Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1941-06-13

toward their natural channels. Flora to
normal school and Husk to the dance
hall girls. His cubbish humor sometimes
strained the social fabric Of the town;
but Chuck accompanied his Irregular
tiles with such charming smile and
booming laugh that people resigned
themselves to the patient day when
Chuck would take notion to grow up:
And somehow, he seemed to live off
the community, without work.
After two years Flora returned from
Normal school and took up teaching,
at her own request, in the squalid Sec
ton known as Hop-Toad. Here, where
organized social service work: and
through her efforts she educated both
the people OF the town, and, a more
difficult assignment, the residents OF
Hop-Toad, to the necessity.
Husk lived in Hop-Toad; but if Flora
saw him it was only casually. Her posi-
tion-or perhaps her caution, would
permit no other relations, and Husk
never overstepped. In fact, the legend
the chances she did in Hop-Toad, be-
cause it was known that she was OPP
Grating under Husk'S protection-whtch
was a safe passport. In the curious way
that 1t has of knowing such things, the
town knew that Flora Hardness was
still attracted to Husk Horton-but
that she had entirely too much good
time on such q worthless hulk as he
was turning out to be. And to give the
devil his due. Husk kept on his side of
the street.
Then one fine morning in May. when
the trees were dressed In fresh, bright
green, and children were roaming the
hills in search of the first spring
a little wild child's, the town was
shaken by one of those situations
which are so fortunately and surpris-
ingly rare. all things considered.
A railroad car had been broken into
and some melons, first from the south
had been stolen. The trail had led to
Husk Horton and group OF boys OF
all ages from the Hop-Toad district
The culprits were brought to Jail.
The town was divided about Husk.
Some said he had been asking for this
for a long while, that Riverside would
be more peaceful without him. Others
were inclined to be -particu-
larly when the story got about that
HuSk had cried about it to the school
northumberland to hope that
warning might bring Husk to his senses.
There was more sympathy for the other
youngsters.
But it looked bad for all of them
There had been too much of a DISPOSE
ton on the part of the denizens OF
Hop-Toad to look upon railroad prop
erty as their own. The company was
after its pound OF flesh-out to make
an example of this group, and put an
end to the annoyance. 1t looked like
Jail for Husk Horton and reform school
for the other boys. For one of them, the
youngest, who was eight, it looked like
a corrective home. His mother was
dead. his father was a lush and the
boy lived pretty much off the neigh
bors.
His name was Jigginhom, a peculiar
name that seemed to derive chiefly
from the faulty memory OF one OF his
immediate ancestors when questioned
for police blotter. But he was
sturdy, attractive boy, bright and ag
greSsive, with a streak that Flora char
acterized as not only gentle but beauti-
full. He was in her room at school and
it was probably because of him that
she took up the fight; but once in, she
became defense attorney for all the
younger boys who lived in her special
province of Hop..Toad;
1t was at this time that Flora Hark-
ness really began her public career in
Riverside She went to the mayor. to
the school board, and finally appeared
at the trial itself. There she knocked
the cocky smile off Husk Horizons face
by charging that he was responsible for
getting the younger boys in trouble be-
cause they looked upon him as town
hero.
Then she abruptly put the town on
trial.
She said that while Husk was re-
sponsible for the younger boys, the
town was responsible for Husk, be-
cause it had distorted the values of a
naturally irresponsible boy, tolerated
his Irregularities and had done Moth
ing to Straighten him out. She said
that if they sent Husk away without
giving him another chance it would be
bad enough; but that it would be mis-
carriage Of justice to divert the other
boys into a life of crime. She declared
that 1t would be heartlesS to send little
Charles Jigginhom away and that it
was the duty of the community to
help this fine little boy become a
worthwhile citizen, rather than to
shunt him off to what she called a
'loveless vacuum" She warned that
she would fight such a decision If it
cost her her job. that she would take
it to the higher courts.
AS she talked to the hushed, amazed
spectators, the little Jigginhom kid,
with unconscious drama, went to her.
took her hand and looked up at her as
though she were a shining angel of
mercy. The other boys, old enough to
understand, were hopeful Husk, who
had never shaken off tho habit If