Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1941-03-28
The Tight Rope B, Elizabeth Jordan
Copyright 1870: BY News Syndicate Co. Inc
IN THREE PARTS-PART TWO

first name for the first time in all
their years together. II know John
Cary is a fine fellow. know he viii
make you a good husband. AS a hui
man being he's worth a dozen OF the
snowy fellows around here who are
making ten times as much noise as ne
does. A lot of their private lives won't
bear looking into. Johns wil-always.
He'll love you and be faithful to you
TIL his last day. But he'll give you some
damned long and dragging hours IN the
interval" the Old Man ended, With
wicked grin.
The grin faded as he took Annes
hands and pressed them.
Have you set the wedding day?" he
asked hastily. I'll make you wedding
present of honeymoon In Europe. Two
weeks at sea, two weeks in Paris. How
does that sound?"
wonderful" Anne admitted. Like
the music Of morning stars. must al
ways remember that any woman who
mas listened to you talk for almost
eight years will always find any other
man dull"
Anne Cary made four discoveries
about her husband during their honey
moon travels. Only two of the discov-
cries surprised her. He would never
shine among his associates or be the
life of a party. She had known that for
a long time. He wore his modesty like
an enveloping garment. Neither would
she ever blush for him. She had known
that, too, from their earliest acquaint-
ance. His rare remarks were worth
hearing and his quiet smile held IN.
watched for it and felt triumphant
when any words Of hers called 1t forth.
His six feet Of manhood was impress
sive and so was his fine head and his
air Of physical fitness. She was proud
Of him while swinging around the
decks In their three-mile walks every
day; ,.. Ammo had mt exnected was
Cary's knowledge Of other departments
and problems Of the big Mackay bust
ness, The Old Man was wrong, for
once, in assuming that Cary was ex-
clusively conferred in his own job. Her
greatest surprise, however, came In con-
nection with her discovery OF Johns
understanding Of her own situation and
problems.
Il suppose Mackay did his best to
talk you out Of our marriage" he sug-
gested tentatively, on the first after.
noon of their voyage. They had sailed
early, had unpacked and settled In"
before luncheon, and were now out on
deck. comfortably established in their
steamer chairs, with their first real OPP
portunity for quiet chat stretching
before them. But Anne wished John
had not brought up just that taclt
question Just now. She was not yet sure
her decision to remain with the firm
had been wise one.
He didn't! Why should he?" she
hedged uneaSily.
.For a dozen reasons needn't point
out. You know them better than l do.
The big one is that he would regard
your entering domestic life as a big
loss to the Mackay Company"
Don't you agree?" ,,
Anne asked the question with little
laugh. The situation seemed to her to
call for lighter touch. But John an
swered very soberly.
II don't know he said. I'm trying
to think it out. The one thing I'm sure
Of in a pretty grogy old world Is our
love. Being sure of that I'm not re-
preaching myself for horning into your
life" :,
hotly. He ignored the words.
Just the same I realize that I've
complicated it," he continued. you've
got both the business and me on your
hands, and either alone is a good-slze
Job. Mackay isn't going to let, up on
your work. John never referred TO ms
sociates did. "On the contrary" he
went on, "hes dumping more work on
YOU ali the time and he'll keep on in
creasing it. Strong and Hemingway
are not up to their jobs, and he's got
you checking and lacking up the WORK
Of their departments. fortunately
you're young and well-poised and in
perfect health. But the strain of the
extra work will tell on you in time
"I'll drop it all tomorrow II you say
so, John"
HIS gray eyes met and held her
brown ones.
"The last thing shall ever do Is to
say so, Anne" he told her quietly. "Gee
that, and remember it. When we mar.
ried made vow to myself that I'd
never interfere in any way with your
professional life. I know how fast you
have come up. know what the bust
ness means to you. wouldn't interfere
with it if I could. and I'm never going
to. Now that I've made that clear Iets
drop the subject"
Anne was impressed, but there was
one question she had to ask:
How did you know that Strong and
Heminway aren't handling their de-
partments properly"
Simply by observation. I don't talk
much and don't play office pohtlcs,
but I see what's going on, Strong has
that's only temporary. He'll pull him
self together and dig into his work
harder than ever to keep his mind oc-
cupied. Heminway's case Is different.
He's breaking, physically or mentally
or both"
experiment of a years rest, and he's
to have it. It's the last thing we ar
ranged before left. Blair Is to take
his department while he's gone"
John nodded.
Don't think mean to butt in or
comment on Mackay business. I've said
my say, and it's the last time. I don't
want to discuss the business any more,
now or ever. But 1 want you to know
that understand what I'm up against.
There are men trucking to me already
because I'm your husband. They make
me sick. Also, In one way, I'm working
under you, more or less. Because I'm
human, that makes me q little sick.
too, but III get over it. He broke off.
isn't that whale spouting over
there?"
It was, and they got up and hurried
to the shiprail to follow the whales
activities more closely. Later Anne