Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1941-08-29

children couldn't possibly come too?"
Mrs. Bride Strengthened herself
And why for no? You said your
sell they ought to ha' been evacuated"
There would be no room for them"
las matter of fact" observed Mr..
Brocard perfidiously, you'll find two
spare bedrooms"
"Ane would be enough. Elspeth can
sleep wi me, and the laddie in the
kitchen. Well manage fine. And III
take no wages O. you, my Teddy, in
consideration O. the BARNS. Not but
what you'll find them vera helpful"
Miss Croy rose to her feet. She felt
she had no chance sitting down. The
Spitfire kitten, rudely awakened,
clawed its way up to her coat and
stood purring on her shoulder.
After ALL" said Mr.. Brocard sud-
denly. you've got the cat"
What do you mean?"
well. a cats a start, isn't it? I
suppose they don't allow animals i'll
your flats?" Miss Croy shook her
head. so you've got to have a cot
tage to put the cat in. And you've
got to have housekeeper to look after
the cottage. Thatn all be a great
change for you"
1T certainly would" agreed Miss
Croy.
IN fact, such a very great change
that two children more or less will
make practically no difference. Buy
my cottage. Miss Croy, engage Mrs.
Birdie, invite the kids, and make a
kitten happy. I'm sure you'll find it.
in the long run, the most sensible
course"
All at once, Miss Croy began to
laugh.
They looked at her anxiously. She
pulled herself together. dabbing at
her lips with her handkerchief. No
color came off on it: that was the
measure of the road she had travelled
since oclock-only four hours ago?-
when she had finally closed the doors
on the Maison Masque.
Il was only thinking she explained
how I was thinking-before all this
that at least I had no responsibilities. -
But they're what you need" said
Hugh Brocard Shrewdly. Without re-
sponsibilitieS you're a lost woman"
Il think perhaps I am. I know"
she was speaking simply, frankly, as
though the laughter had at last loosed
her tongue from its habitual constraint
Il know I have been feeling very
lost tonight. I knew I should have
! 10 find something or-or die. But !
wanted it to be war work"
Hugh Brocard turned his back on
Mrs. Bride and lowered his voice.
Get those two children out of here"
Mo .
Gown to the country, grow food for
your household, and keep EN- all in
TRIM for peace. That's about the most
you or any woman can do"
Miss Croy stared at him.
You'll have to begin. of course, -
added Mr.. Brocard firmly, "by buy
ing my cottage"
Without word Miss Croy took out
her check book. She was a woman
OF business, used to making quick
decisions, to taking chances, to han
ding large sums of money. But she
now felt, moreover, peculiar conf
dence, calm certainty, which might
have been due in part to the brandy
she had drunk and the evening she
had spent. but which she felt quite
safe in backing. Once before she had
violently altered the whole course of
her life, when she left her country
home to seek her fortune in London:
now, on the point of changing course
again, she was swept by precisely the
same assurance of rightneSs, of in
evitability
Suddenly she smiled.
You realize, of course, that I have
no proof even that the place is yours
to sell2"
That's true" agreed Mr.. Brocard
reasonably. But you can postdate the