Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1946-05-03
CHAPTER XIV

eral other notes when she heard
Dick and Cherry come in. Going to
her doorway, she watched them
scamper up the stairs, enjoying the
healthy windblown look of them.
did you have a good timer" she
asked.
"Oh yes" said Cherry. 1.-THE sea
was just beautiful and we all had
hot dog and Dick ate two egg sand
wiches besides"
Meat SHORTAGE" Dick explained.
"They wouldn't give us but one hot
dog apiece"
II don't know why you don't kill
yourself" Elizabeth exclaimed.
Dick said he felt fine, which he
evidently did. They said good
night, and Elizabeth went down.
stairs. Spratt and Kessler should be
finishing up their conference by now
il they expected to 60 to work in the
morning. They did appear in a short
time, Spratt saying he didn't know
why Kessler insisted on taking taxi
when he'd be glad to drive him
home. Shaking his head with good
natured insistence, Kessler said,
"I'm sure Mrs. Herlong will agree
with me. I can't drive, but it's one
Of my principles not to let my
friends drive for me if can help it.
It may be convenient tonight, but
there will be times when it isn't. Am
I right, Mrs. Herlong?"
How sensible he was, Elizabeth
thought, to accept his handicaps so
frankly. EYES," she answered,
though either IT u would be glad
to drive for you, in principle you're
quite right"
"Thank you. And now, since I
don't know where the telephone is,
will you stop arguing and call cab
for me, Mr.. Herlong?"
Spratt chuckled and complied.
Kessler turned back to Elizabeth.
MRS. Herlong," he said earnest
ly, II can't tell you how happy you
have made me-
1t seemed a great deal to say in
return for pleasant evening, but
he sounded as though he meant it.
1--WE were all glad to have you,
Mr.. Kessler," she answered. "You
have quite won the hearts of the chill
dren."
"They are delightful, all three of
them. What joy it is to see
home like yours. Your mode of liv-
ing is so clear that it leaves no room
for doubts. No one who spent an
hour here could 60 away asking,
Are they happy? Are they free? Do
they love each other?' The answers
are obvious"
Elizabeth stood up to face him.
Are we really like that? Would
you say it just to be pleasant"
Indeed not. You should be very
proud of such an achievement"
ut hasn't been all mine" She
glanced at Spratt, who was return
ing from the telephone. 1--WE had a
great deal of cooperation.
Kessler's eyes followed hers, then
came back to her. eyes, that is
easily seen. I congratulate you
both"
Elizabeth and Spratt both smiled
back at him gratefully. Elizabeth
wondered at their talking like this
to stranger. But just now Kessler
did not seem like stranger. From
being a newcomer among them, he
had subtly changed into friend who
made her comfortable with the secu.
rity of mutual understanding. What.
ever memory he had stirred within
her, it must be some old experience
of peace. Since overhearing the
children yesterday she had felt un
sure of herself and of them, but now
hearing him speak, it was as though
she had slipped back into some for.
gotten period of long ago when ev
erything was safe and right. He was
saying to them,
"Your children can afford to be
cynical about themselves because
they don't know how superior they
are to most of their fellowmen. They
believe in the obvious because
they've found it good. When yol
see people deliberately clinging to {
belief in distractions they dom
know anything about, you can be
pretty sure they need to do it, be
cause everything they do know abou
is unsatisfactory"
"How cheering you are!" ex
claimed Spratt.
Elizabeth was looking up at Kess
Ter. She asked,
'Mr. Kessler, have you and I evel
met before?"
He started. For a moment h.
looked down. She looked down will
him, and saw his hand tighten on hi
cane. She was to learn that he die
this often, making an unconscious
gesture toward his physical mean
of support when his spirit felt un
defended.