Hungry Horse news and Columbian. [volume] (Columbia Falls, Mont.) 1946-1948, 1947-07-25
W. N.U. SERVICE

be a good plan; there are those Nv
] bedrooms upstairs if you count tn
little sewing room-but | rathe
! gave up the plan when the high
5 way was cut off, and then after
I ward Mary Helen and Horace
wanted to come and live here, 81
it seemed best to keep it in the
family. But they're not here much
Horace is part owner of our drug.
store, and his hours are very pecu.
liar, and he's like as not to be SC
keyed up after work that he'll
thumb a ride to Vallejo or some
town that's wide open all night for
the shipyard people, and not get
home until after breakfast. And
Mary Helen has friends II they
only stayed all the time, if I could
count on them-but to be here
alone -. :"
Todd had said nothing but stood
looking at her with his peculiar
air of attention. Now, as he slid the
doors apart, he glanced once more
about the sitting room, whose ap-
palling furniture seemed to start
out and then retreat from the can
delight. Georgine saw him shake
his head almost imperceptibly. She
thought, It's almost rs if he knew
that Mrs. Peabody was afraid of
something definite instead of just
plain being scared the way I am,
alone in the dark.
"Still dead to the world" he
said, laying gentle hand on Bar
by's cheek.
Mrs. Peabody switched on a
lamp, shaded with a huge globe of
painted glass. TT seems almost
dangerous to take her out in the
night air, after she's been warm
under that afghan" she said quiet
ly. II don't suppose you'd con-
sent to stay overnight"
Georgine felt as if she'd seen
this coming, long way back; as if
something had been settled, hours
age, without reference to any of
the three adults who now stood
looking at each other before the
dim cavern of the dining room.
Even as the words of refusal
shaped themselves in her mind, !
she could hear how futile, how l
petty they would sound. I,
ITS almost as if you were in
the family" Mrs. Peabody was
saying, with that attractive smile.
"And I'd like to see little more of
you. I'd be $3.50 grateful if
you'd stay.
Georgine thought queerly, They
ire all against me: Mrs. Peabody
md Barby-it was true that sud-
len changes in temperature some !
lines brought back remnants Of
3arby's asthma, which she had
,attled for so manyeyears-and
Todd. Todd wanted to stay, she
new with sixth sense, and his
uiet face confirmed it when she |
'hnced at him. There was nothing |
0 set up against the three except |
er own selfish wishes. [
Mrs. Peabody mustn't go to the [
East trouble, she heard herself [
aging weakly. She must be al [
WED to help her hostess with the 1
ishes, and to make up the beds i.
'r the three of them. Well, no Bar
y wasn't used to sleeping with Z
nyone, but for one night-oh, if .
lere was a cot which could be set n
p without too much fuss, that 4
ould be perfect. X
She felt Todd's eyes, amused u
i'd loving, resting on her during n
lis highly feminine conversation. 4
luckily, he was one of those men x
no like women to be themselves. u
ne grinned at him now, mutely n
,ologizing for all this futter, and \
ked if, after he'd put the car Y
way in that shed at the rear, he'd u
ay with Barby and wake her by n
ntle degrees. TX
Don't be surprised if you find Y
me dust upstairs" said Nella + u
'abody cheerfully, climbing the n
airing flight with one hand on X
rail. II don't get up more than Y
&c or twice day, on doctors or u
rs. Luckily, there was a maids 4
ON downstairs, with a lavatory X
tached, that could take for my v
n after-after my husband went q
war" She said the last words 4
ickly. resolute1y. It was her first X
.ntion Of her own circumstances, v
orgine realized with some sur q
lse. "Oh, by the way" Mrs. Pea 4
dy went on, stopping few steps Y
I'M the top, "are you by any -
ance afraid Of rats?"
YES" said Georgine in horri-
4 whisper. &
"Oh, please don't look like that, s
never see them. They never N
We the attic. l promise you. No M
dy's ever seen them up there, as u
happens, nor even caught one in r
trap though not for want Of 81
ing. just wanted to warn you
might hear them; at least,
IT'S what the children say makes ~
pattering and rustling noises III
stairs. They don't mind in the ||
st, they tell me-" ~
Then l mustn't either" said II
orgine grimly. They crossed a W
ldowy upper hall, wide with the M