Hungry Horse news and Columbian. [volume] (Columbia Falls, Mont.) 1946-1948, 1947-09-19

nut, so carved and medallioned anC
knobbed that the eye could scarce
ly take it in.
"That was Miss Adeline's," sale
Nella, seating herself on a rickety
chair. THAT 's-one of the things
I'd like to sell, if I hear from Gil.
bert that I'm to do so. It's solic
walnut, and I'm told the carving is
very good. The Tillsits had il
shipped around the Horn from
New England"
'It's beautiful, once you get over
the first shock. And is that" said
Georgine, gesturing with awe al
another piece of furniture, lis that
to be sold, too?"
What would you call it, she Won
dered, a bureau? There was not
much drawer space at the foot OF
this tower of mirror and carved
shelves. A vanity? Scarcely, with
all those side shelves, fretted and
carved and pilastered, soaring to
the skies. A whatnot? 1t was prob
ably combination of all three,
and the most stupendous piece OF
furniture she had ever seen.
eyes; that's to be sold. have to
clean it out again before show it
to dealer, though" Nella's sweet
heart-shaped face was alight with
interest. my dear, you never saw
such rubbish as Miss Adeline had
put away in all those drawers and
hidy-holes. Patent medicines, in
the cupboards that would lock-"
Barby gravely exhibited a pile
of clothing, hats and mantles and
trailing skirts. I'm going to try
'em all on, one after the other -
she said, with a loving look at the
jet and passementerie, and faded
purple silks shirred into tight
punches and smelling of years and
storage. "And there's trunks and
trunks full, yeti"
She dived into the depths of the
round-topped trunk with the Co
dey print pasted inside the lid.
"Lookit the funny shoes, Mamma;
they're pointed just like needles!
And lookit, what's this?"
Georgine gave a loud scream.
"Put it down, Barby! Oh, heavens,
it's dead rat! Don't touch it,"
"Why not" Barby turned, look
ing puzzled; the horrid hairy OBJ
ject dangled from her appraised
hand.
Georgine swallowed, repenting.
IT don't know, dear; I have no idea
what it is. Ask Mrs. Peabody"
She glanced at Nella, and was
startled at the fixed look in the
gray eyes. Mrs. Peabody sat down
again on a three cornered chair of
dull yellow plush, and grasped at
it's worn arms.
It'd forgotten that was there"
she said, wetting her lips. IT did
put away few of Gilbert's things
in the bottom of the trunk. It's
it's his toupee."
Georgine was attacked by de-
sire to laugh. Poor Nella needn't
look so embarrassed! Lots of the
best people wear Them" she said
soothingly. Look at Fred Astaire,
and Boyer"
ooh, I know! But-everyone
laughed at Gilbert so, and he had
to wear it to look well, bald
headed artist seems SO silly. HeI
didn't need it in-in the army, of
course -. Why couldn't they have
left him alone, here?" said Nella
Everyone, from
Aunt Adeline down, making fun
of him and"
Georgine caught her breath au-
dibly. She sank down on one of the
trunks and sat gazing at Nella. The
gray eyes, wide and piteous, re-
turned her look.
Take that thing off your head.
Be yourself
That had seemed the one bit of
evidence that was totally meaning
ess, that had nothing to do with
Gilbert Peabody. And now ..
Hadn't Nella remembered this,
when for the first time she heard
Susan repeat that cryptic SEN
ence? Didn't she make the con-
lection now? 1t wasn't possible
hat she had deliberately led Barby
o open that trunk, and show the
lbsurd bundle of gauze and hair to
Ter mother-so that Georgine
hould know
But that would mean that Nella
lad all along been convinced of her
guilt, and had wanted to
-ather the evidence against him
what? Did she want to
elieve him guilty or innocent?
And still Nella Peabody sat
here, looking totally unconscious
hat she'd made damaging state
lent; looking only troubled be-
ause, two years ago, her husband
ad been discounted by laughter.
Once more she gave her head a
ard shake, to clear it. Warmth,
Imprisoned in the sun-baked old
cards, seemed to be creeping
ound her until she was almost
lffocated. She made her voice
ome out steadily, there was
LARGELY a pause between Nella's
st remark and her answer. "That
GEMS awfully petty, don't you
link? Well, let's 60 down now;
arby's used to playing by her.
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