Glacier County chief., 1940-02-23

az with MS thumb In MS mouth
She had said that was bad habit.
mittens hanging at the head Of the
crib to put on when the kid did it.
Jimmy did not put them on now
Those mittens. when he bit into them
always made the Old Man mad. If he
wanted his thumb in his mouth today
he could keep it there.
Jimmy tip-toed back to the branch
telephone in the outer hall. He left
the door open behind him, because he
could look back and watch the crib
While he got the connection and talked
to the operator. Fellow wasn't taking
any chances. Jimmy took down the
receiver
Nothing happened.
He put it back and jiggled it on its
hook. The silence continued. 1t took a.
long time and many efforts to get a
connection. At last the welcome voice
at the other end.
What's the news?" Jimmy asked
quickly. Everything o. KIP"
The dam is holding, so far. If
say. listen. The familys away, an
In IN. alone in this farmhouse, quarter
miles from any neighbors, with the
baby Do ye think better pick him up
an beat it?"
of course not" The operator was
very tired. Your house is about the
safest in the region-its so big and
sets SO high"
But
Jimmy heard the click of the re-
ceiver as she replaced it. He went
back to the crib. The Old Man was
still sleeping. Suddenly Jimmy felt
very lonesome. He drew the rocking
chair close to the crib and picked up
a book she had given him to read
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the
Sea- It couldn't be much wetter there
than 1t was here
He read till after 2. Then the Old
Man awoke with yelp and Jimmy
made an inspection. Yeah. he needed
some attention, all right.
1t was growing cold. That was odd.
It ought'd to be cold in late April, but
1t was cold and damp now, all right.
The baby had on his nice, clean diaper
and socks and shoes and a little blue
dreSs and blue sweater. Still, he
might be cold, too.
However. she had thought of that
She had thought of everything. There
was plenty of wood in the big box.
jimmy made fire and carefully set
the wire screen around it. 1t was great
1t raised his spirits right away.
He looked at his watch. Half past g.
Gee, they ought to be back any min
he went to a front window again and
looked out. His heart seemed to stop
The rain was coming down harder
than ever
1t was almost impossible to see any
thing but Jimmy's eyes were young
and strong. He saw the rising water in
the public highway and the creeping
lake that covered the grounds around
the house. Judging by the trees, it was
a foot deep-perhaps more He could
not see the meadows or the cattle.
He went to the Old Man, who was
contentedly playing with his toys. The
room was warm and comfortable and
safe: In half an hour She and He
would be home and the Old Man
would be gobbling his o'clock feeding.
long slow chill ran down Jimmy's
spine But-suppose they couldn't get
home? Suppose they were cut off.
They had to cross that river at Col
vile. But what was he fussing about?
Shed get across that river to that
baby if she had to swim So would
He.
He'd call up Mrs. Jones and find
out what she thought about things.
Perhaps he ought to have done that
sooner: But before he reached the
door, he came back, picked up the
Old Man, and carried him out into the
hall with him. 1t wouldn't take that
klo more than second or two to
pull down the fire screen and burn
himself.
The kid said g-r-r-r but Jimmy
didn't hear him. Holding the receiver.
After a long time the operators
weary but welcome voice
jimmy gave the Jones number and
listened to a persistent ringing. At
last. They don't answer" the opera
tor assured him. They haven't an
vi, Go,
went on, Il guess they've left their
house. Most of the folks in the hollow
below you have gone"
That was all from her Mrs. Jones
was the Driscolls nearest neighbor.
Jimmy's freckled face was very serious
when he carried the baby back into
the bedroom. Jimmy looked at his
watch and sighed. After T. That meant
more feeding.
Go Be Continlred)