Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1946-09-27


a breezy exchange of pleasantries,
while Megan settled herself,
brought her thimble out of her peck
ct, threaded her needle, and set to
work.
There were perhaps dozen wom-
en- about the big frame, which was
opened to its fullest width, the width
and length of a double bed. Megan
talked lightly and carelessly to her
neighbor, the pretty little Whitaker
girl whose sweetheart had just been
reported injured in action in Italy
and who was grateful for the chance
to talk about him.
Suddenly Megan heard the name,
'fessor Fallon" and looked up.
Alicia Stevenson was watching her
shrewdly, little knowing look in her
small, dark eyes that made Megan
oddly and absurdly uneasy.
Mrs. Burns, who was president Of
the Parent-Teachers' association Of
the local school, was saying, II think
we're lucky to get man like Pro-
lessor Fallon here. The school
board says his qualifications are ex-
cellent and his references are ex-
tremely goodl"
Mrs. Stuart bit off a thread and
patted her last stitches into place
before threading the needle afresh.
sort of makes me wonder how
come we could get man like 'fes-
sor Tom, in little bitty place like
this" she said, as she moistened the
tip of the thread and squinted at
the eye of the needle, trying to in
sert one through the other. II don't
reckin it's anything agn the man,
though, if he wants to live in little
country town"
'Maybe Megan could tell us more
about that" said Alicia silkily.
"About WHAT" asked Megan,
cravenly pretending not to under
stand.
"Why man like Tom Fallon
would be satisfied in a little hick
town like Pleasant Grove" said
Alicia, smiling. "After all, you
know him so much better than any
of the rest of US
II sell him milk and butter and
eggs, yes" Megan told her CURLY.
"I'd hardly say that made us old
friends, though"
"But thought during some of
those long hours you've spent to-
gether on the Ridge, he might have
told you something of himself"
suggested Alicia, limpid-eyed, her
voice soft as satin.
There was startled gasp about
the quilting frame, perhaps not so
ment that made Megan know they
were all staring at her, startled,
Notwithstanding.
Megan drew long breath. Just
what do you mean by that?" she
asked Alicia sharply.
Alicia's eyes were wide with sur
prise, but there was a trace of
malice in their depths also.
"But, darling" she protested, her
voice artifcially gay and sweet,
what could I possibly mean except
that I've seen you and the gallant
professor on the Ridge"
"Once, quite by accident, when l
was out for a walk" Megan be-
gan, but Alicia interrupted her with
pretty concern and an apology that
was worse than the most open accu-
sation.
"Of course, I'm terribly sorry"
"Alicia interrupted. please don't
say any more. l never dreamed
I mean I wouldn't have mentioned
it for the world" She was pref
tily confused, and Megan could feel
the hint of tension, of curiosity, that
crept about the room.
The women who had been her
friends and neighbors all her life
looked at her and then quickly
away, very carefully not meeting
her eyes, trying not to meet each
others eyes, deliberately pretending
to be very casual.
"This is ridiculous!" said Megan
holly. you're trying to make peo-
pie believe that I've been-sneak-
ing off to meet Mr.. Fallon-"
"Why, darling!" protested Alicia,
wide-eyed, hurt, though secretly en-
joying, as she always did, this by no
means unusual result of her mali
cious dropping of bits of informa-
ton here and there. II didn't say
anything of the kind. All I said was
that it was obvious that you knew
the man better than any of the rest
of US, and that you should therefore
know better than we why he was
Willing to hide-I mean tn b,,rv him
self in a little hick town like Pleas
ant Grove"
Mrs. Stuart eyed Alicia belliger-
emily.