she never would see
him again. The black thick hair,
and the dark-blue of the shaver
jaw, and the little half-smile he so
often gave her, and the ways in
which he was so old and so wise
and the ways in which he was so
young and so simple-all gone out
of her life, when she walked out
of this house.
Il remember the night you first
called here, you-you were all got
ten up as a beggar," Frank re-
called. Il came into the hall and
asked Mamie who had left the rag
bag in. And she said that Ger
trude-by the way, where is that
purse?"
Most of the money, luckily, l
left with Mamma" Sheila explained.
But the purse l lost. l had it up
in the farmhouse in Connecticut, /
remember, because my makeup
was in it, and l powdered my nose
there-1 remember that. But then
in all the excitement of getting
away, and the queerness of it all,
l dropped it, somewhere. And l
lost my blue hat the day of the
smash"
We'll, l think owe you a hat"
Frank said.
"Oh, no, you don't! This one,"
Sheila told him, cost me ninety
eight cents. 1t was in a window.
They had every hat with the two
copper cents lying next to it."
The two copper cents?"
Lying next to it. Your change
from dollar" she explained.
"Ah-?"
Sheila stood up, smiling good
by. Frank took her hand.
There was time for no more. Sud-
den footsteps sounded in the hall,
and with tremendous uproar, Peter
Mccain was in the room.
Frank" he shouted.
He stopped short at the sight Of
Sheila
Hello, Sheila," he said.
"Hellol Sheila responded, simply.
They stood looking at each other
a moment, then Peter, with re-
turn Of excitement, turned toward
his brother. Frank, d'you know
what's happened? Gee, I'm glad
Sheila's here for this!"
Whats the natter"
They've found the farmhousel
They found the place those fellows
took US, Sheila!"
They've found the farmhouse"
Sheila exclaimed. "Oh, Peter!"
Member you drew a plan of
the rooms for the police? Well, lis
ten, they want to see you again,
and check up on that plan, and
they found your purse, and every