Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-11-06

Hapgood's money we might find-well,
it would be their story against yours
and Carlotta's. Maybe I'm imagining
things. Maybe I'm unjust. Let's assume
he is on your side. Mrs. Hapgood will
fight. 1t might mean months and
months of litigation before we finally
got the deed set aside We'd better
consider other possibilities before we
bring action. 1t just might be that
Mrs. Hapgood may repent when she
realizes Carlotta is heartbroken. Where
is Carlotta going to stay?"
AT Mrs. Tysons tourist home.
Hank, she was crying when she tele-
phoned me about Mrs. Hapgood. To
think I let that hypocritical woman
put such trick over on me! To think
how we've trusted her all these years!
I wanted Carlotta to have that little
place-right away She loves it So"
And so do you, I thought. Poor fools,
what happiness he and Carlotta had
stubbornly thrown away
Well, we waited. A week went by and
yet Mrs. Hapgood had given no sign
of regretting her treachery. I was
helpless.
Then on Tuesday night when l was
working late I was startled to have
Carlotta and Tom come together to
my offices I'VE had dinner" she ad-
mitted. lin the Travellers Grill and
we've been trying to work out plan
of persecution"
I'VE can fix her, I think" said Tom
soberly. "Carlotta and I plan to make
her life out there perfectly miserable"
Il thought maybe we could smoke
her out" said Carlotta Something
like that. Or infest her with cock
reaches and rats. Or tent caterpillars?'
MOI MOI said Tom. Gosh no,
honey. We mustn't hurt the trees" I
knew the honey had just slipped I'M
consciously, but Carlotta gave him
quick soft glance from under her dark
lasheS
Wen get the place back, honey"
she said.
Il know We will, honey" he said. All
at once he held out his arms and she
ran into them. The tears were flooding
down her cheeks and she blotted them
against his khaki shirt.
We'll fight it out along these lines"
she sobbed. eff it takes forever"
Forever" said Tom. you mean-?"
Yes, together . . E" She made a
funny little snorting sound of love
and anger. For the second time I left
them alone in my inner office, care
fully closing the door.
Next day Mrs. Hapgood came
briskly into my office She looked
pleasant and unabashed. She sat
erect in the chair by my desk and
fingered the pears which adorned her
plump throat
L hear" she said, with her eyes as
wide and innocent as ever, that the
Gilbraiths stayed together last night
at Mrs. Tyson's tourist home? Can you
confirm the rumor?"
Its true" I said coldly. But what
of it? Why this vulgar curiosity?
What do you care?"
She sighed. "Ah mel What do
care? I wish I could stop caring so
much for so many people. Making an
old fool of myself and going to no
end of bother and nuisance-just to
get couple of young idiots together
again e. ="
1 jumped straight out of my chair
and I'm afraid my mouth was open
in silly way for I couldn't make any
words come right.
She said with a gay little twinkle,
Though it was rather fun the time I
glared and shook my fist at you and
swore I would burn the house down
Poor Hank You should have seen
your own facet I didn't dare take you
into my confidence because lawyers
are so-well, legal" Opening her capa-
cious purse she placed the deed gently
on my desk. 1t was all signed and in
order
''Of course I've lost their friendship"
she said sorrowfully. Her shoulder
dropped all at once as if she were
tired. You see we can't ever let them
know why did it, They'd resent being
tricked into making up. Did you ever
notice." she asked, "how a common