Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-08-30

just clap him in the clothes-basket
What d. you ca him?"
"Spitfire."
"Them's the laddiesl" said Mrs.
Bride appreciatively. "Sit down, If
you please, and make yourself snug.
She would have given up her rocker,
but Miss Croy refused it, taking i'm
stead an old windsor chair with rag
cushion. The two children, apparently
injured to any amount Of converse
ton, slept Soundly on. Beside each
lay a gas-mask; the little girl was so
small that hers was the A1icky Mouse
type-red and blue, with funny
nose. Miss Croy looked at it with
attention, and mentally congratulated
the designer.
'Tt makes quite a plaything for her"
observed Mrs. Bride, following the
glance.
Miss Croy turned her attention to
the child, an understood shrimp, as
was her brother, with long dark lashes
curving on white cheeks. The gar
ments Of both children were scrupu-
lousy clean, much mended, and in
sufficiently warm.
~shes Elspeth, and the laddie's
Donald" continued Mrs. Bride.
They're a wee peaked like, but that's
wi being disturbed so much o. nights.
And Donald is first in all his classes"
why" asked Miss Croy sharply,
haven't they been evacuated?"
Over the old woman's face passed
a look Of wary, inplacable stubborness.
It was the look that had baffled, that
had driven almost to despair, so many
an evacuation officer.
They're all I've got, she said, "and
I'm all they've got. They'll bide WI
their Grannie."
She laid one skinny arm, protec-
lively, along the edge Of the bed. Miss
Croy was not In the least touched; she
thought the old woman's conduct so
selfish as to be nearly criminal.
81 imagine" she said coldly, "that
you viii soon have to leave yourself. |
With the whole house empty, there
win be no work for you"
''The Lord viii provide" said Mrs.
Bride stubbornly.
Miss Croy struggled her shoulders.
She was accepting the Bride hospi-
baIity. For a moment there was Sd
Ience, then the clatter Of anti-aircraft |
fire, much nearer, broke out again;
and in the stiffness that followed a |
mans footsteps sounded on the base
ment stair.
''Thatm be Mr.. Brocard," said the /
old woman.
It was. But to Miss Croy, who knew
him quite well by sight, the young man
who burst through the kitchen door
seemed oddly changed-much more
youthful, more touzled; and noting
his glance at herself she wondered
whether she too looked strange. But
not, after that evening, any younger.
Caught againI" cried Mr.. Brocard
:heerfully.
The old woman beamed at him.
Hes caught most every night
heres gunfire." she said. Nov isna
hat a queer thing2"
Hugh Brocard looked across at the
ybher guest and grinned- Miss Croy
nodded coolly back. She wasn't I'M
PRESSED. II he liked to spend his
lights playing Santa Claus, that was !
lis business, requiring neither praise
Tor blame from herself He struck her I
IS a young man who had probably ;
,een praised too much, especially by
Vomen.
"Ah, but you won't have me here
much longer, Mrs. Bride" he said. !
In fact, after tonight you won't have ]
ne at all. I'm ava the morn's morn"
"Get along WI you" retorted MRS. {
sridie; then as the meaning Of the 7
vords sank IN she stared at him with
UGH dismay that he turned quickly &
0 Miss Croy.
Eyes" he said lightly, ''the old firm ]
auts up the shutters. Sad. but neces-