Glacier County chief., 1940-04-19

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Don't you let him cross my thresh,
old! Tell him I'm not at home"
''Sure you're home, Ollie Slop.
old top" drawled q low voice, and
Len Hardesty stood in the door. 81
was afraid you'd be in one Of your
little pre-campaign moods, so told
them to announce me In five min
utes and I came right on up and
tapped at the side door and Q very
nice young lady at the telephone let
me in and motioned me down here,
and here I am"
"Oh, hello, Lem" said Aunt Olym-
pia, not at all unpleasantly but rath-
er cordially.
'How lovely and serene you are
today, with the Record at your
feet" he went on coolly. where's
Sloppy?"
"If you mean the Senator, he II
where he should be, trying to bring
some order out of a chaotic Con-
gress."
Her eyes went unconsciously to
the motionless figure in black and
white between the blue curtains.
Quite naturally Len Hardesty's gaze
followed hers.
Swiftly his eyes widened. Inele-
gantly, his jaw dropped. Wordless
for once he gaped at the vision be-
tween the curtains. Then he flung
his hat to the floor and clutched his
head in both hands.
my little niece, Adele, the Sem
ator's middle ward" announced
Olympia, with s smirk of SNUG COM
placency.
"Not one Of the orphansl Ollie,
you wouldn't do that to an old pail
You couldn't be that low-not even
you could be as low as that! You
wouldn't sick your old buddy onto
seven brats and a tin trumpet and
then double-cross me with-heaven-
on-earth! Would you do that?"
"Oh, that's only one Of them,"
said Aunt Olympia happily. I'VE
have three! They adore the Sena-
tori"
"You couldn't have three! There
couldn't be three. There are no mir
acles, not even in politics. She's
not flesh and blood anyhow. She's
wax. She's an automaton you've
rugged up to throw scare into me
and successfully, I admit that,
most successfully"
Adele, being stared at, dropped q
very slight curtsey and smiled.
"You pulled a wire!" Len Har-
desty accused Aunt Olympia. "You
know you pulled a wire. She's a
female Charlie Mccarthy, that's
what she is; but much better-look-
ing"
"Well, what of it? Charlie seems
to be doing all right for himself.
And SOS Adele, if you ask me! {.
Sit down, darling" The warmth Of
of her smile for Adele was beatific.
collie, want to make deal with
you," said Len Hardesty earnestly.
"Pn swap you the brats, all seven
of 'em, and the bellwether too, for
this one; just this one. You can
keep the Others"
'Not interested. Definitely not in
terested," said Aunt Olympia. "You
admit, then, that when I pick cam
paign material, / pick it."
''I'll throw in two of Brother Will
kie's best sermons and the tin trun-
pet. I'll throw in the cane, too"
Aunt Olympia waved the idea
from her with a happy gesture.
Len Hardesty took another look at
the smiling Adele. "To tell you the
truth, Ollie" he said, humbly, "I'm
not sure but I'll throw in the Gov
ernor Yes, come to think Of it,
will! I'll throw in the Governor"
II wouldn't have him for fish
bait" she said contemptuously.
"You made your political bed, now
lie in it. If you can find room among
the brats and the tin horn"
"Td better have a drink, Ollie.
I'd better have two drinks. I feel
very badly. Low! Very low. She"
he nodded his head dolorously to-
ward wouldn't know what
we are talking about, Ollie, but you
and I know. Well, feel very bad
in the pit of my stomach"
"Oh, l know about the pit of the
stomach" said Adele brightly. "Ifs
where you feel the most all-gone
when you feel all-gone."
"I'n probably need three drinks.
Ring, Ollie" he said duly.
Aunt Olympia, quivering with
pleasure, rang for Hilda.
Since this snake-in-the grass is
bent on drinking himself to death,
we may as well do what we can to
help along the good cause. Scotch
and soda, Hflda, and plain lemon
ade for Miss Adele"
Len. Hardesty, still holding his
head in both hands. stared uninter-
ruptedly at Adele.
Cant I do something for you?
Can't be helpful? May l offer you
cigarette?"
mot now. thanks" said Adele po-
| litely