Hungry Horse news and Columbian. [volume] (Columbia Falls, Mont.) 1946-1948, 1947-09-12

of the bed"
Dear me-" said Georgine. lie
me get this straight. Nella Pea
body used to make almond paste
and you think Gilbert smuggle'
some of it in to Miss Tillsit in tn
morning?"
"Uh-huh. Aunt Adeline liked it
Anyway, there was this piece; half
eaten. The fact that there WASH
a trace of luninal in it needn'
have meant that-well, there coult
have been other pieces in tn
batch"
"Inconclusive, you said. l thinl
that's the word, and it makes mt
wonder why your mind, or any
ones, should have leapt to Gilbert
I still can't see that, or imagine
him going on for years, seemingly
fond of his aunt, and then sudden.
ly breaking all at once and com.
uniting a crime"
"I wonder if it seemed like g
crime to him." said Horace, once
more Juggling with the small por.
celain pot. IT wonder. Times, you
can convince yourself that if a
things expedient, and you have
the materials at hand :. You see
there was Serena"
"Who's she?" she asked after a
moment. Her lower lip folded over
the upper, and her brows drew to-
gether.
"Who was she, you mean. II
guess it's not my place to say any
thing about that. There may not
have been anything in it, and if
ever a thing could have been con-
doned-no, you'd better ask some
one else"
"Ask whom? Nella?"
"That's an idea" Horace smiled
at her again. you've been getting
Just bare facts from her, haven't
you? That's all she'll give you on
this; and that might be as well,
then anything you may think
would be all in your own mind.
Anyone else might-color it for
you, and-as l said-nobody could
be sure"
"Georgine," said Todd's voice
from the sitting room. She stopped
in the hall and gave him a bright,
injurious glance. eyes, dear?" she
said.
do come in a moment, won't
you? Dear Georgine, owe you an
AFFECT apology" He drew her in
and closed the door. did you make
anything of what 1 was trying to
convey through the window? I'm
forgivable of me, asking for a res
cue party and then discovering l
couldn't afford to be-"
Todd leaned a shoulder against
the golden-oak mantel, and seemed
to be rejecting. The silence per-
sisted; and after a moment he
yielded visibly to temptation.
To Georgine's incredulous joy he
said, "Well, I've often wondered
myself. What do your"
She looked down at the hand
bag. 81 told him-and it's true, OF
course-that a widow with child
has a terrible time finding someone
to support her, and if someone
comes along who doesn't seem to
mind -"
Todd Strengthened, and put his
hands in his pockets. His eyes were
almost colorless in their hardness,
and there was not a trace of ex-
preston in his face. $50 that's it,"
he said quietly, heavily. Funny
way to find out, isn't it? But I'd
better know now than go on hop
ing" He walked past her toward
the door, so quickly that she felt
whiff of breeze as he passed.
Georgine's lips parted slowly,
and her eyelids stretched. He could
not have taken that seriously? Not
Todd, who ought to know -. She
swung round, in actual panic, and
began, todd! You don't-Oh"
Mr.. McKinnon had executed a
leat thanking attack, and had taxi
N her, by no means gently in his
rms. A moment later he said,
With some grimness, 81 hope thatH
ure you of lying to infatuated
'oung men,"
She leaned back against his
lands. When she got breath
nough to speak, she sounded al
1ost angry. 81 didn't tell him that,
e's not infatuated, and-if I'd
old him the truth it would have
urned his ears off. No, you wolf,
hats plenty. Do you want Barby
. turn up in church with a shot
un?"
"That's something I'd give a lot
, see," said Todd equally, and
ghtened his grasp.
Nella Peabody was in the kitch-
4. She was in the very first stages
some cooking project, getting
1t eggs and gelatin from cup
oard.
The cool north light fell through.
ngham curtains onto the yellow
liking bowls, and on Nella's face
ending over them. She was hum
ing an airy little tune, she
emed much as usual, yet Georg-
e wondered if there wasn't some
ing closed and secret about her
preston.
Here" Georgine said, "please