Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-02-13


his mothers eyes, but her tone was
devastatingly firm.
Not bad argument. but it's be-
side the point. YOU"
Like heck it Isl" Club disputed
holly. Gosh, Nom. look at the way
you and Dad are always talking about
having to save money! Look at all the
things we need and don't have! bet
you could get a good secondhand
dinghy for the price of these dancing
lessons! Sure, you could. That way
you'd have something. This way, what
you got? Nothing at ALL I'll never
learn to dance. Besides, reading in
his mothers quizZical glance the fu-
tility of this line of argument. Club
swung to another tack with the agil-
ity of Observation-Disclosures his
hand tenderly stroked his throat and
he swallowed hard, I
II wouldn't try sore throat again,
his mother warned, with that lift of
her eyebrows and little quirk to her
mouth that always told Club she was
on to him. 1T won't work a second
time" she put up her sewing There's
no use arguing. Club. You're going to-
night and every Thursday night. After
the trick you played last week, may
add, you are going dead or alive!"
Club had the grace to blush. my
throat was sore" he mumbled. You
saw yourself I had temperature
his mothers expression decided him
not to pursue this line further.
Jaw, skip it," He vaulted the rail
and started for the boat house, firing
IF you think this is good way to
make me like girls"
Driving her husband back from the
station, that night. Grace Chalmers
incautiously appealed for help.
II wish you would talk to Club
Phil! He thinks this is all just fool
ish feminine idea"
"a chip off the old blockr' Phil
Chalmers chuckled. MY word, Grace
I think he's right! I must say, sum-
mer dancing school is rather thick!
You kept him at it all last winter"
And he's still clumsy as a bear, with
as much sense of time or tune; but
that's not the point" Grace's tone was
very patient. II wish you would read
some of those books I brought home
from the Study Group. Phil. Then you
might understand. Club has man.
aged to get out of step with all his
age. He's so stubbornly masculine, the
poor darling! He has set out to be a
woman hater and woman hater he Is
going to be-"
A snort from Phil made her all the
more insistent.
you can laugh, but it isn't funny
It was pathetic the way he dropped
out of the crowd last winter and
moped by himself. It's no fun being
deserted by all your cronies, especially
If you're an only child. And now Jigs
has gone back on him!"
you ought to hear Jigs' father on
that subject" Phil interrupted. He's
yelling for help in the other direc-
ton"
"All right. if you won't understand
Grace Grossly broke in on his laughter
Club has a naturally sunny DISPOSE
ton, but there is nothing so corroding
as loneliness at that age. If we don't
break up this complex of his, an emo
tional block may set up"
Don't talk psychology to me-" Phil
groaned. "CompleX-emotional block
Good Lord! Let the poor kid alone!"
II won't let him alone to be I'M
happy" A hint of brightness cleaned
in Grace's eyes. "Oh, why won't you
see? It's a cause with him, Phil; a
mission, crusade! My poor little
White Knight" Her lips trembled
through her laugh, and her eyes we're
very deep blue under their soft misti-
ness. why do you suppose took the
craftsmanship of the Junior Entertain
ment committee if it wasn't for Club?
I've worked like dog to round every
one up for these lessons: besides,
they're not regular lessons. There is
only half hour of teaching and the
rest is just fun"
Their arrival at the house cut short
the argument, but Phil made one last
effort to come to his sons rescue as
they sat on the porch after supper,
waiting for him to appear.
Gosh sakes, Grace, why not let the
kid off? He looks sunk. Why rush him
into being girl crazy2 He'll come to it
soon enough"
Il don't want him to be girl crazy
any more than you do" Grace's soft
lips were set. I'm just trying to work
him naturally into the crowd. don't
want him to be queer and lonely and
left out. Once he knows how to dance.
he'll want to dance. Then"
mot If he's like me, he WON'T" Phil
glanced up at a hollow Hi" from the
door.
Hi, yourselfl" He surveyed his son
in all the glory Of blue coat and white
flannels. Not 50 bad" he approved,
but Clubs mother was less easily sat