Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1946-04-26

heSSler S dltentlOn. Brian nodded
solemnly. AS Kessler stood up, Bril-
an watched the procedure with un-
disguised interest, for hitherto he
had only seen him sitting down and
had not been warned of all his new
friends handicaps. Elizabeth felt a
moments embarrassment, until she
reminded herself that Kessler must
have had to bear many stares from
children and would understand that
Brian did not know he was being
rude. She was not sure she had
been right in permitting Brian to
bring a chair to the dinner table.
Though she had planned the menu
with special reference to his disabil-
lty, Kessler might nevertheless be
awkward about eating with one
hand.
That was all they said to each
other. Spratt got up and suggested
that he and Kessler 60 into the study
and talk over their story problem.
The children said good night with a
cordially very warm compared to
their usual routine of politeness
toward adult guests, and Brian went
upstairs. A few moments later
Fudge and Julia came to call for
the two older ones. Get through
dinner all right?" Fudge asked with
sympathetic grin.
"Pudge," said Cherry, as though
conveying momentous news, che
was nice"
Fudge scowled incredulously. "a
refugee?"
Sure" said Dick, "but he's
okay."
Elizabeth went upstairs to say
good night to Brian. He was enthu-
siastic about Kessler and the prom
Use of help in mounting the skeleton
OF a bat. "You know what he told
me about bats, mother? He said if
we had ears as good as theirs we
could hear fly walking up the
wall. He said a bat was one Of the
most mysterious creatures on earth,
we just didn't understand them
bit. That guy sure does know
lot"
The initial sense of familiarity re-
turned to tease her. But whether or
not she already knew him, Kessler
was fine fellow, she reflected, and
she was glad Brian liked him.
Brian turned over in bed. Moth
er, I just thought of something.
Peters Jew"
$50 what?" asked Elizabeth.
"Mr. Kessler's a German, and you
know how they are about Jews. He
said l could bring Peter, but didn't
tell him.
IF Mr.. Kessler had approved of
that sort of thing he'd have stayed
in Germany, Brian"
maybe Mr.. Kessler's a Jew"
Brian suggested hopefully. SIS he?"
II don't know, but you needn't
worry about it. He's not stupid
enough for that foolishness."
Il guess not" Brian said, re-
lieved. II sure do like him.
$50 do l." She reflected that
Kessler's enjoyment of happy do
mestic scene might mean he was
lonely in strange country. Brian"
she suggested, "since we like Mr..
Kessler so much, let's prove it by
doing something for him. Let's ask
his little girl to bring some of her
friends over to 60 swimming"
"Oh, rats" said Brian. One thing
he could not understand about his
big brother was Dicks liking for
girls.
Brian, suppose we had to pack
up all of sudden and 60 live in
Germany. Wouldn't you be glad if
other children made friends with you
instead of making you play all by
yourself?"
"Well-do we have to-"
"Not at all, and Mr.. Kessler
doesn't have to help you with the
bat, either. Come on, Brian, be a
sport. Well have a good party with
lots to eat, sherbet and one of those
big cakes from Delhaven's, and all
you'll have to do is be polite. You
can ask Peter over and she can
bring her own friends"
Brian sighed. It'll be awful" he
objected.
"All right, let's put it this way. If
you go over to Mr. Kessler's and he
helps you put bats skeleton to-
gether, you can play with his little
girl one afternoon by way of saying
thank you. If you don't 90 over
there, you needn't do it,
Brian mournfully considered the
alternative. 1t was struggle, but
at last, after she had tried again to
tell him the value of -and-take
in the world, he yielded. AS she
closed the door Elizabeth drew a
long sigh of her own. 81 don't Won
der so many parents let their chill
dren grow up to be monsters of self
ishness," she thought. Its so much
easier. But then they grow up to
grab, grab, grab, until they turn out
to be fascists grabbing for the whole
world"
She went into her own room.
CHANGING at the radio, she wondered
what fresh disasters she would hear
about if she turned it on, and did
not firm IL m Sbo cot Go,,,n -.