Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1948-12-24

Under the edge of his plate he
tucked a generous tip and pushed
his chair back from the table. Care
fully he put on his coat and hat
and sauntered to the cashiers coun-
ter. He paid his check and casually
selected good cigar from the wide
assortment of boxes. After pausing
to light it he strolled out of the
restaurant Outside, he made his
way quickly to his battered, pre-
war coupe.
On the way home he reflected
about the meal he had just finished.
Emma, his wife, wouldn't approve
Of such extravaganza. But it had
been worth it. He hadn't known that
food could be so good. That steak
had been broiled until it was medi-
um well done, the way he liked it.
The snowy white mashed potatoes
topped with a delicious, rich gravy
tasted even better than it had
looked. And such service!
Business had kept him in town
several hours past his usual quit
ting time. He had phoned Emma
to say that he would be late and
would grab bite to eat on the way
home. He knew how she hated to go
to any trouble to fix him a snack
whenever he had to work late at
the office.
He turned his car into the drive
that led to his small, unpretentious
home. AS he locked the garage he
noticed bright light upstairs in the
bedroom. Walter shrugged his Shout
ders disgustedly. "She's painting
again." he said, half out loud why
doesn't she have a good hobby, like
reading detective stories?" He was
an avid reader of such literature
himself. Emma had taken up oil
painting almost a year ago, much
to Walters contempt She consid-
cred herself quite talented and doz-
ems of hideous pictures were dis
played throughout the house. More
than half of the bedroom had been
converted into her studio" as En-
ma fondly called it. Most of the
time it was cluttered with half fin
ished paintings, easels, brushes and
cans Of paint.
Wa1ter apterod tho bo,,co opJ ,,,opt
,,ns+.;r. :. u,o,,1d ha 800 "a ~ ~" ~
Lpou, ;r,r,ed;ata,r 80 10 was
bon,a
''o E , -
1891 ~, Lsfouo - ~
Toorn "Haven,t ao+ .nvthina for
W., to at !" Oh. So 80. h,,e tS 5,rh ~
mo .wsS ~ c.nv,s h.r h.ir
-,,n,nIad and har co. .-1rdaod i
."Tbst,s al, r;aht Ernr.S ~.
nliad WsIter az stonnad in a. the
Rega1 restarr.n+ .fter u,ori, -
HWbat, Tha ReasI rast.,,r,,.,n
cr;ad Fr,n. ..W.itar p,,+.on wo,,
kno,y good and ue1l u,a c.n;t ~.
ford s,7ch fancv n1.ces,,,
"1t was a verv aood meal En-
M, =" .nswered wa1ter h;s vo;ca
vel nd ,ou,
~ don't do,,bt II m. rtt,o h;tn
hi. u,;fa e.;d ,,,;t,, ~, ,,,,,,h sorooe,,
IN hsr +ona as nossih1a CO. ~
LIND ~ nricee tbev ch.rg. Tho food
sho,,1d he A. for y 1.-Two :" Sbe t,,rned
b.ck IN har uorl MI, 1r;r,.oa
walter stenned ov.r . 1i++ia nioser
en- be Gould see What che VIZ. ns;nt.
inc No st,,d;ed i ;,tant,w for COW
orsl seconde Tba, bic go IL ~
"Tb,t's , n;ctrre ~ r.;nhou, ;en,t
~" =
"R,;nbowrn FINN, sbriolod
.eTb.t iuet ebous how, r,,,nb vo,,
know about art ), W.1ter sbifted bic
feet ,neasilv
"Weu what &c II IL i+,s MT
r,;nhowo" he cautio,s1v ino,,ired
OPS an abstract naintino ssid
Emma "though If course vo,,
,,,ouldn,t understand that T. repra
sent, a elice NJ bacon fry;no in
NV" waltz IooLed a. ~ e;otrra
ae,;, and nuttered com ath;pa m
de- bic bre.th "Wh.t did vo,, s,vo"
ssted Fmm. .,,sn;o;o,,s,,,
az ;,,st s.iJ It'll ri ~ do,,,
st,;rs and re.d amhil. - 81. 81 WI
tar
u;s .,;fo s,;ead oo,+or,n.,,o,,.,,,
..Tho.o siI1, da.eoti,o etorios,"
Waller gsve M ind;cstion th.+ h.
he.rd her Ias. st.tanant ~ ,,ont
douns+.irs .nd n;oLad n,,t 80