The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-01-10
CHAPTER W

4Ou utdl lt IlBnC, l guess, said to Juddy's offer to help. But well, kind hearts are more coro- nets and all that, but they don't make cook out of a society deb"
 I'm no deb,' she said. And I've got no illusions about cooking My theory is might be able to help with the dishes when there's & rush. It would give me some thing to do," she said, half to her self. "I'd terribly like to have something to do."
 don't think she realized what a cry for help it was. %. K.', I said. T guess I can use you Juddy."
 She stared at me. What made you call me that?"
 T don't know I said, and I didn't. Tt just seems to fit you. won't If you don't like it."
 No: it's all right. It startled me for minute. It's all right. When do start in?"
 Right now if you can snitch a couple of perch out of the river before lunchtime."
 The noon R. D. brought note from Angel Todd, enclosing two tickets tor the game.
 Tell that little brown gipsy
 of yours is she coming peace
 fully or do I send the patrol
 wagon. Tell her to have a
 heart"
 showed her the note, but she just shook her head.
 Not interested" she said.
 It was more to see Juddy, I expect, than to pay his little bill that fetched Angel back next morning. First off he'd stopped at Tambay Mansion, which got him nothing except a line on her real connection with the place. After settling his account, he opened up on me.
 Whats this niece stuff, Mom?"
 "A stall" I told him. "Protec- ion. Keep off the grass. Use no hooks. Beware the dog"
 He shook his head That gal don't need any barbed wire fenc- ing. Say, Nom, whats the matter with her, anyway? I tackled her agah about the Rogues' Dance. Is there anything wrong with that?"
 Did she act like there was?"
 She didn't act like anything in the girl line that I ever was up against He looked sadder than pup in 8 rainstorm.
 Don't let it throw you, Big Boy. It isn't personal. She's of the world, that's all"
 Well, it just isn't natural he complained. What are we going to do to get her back into circula- tion?"
 That's your problem" I told him. But he'd put an idea into my head, just the same.
 The sounds of spade working inside the stockade caught his ear. That must be that louse, Oliver, digging his Indians he said.
 Where do you get that louse stuff?"
 He grinned. He'd like to give me the heave-O out of school"
 What for? Don't he appreciate your giant intellect?"
 He's sore because he thinks I eelcted his course for a snap"
 Did you?"
 Sure I did. It always was snap till he came. Now it's a grind. I'd like to go over and crown him."
 He listened again and his face got thoughtful Maybe 1t isn't Indians he's digging for at that. ;" What else would it be?"
 T told you there was a gold strike back in the hills
 This isn't the hills, by 50 good miles"
 No. But there might be a wash down the river. I'll bet that's it. I'll bet those dead Wasaws or CoosaWs or SeesaWs or whatever they were are only cover, wouldn't put it past Oliver. Hes smart, that guy. But he isn't hu- man."
 He hit the road and I went back to my duty by my travelling pal Up to now I had been keeping Dolf under cover, because I'd learned to go slow about springing him on the public. Folks have silly prejudices against 'skunks. There's no more peaceable animal in creation, be- cause they don't have to be afraid of anything. If all nature steps aside for you without arguing about the