Hungry Horse news and Columbian. [volume] (Columbia Falls, Mont.) 1946-1948, 1947-08-08

= the mysterious death.
: along until the place burned dow
last year."
III ere's To-day" Bar b
screamed excitedly. "He and Nam
ma are going to get married, Vir
dette. Then he'll be my stepfather
He can play the mouth-organ bet
tern anybody you ever heard"
| Virdette accorded him, after
this recommendation, far more in
terest than she had given Georg.
inc. Barby displayed her fanily's
and her acquaintance talents
with scrupulous fairness. Say lit
tie BOTTLE Toddy," she command
ed.
Lille bo'le," said Todd oblig-
ingly.
"See? He can't say those is at
| all. Now tell her why you aren't in
the army"
"Barby!" said Georgine sharply.
Il mean one of the funny ones,
Mamma. He's told me about twen-
ty times, and it's never the same.
Why aren't you, Toddy?"
Still amiable, Teddy complied.
"You see, Miss Bacon, I have an
upslde-doWn stomach. It doesn't
bother me at all, but the officers
couldn't get used to seeing me
stand on my head to eat. They said
it upset discipline"
Virdette looked at him for a
moment, and then giggled wildly.
"See?" Barby re m arked
proudly. IT told you he was
funny. Now, Virdette, you show
us where everything was in your
house, just like you were telling
me-"
This here" said Virdette,
shooting the yo-yo in a graceful
curve toward the north, was our
front parlor, with the dinin'-room
right in back, and the kitchen
back O that. Here, where we're
standing, was the parlor that we
hardly ever used. The piano was in
here, though, and boy, did l see
plenty of this ole room! Was glad
when the house burned down, it
burned all my good clothes, but
it got the piano, too, and I didn't
have to practice any more"
did they keep you at it?" Todd
asked gravely, seating himself be-
side Georgine on the cement of the
ruined foundation.
"Pll say. They we're going to
make one of these child prodgidies
)ut OF me, see, because | remember
:hings. The music teacher at
school, she got all excited when she
ound out l could play a piece once
md then not forget it, so she told
Nom ought to have special train
n.y."
but when your piano burned
,ou had to give up the idea?"
seorgine inquired.
mo, it was some before that.
hey decided I was too old. I was
line then, so I couldn't ever be a
cal prodgidy."
Barby felt this to be very I'M
rofitable. Listen, Virdette, show
ne where the things were in the
itchen. Was that chimney for a
replace, Virdette, or the kitchen
tove? What was out back there"
Jaw, just a garden. There's
ONE hyacinths and narcissus and
tuff in bloom right now"
Lets go see," Barby said, drag
ing her off.
"Get ready to come in pretty
DON, darling" Georgine called
fter her. "And if you tear your
ew coat, or get it dirty, something
cry unpleasant will happen. That
lear?"
Honest I'll be careful, Mann
la," said Barby, recognizing the
dice that meant business.
Keep an eye on them, will you,
odd? l want to help Mrs. Peabody
lear up, and then we really must
e getting away"
"Wait a minute" Todd said
ghtly. "She wants to be alone for ',
while, she told me; and I'd like "
D talk something over with YOU" -
Georgine resumed her perch. ',
you bet l know it al y
aady?" she said, grinning at him. "
You want to stay up here and &
Grape up some grist for the mill"
mot far off" said Todd imper- 4
lrably. =
"Well, why not? Barby and l I
an go home on the bus; that suit
ase isn't bit heavy" ii
Il don't want you to do that" O.
mo-" Todd said mildly, 81 don't fl
ant to stay without YOU" a
She looked round at him quickly.
will you stay, Georgine, you p
I'd Barby? You know what I've "
zen thinking? l wondered if we fl
admit made mistake, putting off k
If marriage even this long" Ct
But, Todd, we had to. There al
I'D to be a few weeks to get Barby v,
'ed to the idea of a stepfather, hi
I'd then you were called north to a:
executor for your brothers es- tr
tie, and since you've been back
, need to tell you about the D
,using situation?" II
That's it. Mrs. Peabody and her ID
llbert waited all those years for
of over their heads, and missed nj
r too much of each other. Maybe M
,'No hoor, a liIIn too no.4;e.,l =