Glacier County chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1931-1940, 1940-07-12

No. My husband wouldn't let her
keep it."
Il suppose he doesn't like animals"
His lips frightened as he looked down
at her. 1t seemed to him that she had
shrunk since their last meeting Fly
Weight-inStead of featherweight. Her
dark hair which she wore in a long
curling bob, framed a pale face, now
too small for her gray-blue Irish eyes.
Il wish she were NINE" he said i'm
pulsively.
She knew that he was really think
ing Of herself. The same instructive
feeling told her that both she and
Una could be safe and happy in Alan's
to deep waters, she floundered des-
perately back to the shadows.
You don't know your luck" she as
sured him. "Una's like me at her age,
and was a little devil on wheels. I
She broke off as Alan gripped her
wrist.
. Don't DO -. speak or. or move" he said in
Looking up she saw that he was
staring at the lion house. The keeper
too was gazing in the same direction.
Their eyes were fixed on Una.
She had slipped her hand between
the bars and was scratching the lion
between his eyes.
That moment seemed to draw itself
out to an eternity. Everyone stood as
though petrified. The landscape ap-
peared frozen to flat dead shades OF
blue and green-the trees ceased to
wave in the breeze. Kathy felt that
the scene could not be real but that
they were all confined inside some in
credible painting.
Then Una withdrew her hand-and
the spell which bound them was
snapped The lion who had been blink
ing benevolently became aware OF hi
audience. Turning his head he brok,
out into a shattering roar as I'm
Scampered back to her mother.
Cats like being tickled," she ex
planned nonchalantly.
Yes" agreed Kathy family, "bu
the animals are very shy and nervous
Don't touch them again, or you Wi
frighten them"
oh, poor little things" Una's voic
was compassionate. Il guess I seen
terrible to them, cause I've got boot
to kick with and they've only 60
bare feet"
Go and see the sea lions fed" sug.
geSted Alan
AS Una dashed away with the keep
er, Kathy spoke to Alan.
is that savage lion?"
NO" replied Alan. "Jupiter's on the
tame side. He will let both me and
the keeper stroke him. But he wouldn't
let stranger take liberty"
He never touched Una"
Il know. I'm still knocked sideways
The whole thing is incredible l
suppose it was her complete confidence.
She must have a natural power over
animals. I saw the whole thing. She
slipped her hand in between the bars
so quietly that she was rubbing him
before he realized that it was there
He liked her touch, so he kept quiet.
But if we'd Startled him, there would
have been a ghaStly accident. AS it
was, I expected, every second to see
him snap her arm off"
Don't. 1t was all my fault I should
have watched her. I was warned
Reaction had set in as she began to
feel the effect of her recent shock.
While she fought her emotion, Alans
self-control suddenly slipped like
sandbank undermined by the suction
of floodwater.
Darling" he said roughly, you
any more. know it's hell He's eating
you up. You and Una must come with
me"
She pushed him away as he tried to
take her in his arms.
NO." she said, my husband would
not divorce me, so we could not get
married. The scandal would finish you.
won't let another man ruin his pros
poets for me-"
Il have my profession. I can get
a job"
"a Job? So did Dick And he lost it
again. Over and over, Oh, my dear,
you don't know what it means"
(To Be Continued