Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-09-04

little girls father who was fined five
pounds after she had given some Jumps
Of sugar to her pony But his face
softened as he added. Il wonder how
much I should be fined, and perhaps
be even sent to prison, if it was found
out that you'd given most OF your good
dinner last Sunday to that useless
dog"
He isn't useless! I'd go to prison
rather than have Toby hungry"
Boys mother said quickly, Don't
contradict your father, darling"
But what Dad said isn't true, Mum.
| Toby is very useful dog"
| Il like that" Mr.. goldman said
harshly. Hes the only dog I've ever
known who didn't earn his keep"
All the same he was sorry he had
been so stern, on seeing the troubled
look that crossed his sons face. But
that look did not move him from his
purpose. He had made up his mind to
put through a long distance call from
his office tomorrow to his sister, and
arrange for Boy to skip school and
leave Daisymead for a week. And then,
early in that week, useless, tiresome
Toby would be painlessly put to sleep
forever.
Tom Goldman thought far too much
Of money, and was the type of man
who in time may become miSer. But
he had in him a vein of Shrewd good
sense and, to some of his business as
sociates' surprise, he was fond of stat
ing it to be his opinion that in war
time people ought to eat more, not less.
He followed that principle in his own
home, and though he and his wife still
only had one maid, that maid had to
be a good cook.
The woman was out tonight, SO, after
Milly had given Boy his bath, heard
his prayers, and put him to bed be-
fore the admiring eyes of Boys faith
err the two enjoyed cold roast chick
en-, with a grand salad which they had
grown in their garden, the same as all
their neighborS did, now. There was
also a sweet of sorts, followed by eX-
cellent coffee. and Tom had glass OF
wine. Then they settled down happily
one each side Of the fire.
Mrs. Goldman, who unfortunately
for herself had a vivid imagination,
could not forget the two strange tragic
stories told her by Mrs AShe. She and
Boy had been in the county, so miles
from Daisymead, the pretty garden
suburb where they lived, during the
whole of the bombing Of London, and
OF what her husband grandly called
Greater London. But she had hated
being away from her Tom, and he
had hated even more being away from
his sweet AIilly. Sorely, also, he had
missed the presence Of the child he
idolized. 1t had been happy day when
the two had come home a few weeks
ago.
Then you don't agree with Mrs.
Ashe about the bombing OF London
ever beginning again?" she asked.
OF course 1 don't. I always say
what I mean. You ought to know that
by this time"
But his voice held a caress, and he
added, with feeling, Il hope to God
that damned croaker is wrong. 1 should
mind it even more than you would, old
girl, if you had to go away again. You
don't know what its like, here, with
you and Boy away"
Tom Goldman had waited to marry
till he was 50, and he had chosen his
wife, who was l3 years younger than
himself, with care and elaboration, be-
cause he had known her to be what he
called to himself IAN ld-fashioned
girl" as well as a devoted daughter to
a selfish widowed mother And then,
all at once he had fallen paSsionately
in love with her and, what was
stranger still. she had fallen very much
in love with him. After eight years
they were still lovers, and had he pos
sessed half Milly's Imagination, this
fortunate man might lave felt quiv-
er of fear at the thought of his per-
sistent good fortune.
CONTINUED Next Week.