Indianapolis Times, Volume 48, Number 55, Indianapolis, Marion County, 14 May 1936 — Page 25

MAY H 1936.

Today's Short Storyr MARCH THAW By Morie de Nervand

T> ABS RAWLINS left the circle of heat about the airtight stove, and crossed to the front window of the rough' room that she had so painstakingly schooled Ted to call the “living room.” She shivered as she peered through the slanting downpour outside. Rain, rain, rain! Would it never stop? She tried to picture the timbered ridges and distant peaks that lay behind that dismal gray curtain, but it brought cold comfort. With a rebellious shudder, Babs turned back to the warmth of the stove. She spread her fingers over it to take out the chill that even those few minutes at the window had brought, and her blue eyes hardened with the brooding thoughts behind them. If there were any sense in undergoing thus hardship, that would be one thing! But it was pure stubbornness on Ted’s part to insist on sticking it out. Babs’ mind flashed back to the angry argument they had yesterday, when he had said that he was going off to the upper range for two days. He’d be willing to leave her, to chase around in the mud after cattle that probably weren’t bogged down, anyway! He’d be comfortable, all right, in that little shack of his up there! Glad to be alone and rid of her for a night! tt tt tt ”\TO, I’m not being unreasonable!” Babs’ inner sense of justice goaded her to a defensive soliloquy. “It’s Ted who’s unreasonable. He has no right to ask me to stay here, when we could hire a man to look after things in the winter. Ted could pick up something to do in Omaha and, even if he couldn’t, I can always get my old job back for a few months and make enough to pay for it." Babs’ lips quivered, at the memory of Ted’s reaction to that suggestion. She could see him standing there in the doorway, practically filling it with his broad shoulders and towering height. His gray eyes had been hurt and angry, and his voice had had a tone she had never hear before as he said, ‘‘lf youd rather have Omaha and your job than me and the range, that’s up to you!” If he’d only left it at that, it would have been easier to think straight. But he hadn’t. A minute later he’d been back, crushing heito him and kissing her with the abandon that had swept her off her feet six months ago. Then, he had gone once more, this time for good. For a long moment Babs stared before her with unseeing eyes. She was hearihg again the dire predictions of her family and friends over her whirlwind romance and marriage to Ted. tt tt tt HAD they been right? She’d been so sure that life in the wilds of Wyoming —life anywhere with Ted, would be perfect. She brought her eyes to focus ronsciously on the ‘‘living room.” How Ted had teased her about the •frills and furbelows” which she had substituted for its masculine austerity! Oh. Ted loved her! There wasn't any doubt of that. And she loved him! But she mustn’t let that blind her to the fact that this was a turning point in their lives. It had to be met with intelligence, not just sentiment. Now was the time to strike! It seemed silly in a way not to go through with the winter when she’d stuck it out so long. But, on the other hand, if she couldn’t make Ted see reason the first year they were married, she’d never be able to. With excited flush in her cheeks, Babs darted over to the desk and started feverishly to write. Released by her deep conviction that she was taking the right course, the words poured out. When finally she leaned back to read the letter she meant to leave behind her, Babs felt she had done a good Job. She hadn’t let any bitterness creep in. She’d presented the case calmly and reasonably. The arguments were unanswerable. By going back to Omaha for the worst of the winter, she and Ted wouid not only be spared the dreariness of these ghastly months, but they would be giving a job to some puncher who needed it. tt u m WITH a breathless little laugh, Babs seized the pen, and added a postscript, a rich color surging into her cheeks. That would bring Ted in post haste after her! Hes resolve once taken, Babs became a dynamo of energy. She’d leave everything ready so Ted could start the first thing in the morning. They’d send a puncher back with the buckboard from the Junction, to take charge, then catch the afternoon limited. By noon the cabin was shining and immaculate. Ted’s supper was laid out 60 that he could heat it with a minimum of trouble. The letter was propped against the clock, where he’d see it as soon as he came in. It was desperate business getting the horses harnessed to the buckboard, but at last she was started down the road. The horses picked their way with pbvious reluctance and it was ter-

rifying the way the wheels sank into the thick, yellow mud, but Babs pushed on. Shivering under the cold pelting rain against her poncho, she guided the team as best she could, her eyes straining through the gray void ahead. A distant pulsing sound made her pull up in dismay. That couldn’t be a car! Nobody’d be mad enough to try to make this road in a car, during the March thaw! Even while Babs told herself that it wouldn’t be a car, her ear assured her that it was. Through the rain she finally made out a black mass blocking the road completely as it jerked slowly forward. * tt tt Tj'VIDENTLY, she had become •*-' visible at the same moment. With a fitful snort, it stopped. A boy sprang out and came running up the road. 'Gosh, what are you doin’ here?” he demanded. ‘‘We never thought any one would be loco enough to take a team out in this weather!” "I never thought any one would be loco enough to take out a car.” Babs countered. In spite of the desperate predicament, it was all she could do to keep from laughing at the boy’s fierce expression. He couldn’t be more than 12, she decided. His brown eyes were both despairing and accusing as he said: “You’ve spoiled everything Mums can never walk all this way!” ‘‘Your mother isn’t sick, is she?” Babs gasped. She twisted the reins about the whip and jumped down, with the feeling that horror was piling on horror. Her fears were partially relieved by the appearance of a woman who stepped out of the car to meet her. She was frail looking, but the quick energy with which she tori- in the situation was reassuring I “No use crying over spilt milk,” she said. “We could have made the grade if we hadn’t had to stop, but we can never start up now. You’ll have to unharness and lead the horses back to wherever you came from.” “I can’t go back!” Babs burst out in angry rebellion. “What ever possessed you to bring a car up this road?” tt tt tt “TT was pretty crazy,” the woman admitted, “but I reckon we’re two of a kind. I had to get to my husband.” “Oh—” Babs swallowed hard. “Is he sick?” “No; I just couldn’t stand being away any longer.” The woman looked quickly from Babs’ flushed face to the bags under the seat of the buckboard, and back again. “Reckon you must be Ted Rawlins’ wife,” she said. “Where’s Ted?” “He’s coming down tomorrow. We’re going to Omaha for a month.” A note of defiance crept into Babs’ voice at the unspoken criticism in the keen gray eyes fixed on her. “Ted leaving the range now!” the other ejaculated, “i don’t believe it!” “Why shouldn’t he?” A feeling she couldn’t analyze stung Babs to justify herself. “We can afford to hire someone to take his place until he gets back.” “Hire someone!” Babs flinched before the tone. She felt a guilty relief to have the accusing eyes shift to the boy behind her. “Go up and hold those horses for the lady, Jack,” his mother ordered. She waited until he was out of hearing, then turned back to Babs. . “It’s none of my business,” she said in a crisp, staccato voice, “but I'm going to have my say, anyway. I'm Hilda Sawyer. Our ranch is five miles beyond yours. I had an operation last fall, and the doctors made me stay in town with my folks.” tt tt tt NOW that I’m better, I couldn’t stand the thought of John struggling all alone through the worst season of the whole year. Hire somebody! Do you suppose any hired man is going to fight for the lives of those poor bogged down beasts, while the boss is off enjoying himself? No cattleman who's worth his salt would leave his herds to hired help at this time! “Jack and I decided we’d take the car as far as we could, and then walk, when it stalled. And we’re blocked because you’re running away!” She paused, then added, “We all said Ted should never have married a city girl." Babs’ anger shriveled under the scorn of those blazing eyes. In a blinding flash her act stood out in clear perspective. All her befuddled self-pity fell away, and she saw herself as this woman saw her; as Ted would see her, when he read that letter. Hilda Sawyer watched with eagle eyes, the changing expression of Babs’ mobile face. “We must unharness the horses and take turns riding back,” Babs’ voice broke the silence at last. “You and Jack must spend the night with us. Tomorrow Ted will get you to your ranch.” The older woman leaned forward and kissed her. “I take it back.” she said gently. “Ted knew what he was doing after all.” THE END. \

OUR-BOARDING HOUSE

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FP.ECKLES AND HIS FRIENDS—

rsyWESTER WHATGIVEsII 1 THE COW I LEFT T WAS ONE THAT ( jl THE COIN I LEFT, -LiTCI TTp/ X ~ ~. „ YOU THE IDEA THAT YOU' ft OM THE COUNTER, 1 MYGRAWDEATHEP \ WAS RATED 1878 ....IF \ W'U- A I . CAM ESTABLISH AN ALIBI | TO PAY TOR THE I GAVE ME TOR IT WAS AMONG THE t\ YaJR , / COIW OF I THRU TWE IDEWTIFICA* ?/' MEDICINE I "TOOK, 1 A KEEPSAkE. IT / T ONES FOUND UNDER ’ff JL] How °R- J THAT L TION OF A COIN ? WAS A RARE COIN t J *AS THE ONLY \ THE FLOOR, IT SHOULD Pl v/i Mrlr* MONEY WE had J __ 7 PROVE MY tT VINTAGE

WASHINGTON TUBBS II

ft fat l\/S l \ / OW.HOI HE SHOT ' \C L \ \ J POWN LULU BELLE/ .1# t AND NOW ME'S TgVv V\ On IN6 TO GET ME. BUT L 'A J\V WHERE THE BLAZES

ALLEY OOP

WMV.THAT UNREELIN', LOW-DOWN SON.'/000, MY HEAD! / DINNY/ GOOD GOSH.' 7 DiDJA SEE WHAT HE WENT AN’ DONE?/ 1 WHERE AM I ? I LOOkIT 'IM -OHWh - / WITH OOP A LAYIN' THERE COLD.AN' J WHAT HAPPENED? DEAD, HE GRABBED TH'CROWN r\ OH, NOW I / „ u^

BOOTS AND HER BUDDIES

HEQE’HERE'.MN WORO'M VOHY SOOTB ANO 1 OTC\OtO TO 1 SURE £ VOVAHT’6 THE. J D/O SOME TOQTLME HOMWM6 | DO YOG TVWMU 19

TARZAN AND THE LEOPARD MEN

If Tarzan had been a creature of impulse he would have seized Sobito then and there and compelled him, by threats of death, to tell what he knew of the Clawed Killer. But the Jungle Lord was not sure the wily old rascal knew anything. He might be bluffing.

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

Tarzan’s jungle sovereignty depended on justice as well as firmness. He could ria't no errors, particularly among these people win credited him with supernatural powers. After all Sobito was a man; and the luckless Nyunwegi had been struck down by a clawed beast.

With Major Hoople

OUT OUR WAY

f / WERE-WHACK \ / OM, NO ~ VOL) WIT \ | / HINA A COUPLE OF \ [ HIM, YOURSELF-1 \ TIME'S - I CAN'T YH CANT BE BRUTAL TO \ \ \ BEAR TO HIT MIKA- ANYTHING, LET ALONE \ W \. WE'LL BE LATEf /r V HIM- NO, I'D THINKOF/ A Jf§B^, by we* sewer, me. TM iR i Y YEARS TOO SOON , r , w u j

( f I'LL PEEP OVER ff SAY/ HE'S TOO PARK GOOD. HAS A RIPLE,^ C THIS ROCK AND-/ / AND ME WITH ONLY A PISTOL.THAT'S / Vs ( BAD. AND I CAN'T LEAVE THIS ROCK J ~T v WITHOUT EXPOSING MYSELF. THAT'S Jy V / CNI BY NEA SERVICE. INC. T. M, REC. U. S PAT, OFF. J

THAT WAS TH* AWFULEST fHEY, LOOK! THERE-'S \ (MY POOR T THING I EVER SAW.' WHAT TH'-?\ LOUR MISSING CORPSE/ ) V. DINNY/ / I'D LIKE To / <4 HEY, WHERE'S —V LAY ONE /THAT WAS ) OOP? HE'S JWg , A, J ON HIS ( PRETTY COLD l GONE' J ■fi^r.2 L '

' o ßy ioviE'oH.w so'OE'.'.v'feivottwfc{■r J but-we’oetound ' - AKiCWEa ° NE ~

Clawed beast? There was no beast at large In the village. Tarzan himself had seen the gates or the palisade closed and barred. Even now two well-armed warriors stood guard there. And that whole day he had heard the voice of neither lion, leopard, nor panther.

—By Edgar Rice Burroughs

He bent close to the body of Nyamwegi, seeking some clew to the killer, whatever it might be. Suddenly he noted the dead warrior’s clenched fist. It clutched a tuft of leopard's hair! Tarzan could hardly believe the evidence of his sense. It was incredible l

COMIC PAOS

—By Williams

—By Blosser

—By Crane

—By Hamlin

—By Martin