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

as MAD as nell Tor the lew mill
utes after she turned away from
the window. Rescue him, that
great galoot? Save him from the
internal little prancing nymph"
A fat lot of rescuing Todd McKin-
non would ever need!
Georgine turned down the street
toward the center of the village.
She swung along at fast clip, her
temper giving off almost palpable
sparks.
Might as well patronize the fam
ily's business enterprises; the gold
letters on the window read, Burn
ham-Tillsit." Georgine paused a
moment at the door, her bad tenn
per forgotten in a nostalgia de-
light. On either side was a glass
globe filled with colored water, one
green, one purple; in this age as
rare a sight as a cigar-store In
dian. The interior of the shop was
period" too; no soda fountain,
no toys or flashlights or maya
zines; it was that almost forgotten
establishment, a real pharmacy.
A dark-haired young man in
white coat was at wall telephone
in the rear, and she waited for his
conversation to finish, looking
about in pleasure.
She turned slowly to look be-
hind the old mahogany counter
on her right, and met her own gaze
in a mirror. 1t gave her a slight
shock. Dear me, Georgine thought,
I'm really looking very healthy
this spring; I've gained a little
weight; must be love.
Love, she thought, and began
to spark with fury again; but this
time there was laughter mixed
with it.
T. dark young man finished his
telephoning, with a promise to
bring something or other over just
the minute Horace got in, yes,
Ma'am; and slammed up the re-
ceiver. He kept glancing at the
telephone as he waited on her, and
was so distract as to get down the
wrong brand of toothpaste twice
before he hit on the correct one.
Georgine could identify the
young man: Virdette Bacon's
brother-in-law, the one who was
twins any time this
week.
The door from the prescription
room was flung open, and Horace
Tillsit came in briskly. He was but
toning a white coat of his own;
though so much more fully clothed
than when she'd seen him in the
hall, he was at once recognizable.
ANY news, Mart?" he said, grin
ming. mot yet? Oh, well, it's al
ways slow the first-don't hit me!
80 on, get out of here and stay at
he hospital. Go on, you don't need
1 hat"
AS he talked, he had been push
ng Martin Kinter toward the door.
The prospective father Wobbled
olindly out. Horace turned around,
net Georgine's eyes, and burst
nto laughter. He had Mary Helen's
,ray eyes behind spectacles which
nagnified them to a startling size,
md the blond hair which had been
,oyishly tousled when Georgine
irst saw him now was sleeked back
With water. There was a notable
onf1dence in him.
His gaze took Georgine in frank
Y, and he seemed approving nearly
0 the point of boldness. Excuse
he furry" he said with another
mile; this one was more accus-
omed, h heartily professional.
We've been having a sort of crisis
ere" He spoke rapidly, and the
reathy softness of his voice made
eorgine wish, half irritably, that
ed put some tone into it.
81 know about it," she muir
lured, picking up her parcel.
Expect you do" said Horace
illsit. THAT is, if you are the lady
the hall-Nelps guest? There
'en't many secrets in this town."
She turned to go, and he took a
ep toward her. do wait, Mrs. t
7yeth. Did Martin manage to wait y
VOL proDer]v?"
ooh, yes, indeed" She turned S
,ck irresolutely. t
"Well-could | say for myself
at I'm sorry not to've been home S
r the past few days? You can see r
ny. Here Nell has visitors--one t
the most charming guests she's
er had, if may say so-and the a
ly introduction | get is kind of t
embarrassing one in the up il
airs hall. Well, is that fair?"
1--WE did rather wonder where S
r = fellow-lodger was, all this S
No." t
working" Horace said. Keep il
g store, anyway. We have our le
siness in spells, there'll be dull e
OF and then a crowd-but some a
dys got to be here!" He had a
aneuvered her toward a high a
,ged chair and she sat down, in I"
rdly amused. Anything for COM S
ny in one of those dull spots, she e.
ought.
Ieorgine looked up quickly. ly
race gave her his bright smile. m
Ire," he said. "Old Susie Labare al