MOUNTAINEER

Published by the Students of Montane State University P ,NG' 1949 VOLUME 7, NUMBER 3 Home and

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SPRING 1949 Volume 7

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Editor-in-Chief...... -..Marjorie Boesen Fiction Editor ...... Joe Gionet Associates...... Jim McRandle, BobO ’Neil, Dave Perkins,, Anita Phillips, Agnes Regan Poetry E ditor...... BobO ’Ne il Associates...... Mary Fran Law, Dave Perkins, Agnes Regan Business Manager ...... Anita Phillips Assistants...... Shirley Hoiland, Dave Lindell, Grace McCarton, Jean Ann Pocta Circulation Manager...... Irene Stritch Staff...... Marcella Chezick, Pat Evans, Joan Gibson, Ann Lukens, Anne Moore, Donna Moran, Nanette Newport, Kathie O ’Neil, Jane Thomas. Faculty Advisor...... John Moore

CONTENTS A Home for the Conquering Heroes, by Patrick Connolly...... 1 Abigail, by Irene T u rli...... g The Cottonwood, by Larry K adlec...... j j Hace Prejudice: Mississippi and Montana, by Bill Rogers...... 12 Wait for Me, by A. E. Pederson...... 14 A s a Friend Betrays •. . , by Mary Fran Law...... lg How Much Rubet by Harry C. Nelson...... 19 The Adventures of Peter Rabbit, by G. Newton Buker...... 27 Poems, by David Perkins...... *. 0q The Seventh Post, by Reid Collins__ ___ 32 EVERYTHING IN HEATING Oil-Fired Air-Conditioning Units Coal-Fired Furnaces — Coal Stokers SALES SERVICE THRASHER HEATING SERVICE 612 So. Higgins Avenue PHONE 4376

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By PATRICK CONNOLLY

\A RS. BLUEBONNET lived on as the congregation. What was ***• a quiet, tree-lined street, a that young minister’s name who short distance from Fairwealth had defied her? Oh, a long time College. Since the death of her ago. He had wanted to introduce husband, she had lived comforta­ a new hymn into the service, but bly alone in the big house, spend­ when he, in his young baritone, ing long hours rocking in the began to sing, the congregation chair by the window, gazing in­ stood silently and nervously wait­ tently at the leaf-blown street. ing for Mrs. Bluebonnet’s trilling When someone passed, she soprano to lead them forward. would stiffen in the chair, stop Mrs. Bluebonnet, however, rocking, and then she would lean would not sing—her eyes said that forward until her nose touched only the old-loved hymns wiere the curtain. Her mind would proper. And as the brave new rumble with names, places, long- minister sang alone, the congrega­ past incidents, and she would mur­ tion shuffled awkwardly and mur to herself, “Now, where can knew that this young man would she be going ?” have a short stay in Fairwealth. If a stranger walked by, her Many ministers followed that nose would touch the window, and brave young man, until Reverend her mind would groan as it des- Cantrell, immediately upon ar­ \ perately attempted to attach this rival, became aware of Mrs. Blue­ stranger to a name, place, or scan­ b o n n e t’s entrenchments, acknowl­ dal. edged them, and settled down to a Every native of Fairwealth long stay in Fairwealth. knew Mrs. Bluebonnet, every child All through the long war, Mrs. was trained to say a pleasant Bluebonnet donated time and “hello” to that short, dumpy fig­ energy to the war effort. She ure, to that tight-lipped small face knitted prodigiously. Sock followed dominated by a wrinkled brow, sock, and her thoughts seldom horn-rimmed glasses, and dark strayed from the boys over there. brown hair that indecently ig­ She thought of them as clean-cut nored the wrinkles and the years. American boys, fighting bravely, Without knowing why, every­ dying silently for Christian ideals. one referred to her as a “dear old Her mind played with heroic bat­ lady” and a “pillar of the tles and brave deeds. She wished church.” Indeed, she did rule she had a son to send to foreign mightily over the minister as well shores. page 2 mountaineer

The war ended, and Reverend had suggested it, they replied in a Cantrell announced from the pul­ body, “Sorry, Mrs. Bluebonnet, j pit that every citizen should con­ but we have to be going.” tribute to the rehabilitation of the It was most upsetting. For returning soldiers. Many of them some reason they did not wish to , would attend college, and since be rehabilitated. But, in her own Pairwealth College could accom­ way, she grew to know them bet­ modate only a few hundred, and ter. After the boys left for school G.I. ’s would swell the usual enroll­ in the mornings, she would climb ment to an unheard-of number, it the stairs, clutching a dust mop— was the congregation’s duty to a legitimate excuse — and enter open their homes to these boys. their rooms. After a quick glance I Mrs. Bluebonnet was, at first, out of the window, she would read I reluctant to sacrifice the privacy their opened mail. of her home. But she considered Most of the letters were from I it carefully and realized that it relations, mothers and sisters, and | was her Christian duty to open as she read, her attitude changed. 1 her doors to the war-weary. The The letters consisted mostly of two upstairs rooms had been shut commonplace things and events, off for years. They were impos­ and the boys, in her mind, lost sible to heat, but she could clean their mystery. They were no long­ them, and the boys would be er strange after effects of the war, grateful for a place to lay their but were quite ordinary human heads. She would turn her house beings. into a home for the conquering Armed with this new knowl- i heroes. edge, she became bolder in her Three young men moved in. And approach. She told them that they in the weeks that followed, she often made too much noise in their felt uneasy as she watched them rooms, and she hinted that she did running in and out of the house, not approve of late hours. When throwing her way a quick ‘ ‘ hello. * * they did come in late, she coughed All of their actions seemed loudly to let them know that they strange. Time appeared to have had disturbed her rest. no meaning to them, for often they One evening the three of them would leave the house at eleven came downstairs. The redheaded o ’clo c k at night—now where could one, the boldest one, was the they be going ?—and they would spokesman. He said, “Our rooms return at three and four in the are always cold, and there never morning. She would lie in bed seems to be any hot water.” and listen to their soft laughter She just smiled sweetly, rocked and voices as they stumbled up back and forth, and told them that the darkened stairway, but it was she had one of the finest homes impossible to distinguish words. in town—everybody knew that— And in the daytime when they and if they really d id n ’t like it— came into the house, she would, When she told them that, and j from her rocking chair, attempt so nicely, they looked a little be- j to draw them into conversations, wildered, mumbled, something* 1 but they would only smile, nod, and went back upstairs. She : and hurry up the stairs. thought that they were very un­ She had planned that they reasonable. Imagine complaining : would gather with her around the about her home, and anyway, they j piano to sing hymns, but when she knew, as she knew, that housing | mountaineer (page 3

was very limited in Fairwealth. piercing snore, and then there Besides she was too lenient with would be no other sound. That them. did irritate her. Now on Saturdays or Sundays She would go downstairs, rock when they slept late, she would in her chair, and think about that cough gently outside of their odd man. He had not received closed doors, rattle the doorknobs, any mail as yet. She knew noth­ and when she heard them stir, she ing of his background. would call gently, “Boys, I want However, one day a letter ar­ to dust in there.” She firmly be- rived for Mr. Arthur Latcher. It I lieved that it was a sin to sleep had been forwarded from 922 ; the day away. Lacey St. “Why, th a t’s Mrs. Carl­ One evening as they were going s o n ’s home!” flashed through out, she stopped them at the door. Mrs. Bluebonnet’s mind. She said, “Boys, you know it costs She took the letter up to Arthur something to run this house.. I and went back to her chair. After have to raise your rent.” a few suspenseful minutes, Arthur And she smiled sweetly, but to came down the stairs and went no avail, for they answered her out the front door. with sullen looks, and stomped out She watched through the cur­ of the door. They returned late tain as he walked slowly up the that night, slammed the door, street. Then she got up, grabbed went into her parlor, turned on her dust mop, and rushed up the the lights, and then one of them stairs. The envelope lay on the boldly began to play the piano. dresser. She picked it up and And all night long they sang loud cautiously removed the letter. The vulgar songs. She lay in bed too terrified to move. girl who wrote it must have been his sister for it contained nothing In the morning after they had but small talk about A rth u r’s gone to bed, she slipped notes un­ hometown. Mrs. Bluebonnet was der their doors asking them to very disappointed. leave. She did not allow drunk­ ards in her home. The front door slammed. Quick After that experience she con­ footsteps sounded on the stairs. sidered shutting off the upstairs, With surprising calmness, she in­ but the added income did help; serted the letter in the envelope besides Reverend Cantrell would and placed it on the dresser. When never understand, and there must Arthur entered the room, Mrs. be some deserving young men. Bluebonnet was busily dusting under the study table. Other roomers came, but it was “Well,” she said, “you d id n ’t usually only a week until she stay long.” wrote a note and slipped it under a door. Arthur laughed, “No, i t ’s too cold for me out there.” At present she had one student, Mrs. Bluebonnet dusted under I Arthur Latcher. He was always the chair before she left. I pleasant, always quiet, but he, like It was disturbing. That letter the others, often stayed out late, h a d n ’t helped much. She would slept until all hours on Saturday rock by the hour, thinking of her and Sunday, but when she roomer. “Why not call up Mrs. coughed outside his door, or rat­ Carlson, and ask why he left her tled the doorknob, he d id n ’t stir, home?” She was delighted with d id n ’t mumble. He just gave one her thought, and almost skipped page 4 mountaineer | over to the telephone. She righteous indignation she could I glanced up the stairs; good, he write him a cutting note. w a sn ’t coming. She dialed the But he disappointed her. He j number. did go out, stayed late, but he I Mrs. C a r ls o n ’s worry-worn voice came in so quietly that she almost J crept into her ear, “Hello, who is d id n ’t hear him. He always went I this?” to school, studied hard, but she I “This is Mrs. Bluebonnet. How was convinced that the evils of I 1 are you feeling?” drink would soon overpower him, A long sigh floated over the and she daily studied his face for I wire. “Oh, not too well, My back signs of dissipation. aches constantly.” Soon Arthur received another I Mrs. Bluebonnet clucked in letter. Mrs. Bluebonnet spent sev- I sympathy, and said, “Dear, that eral uncomfortable, rocking hours j is too bad, but you know I have waiting for him to leave his room. J been havng those terrible head­ When he did, she, in her eagerness | 1 aches again.” to climb the stairs, forgot her dust There was a long pause. Mrs. mop. Carlson finally broke the silence, The letter was lying on the and she sounded irritated. “Did dresser in a dainty blue envelope. you want something, Mrs. Blue­ It smelled faintly of perfume. It bonnet?” was neatly typewritten, but had “Yes. It might sound a trifle no return address or signature. odd, but I wanted some informa­ She gasped as she read: tion. I t ’s about my roomer, an Darling, Arthur Latcher. Do you know Why d o n ’t you come to see him?” me? Why do you ignore me? The telephone line crackled, My worst fears have been “Know him? I ordered him out realized. I went to the doc­ of my house. He drinks. And tor, and he told me what I Mrs. Bluebonnet, I simply do not dreaded so much to hear. If allow any drunkards in my you would come to see me, I home.” know we could arrive at a Mrs. Bluebonnet was obviously solution. Please d o n ’t leave shaken. “Thank you, Mrs. Carl­ me to face this alone. son. I ’ll get rid of him right away —maybe tonight — certainly, he Mrs. Bluebonnet was horrified. c a n ’t stay here. And Mrs. Carl­ She trembled as she put the short son— ” note back into the envelope. “The Footsteps clattered on the stairs beast! Out he goes! * ’ She stood — “I ’ll call you back.” She hung there for a moment. “Oh, why the phone on the receiver. “Hello, w a sn ’t there a return address!” Arthur,” she said. It was irritating. She snatched up Arthur smiled at her. “Is it the envelope and peered at the any warmer out, do you know?” postmark. Her eyes widened. It “I d o n ’t know, Arthur,” she was postmarked Fairwealth! “A said, smiling back at him, “I local girl!” Mrs. Bluebonnet hur­ h a v en ’t been out today.” ried downstairs to sit in her rock­ Mrs. Bluebonnet spent the week­ ing chair and mentally pass in re­ end plottng the eviction of Arthur. view all the girls that she knew. She wished that he would come When Arthur came home, she home staggering and sick, then in leaned back in her chair and mountaineer page 5

glared at him. She was sure that in the meantime, what was to be the wrath that boiled within her done about that scoundrel who would hurtle out of her eyes and slept under her roof? Well, an­ strike him dead. other month w o u ld n ’t hurt. He smiled at her, balanced his During the following weeks books on one arm, and gave her a those blue envelopes came regular­ little wave, “How are you doing, ly. The pleadings became more Mrs. Bluebonnet f ” and more intense. “Fine,” she managed to mutter, The suspense was showing on “Of course, my headaches— ” She Mrs. Bluebonnet. More and more remembered her indignation. she was forgetting the dust mop “The beast!” she said to herself. when she visited A rth u r’s room. The following week there was But if Arthur suffered from another typed, unsigned note in a anxiety, he concealed it well. He i blue envelope. whistled constantly, in a most irritating fashion, and when he Darling, left for school, he always gave her Please come and comfort a cheerful greeting. He studied me. If you realized how I hard, but still he would go out cry at nights, I ’m sure you carousing on Friday and Saturday w ou ld n ’t ignore my plea. I ’m nights. The drunkard, the— ! so lonely. And I c a n ’t un­ Those notes became frantic. derstand your attitude. You a re n ’t the boy I used to know. Darling, I ’m sure my mother sus­ Mother knows. I had to tell pects. She keeps asking ques­ her. But I c a n ’t name you. tions. I c a n ’t put her off She has pleaded, begged, much longer. threatened, but I c a n ’t tell— that is for you to do. And I Mrs. Bluebonnet was alive with pray that you will come and curiosity. She went for long walks stand beside me. and studied each girl she met. She I begged Mother not to tell went into all the stores and scru­ Father, but it is getting rather tinized the shop girls. And at obvious, and I c a n ’t under­ church she made a spectacle of stand why he d o e s n ’t notice. herself. Busy with her quick I am thankful that he is go­ glances, she forgot to sing, and ing to Los Angeles on a long the congregation wavered and business trip, because if he stumbled over the familiar words. finds out, he will force me to Only the red face of Reverend reveal your name, and then, Cantrell brought her back to an I know, he will kill you. | awareness of her position, and But if you would come, \ then she threw back her head and then we could see him to­ released her highest and most \ piercing notes. gether. I ’m sure we could make him understand. Dar­ Safe in her rocking chair, she ling, w o n ’t you help me?” shook her head in disappointment. ‘Well,” she would say, “I t ’s real­ Mrs. Bluebonnet put the note ly too soon to telL In a month it back on the dresser. Her heart ^ill show.” That was some com­ was beating rapidly. She turned fort, for she would be the first slowly and then stopped. to know the complete story. But Staring at her from underneath page 6 mountaineer the bed were two empty bottles. He sang on, and then Mrs. Carl­ She stooped over, lifted the bed s o n ’s unsteady voice joined his. spread, and peered closely at Children chimed in. Soon the them. “Beer bottles!” she gasped. church rang with voices. Every­ “The beast! drinking under my one sang except Mrs. Bluebonnet, roof.” She picked them up with and she stood there red-faced, in­ horrified fingers and held them dignant, ignored. straight out in front of her as she Spring came and made way for carried them downstairs. She put summer. Mrs. Bluebonnet kept them in a paper bag before she her ears as alert as her eyes. Sure­ buried them in the garbage. ly, by this time, somebody must “The beast,” he said, and sat have seen the girl. Voices must down to write a note, but she be carrying her condition about couldn’t—not yet . the town. But no scandal reached Now she went downtown with her ears. Certainly the girl must a vengeance. She frankly studied still be in town, because all of the every girl, and the singing at notes were postmarked Pair- church was carried on mostly by wealth. The mother must be keep­ the weak voices of the children ing her locked up. “Ah,” Mrs. while their elders shifted from Bluebonnet concluded, “she must foot to foot, opened and shut their live in the country. Now whom mouths, and wondered what had do I know who lives in the coun­ happened to their leader in song, try?” the shrilling voice of Mrs. Blue­ A week before A rth u r’s final bonnet. examinations, the letters reached But then, one Sunday, Reverend a startling climax: Cantrell boomed his voice out into Darling, the little church. The children, in I c a n ’t go anyplace, c a n ’t amazement, watched him wide- see anyone. M o th er’s tears eyed and followed their parents finally shattered me. I told into silence. He sang alone. When her your name. I d id n ’t want he finished, he instructed the con­ to, but you must realize my gregation to turn to page ninety- position. seven in the hymn book. “This Mother wired Dad. He will is one of my favorite hymns,” he be home next week, and I said. “I believe we have neglected dread what will happen. it. Now just follow me.” Please come before it is too He began to sing, and one little late. girl joined him. The rest of the congregation watched Mrs. Blue­ That week Mrs. Bluebonnet bonnet. nearly went mad with nervous ten­ Abruptly, the m in is te r ’s loud sion. But Arthur just studied dili­ voice pierced Mrs. B luebonnet’s gently for his examinations. “He one thought. She suddenly be­ must have nerves of steel,” Mrs. came aware that she was in Bluebonnet thought, “or else the church, that it was time to sing, war completely unbalanced him.” and she opened her mouth, but Monday and Tuesday passed. quickly closed it. What was that Wednesday came. Arthur was that Reverend Cantrell was sing­ taking his last examination, and ing? She was certainly not fami­ while he was at school, a blue liar with it, and she glared at him envelope arrived. Mrs. Bluebon­ with open hostility. net successfully fought an impulse mountaineer page 7 to steam it open, but it was with a happy smile, and she sat down, reluctance that she carried it up relaxed and eager, on the edge of stairs. the bed. And she read: Arthur was leaving for his home Darling, immediately after he completed Everything is alright now. his examination, and he had al­ The twins arrived premature­ ready packed. She put the en­ ly, but I know they will al­ velope on the bare dresser and ways thrive. Mom is happy, went back to her chair and rocked Dad is delighted, and I can and rocked. relax now— Late in the afternoon Arthur Then Mrs. Bluebonnet looked came running up the front steps. closely at the letter. Her eyelids He opened the door and walked popped up like toast out of a in. “Hello, Mrs. Bluebonnet. I toaster, and her dark-stained eyes think I did alright on those ex­ strained over the rim of her aminations. May I use the phone ? ’ ’ glasses, as she read on— He went over to the telephone I named one Curiosity, and and called a taxi. Then he went the other Suspense. A re n ’t up stairs. they cute names. And thank After about twenty minutes the you, Mrs. Bluebonnet, for taxi honked noisily outside. Ar­ putting up with me. Of thur came down the stairs carry­ course, the room was cold, the ing his baggage. He stopped at water worse, and you did like the door. to snoop, but then, even if I “Goodbye , Mrs. Bluebonnet— did have a few beers you put and thanks for everything.” up with me—stuck by the She smiled, and then he was wavering veteran — and I gone. She climbed the stairs, stayed long enough in one faint with fear that the letter place to get my studying done. would not be there. She entered I w o n ’t be back next year. the bare-looking room, crept over D o n ’t look for me. to the dresser, and peered through Always, her glasses. It was not there. A Arthur strange sickness filled her—disap­ Tears burst from Mrs. Bluebon­ pointment mingled with a biting net ’s eyes. Her face twitched and emptiness. reddened. She wanted to swear, She peered anxiously about the but c o u ld n ’t. She stood up, tears room. She emptied the waste streaming down her face, and she paper basket on to the floor—torn stumbled down the stairs mum­ papers, ashes, cigarette butts — bling, “Oh, oh, oh—.” She sank and, yes, there was the blue en­ into her rocking chair and sobbed, velope. “They d o n ’t want to be rehabili­ Her tight-drawn face broke into tated.” Abigail

By IRENE TURLI

BIGAIL was fascinated by the ver hair and said, “You must A dance. She had seen the Bal­ write to me often.” Aunt Ma­ let Russe once, and she had watched thilde had always considered Aunt Roland Devausier do the “Clown Mathilde an indispensible asset to Dance’9 over and over again when­ Abigail. It was hard upon her ever he was in town. She loved now to realize that the child so the sequence from R om eo and willingly listened to Maret. Maret Juliet, but most of all she loved the was one of the lesser black sheep “Clown Dance” with its combina­ that sometimes happen upon a fam­ tion of wit and grace. Perhaps ily tree, but the fact that now she Abigail was not a little in love had become circumspect did not with Roland, too, the tall, lithe man alter the fact that Aunt Mathilde with the tender smile. He might was much better. not have been all tht she saw in To Abigail the promise that she him, but she was easily swayed by might see Roland more often, that the emotions of the art world; and she might walk the streets he she responded to Roland through walked, was in her idea of inde­ his art, for so she knew him and pendence, but the true scope of it in no other way. Of his personal was not yet upon her. She was not life she had heard nothing. thrilled by uncertainties. She felt “Come along, darling,” Aunt secure, as if the rest of her life lay Mathilde said upon entering. “We patterned before her, with a Ro­ must not miss our train.” land dancing in its spotlight. Because they were so short a Aunt Mathilde looked at her way from Chicago they were going niece without emotion, and found by day coach. She had no thrill herself disapproving of her looks. of excitement over travel. She had She looked well-groomed, well- traveled a great deal, from one brought-up, but with that look was Aunt to the other. After she had some vacancy of expression, as if visited Aunt Maret in Boston, she the mind traveled without the body. was going to New York. Aunt This look had once or twice been Betty had died and left her the on M a ret’s face in her sight, but house she owned. She felt that it far more strongly, the passions of would be strange to go and live Maret only a little under the sur­ there alone—this was Aunt M a ret’s face. Damn the incompetence of idea. Maret prided herself upon Betty, anyway, d id n ’t she know an independent spirit. what might occur? Aunt Mathilde smoothed her sil­ Both Mathilde and Maret offered mountaineer page 9

advice, but Maret offered to help Her ideal was gone with nothing her shop, which was more con­ whatever to replace him. Roland crete. It was often a surprise to no longer danced before her, only Abigail to see how well she really in her tired state. did look. Maret had changed her, She had not, then, the necessary for previously, as Maret knew, Abi­ stamina to resist Contes, the son of gail ’s daytime wear had always Emily. He was now twenty-one, a been stoically reminiscent of Ma- sulky young man intent upon the thilde. pleasures of the world. He was Maret smiled at Abigail as she that kind who considered matri­ paraded. “You must take the mony fatal. His charms, of which dance, my child, you will be a mar­ he was not unaware, seemed magni­ vel at the dance ? And do you sing ? fied in her sight because she had You must sometimes practice, and built so great an empire for Ro­ your piano—do not let the arts land, who no longer wanted it. She desert you. I will give you a letter felt lost, and young Edward was to my friend Montalt Sloan,'and one to cling to—cling she did. you must see him often. He knows Their romance blazed in the gossip New York.” colums, and was not really so— By the time fateful July had poor Mathilde did not know that. come around, pretty Abigail, the Mathilde took unwilling counsel subject of a painting by Sloan, the with Maret, who did know it, and toast of New York, the friend of they quarreled. Abigail floated on the questing reporter—and no Ro­ in a half-daze, led by a passion she land anywhere at all—oh, how the did not understand, until at last time flew! the meanings came fully upon her Always she looked for Roland, consciousness. She walked out on she thought by chance to meet him. him, went home, and bolted her She said nothing of it. She went door securely. She was exhausted out more often with Sloan than she by a struggle she did not know she cared to do, in the hope Roland did not know she had won. would be there. She and Emily Abigail awoke to ask, “What in Contes, the wife of the iron and h ea v en ’s name am I doing here steel man, were constantly together. alone?” She called for Aunt The world was unproportionately Maret. She forgot her other Aunt, bright. Her lids sometimes drooped and Mathilde retreated. She could from the excesses of the life she obtain no comfort anywhere, be­ led, and .to no purpose—for she cause she could not ask for guid­ had not found Roland. ance. She feared to put into words She did not find Roland, never what was wrong—that she was out was to find him. Roland had de­ of place in the world of lights and serted her ideal. He had refused shadows. Mr. Sloan consulted at all theatrical assignments. He was length with Maret, and they de­ gone. He was married to some cided she must go out, but in their farm girl, he had no right to sink company for a time until her equili­ to such ordinary conduct. Abigail brium was restored. They made a read about it in the papers one blunder they did not know about, morning, and with it a consider­ and that was to take her to see Ro­ able expose of his former loves. land Devausier in a ballet version She burned with anger. This man, of The Sleeping Beauty. He had this Roland, he was too old. He renounced the stage for love, but was not what she had made of him. love had seen fit to put him back page 10 mountaineer upon it. His wife sat in the first the boy will out-blackguard every­ box to the right. one to prove you wrong, and you Abigail could not look at him, or will out-queen every queen to prove thought she could not. He was her y o u ’re too good for him. Then the prince, now lost. He was the two of you will be wasted, believe enigma, the emperor who would me.” not rule. He was the answer to Edward was on his knees beside part of her misery, and she sus­ Abigail, very awkwardly so. She pected him of all of it. She would could have upset him by a gentle not heed him, she would put a film push. She reflectively watched between herself and him, and only Roland. What was Roland? Not appear to watch. But she did a person, now, but a symbol. She watch, her ability to be immune could put him into her memories was not great. She saw him now, where he belonged, a part of lost the prince who came to find he romance, lost youth. This Edward knew not whom behind a bower of was ridiculous, and she did not like roses. Light, and quick, and it. She would have to go through graceful, he embodied all the the motions of forgiveness to make meaning of romance in his move­ him rise and be sensible. She did ments and expressions. She felt so with considerable bad grace. tears running down her cheeks and Edward relaxed unduly, and did did not suppose she could explain not see her smile. Maret did, and them. Maret was feeling wistful, looked askance at Sloan. She she was dreamy-eyed. She paid knew of what Sloan thought, and little attention. It was Edward, his whisper, “Young fools, throw­ coming into the box, who tried to ing away the only sweetness they understand. are likely to get,” but he had a “I must see you. I must trace of mockery in the face he apologize for what I had said to turned to them. How well Maret you.” He looked more mature, knew, he had learned that the but not less willful. She smiled at sweetness had its counterpart. But him with smug contempt, sure of Abigail was not forgiving, she saw her own position. “And you that. It was probably best. She apologize for something you still would have a weapon to use against believe?” Edward all her life, if she so chose, whereas Maret had no weapon. “I assure you, I did not know what I was saying. I do not want Aunt Mathilde knew her child you going on thinking badly of was lost to her. Maret had taken _ 11 me. her. Of them a ll, it was Maret herself who knew otherwise. Abi­ “I do not think of you at all. gail had gone the straight and nar­ I like to think of Roland better. row path, but had not sat in judg­ He is a prince, and you are just ment—not complete judgment, at a small blackguard.” least. She would not turn from Maret was astonished, she put Edward now that she had taken her hand on S lo a n ’s and said as his apology, but she would not turn much to him. Sloan, who knew to him. She had discovered that just what was wrong, smiled a lit­ Roland was not what an idol should tle grimly at history repeating it­ be,W wyet had understood him as an - self. artist who idealized what he “D o n ’t be foolish, you young played. Oh, she might have the people. Wait, my little Abbi, and look and passion of Maret, but it mountaineer page 11 was sleeping. If she belonged to ing was unconsciously inward and any of them, it was to Mathilde. for the first time, as they left the Yet Mathilde would be the one to theater, Maret detected the fea­ lose her companionship. Abigail tures in repose, such as those of did not know that she had chosen, Mathilde. A jealous pang touched but she did know one thing—com­ her, and she reluctantly turned to fort was out of the sphere of her Sloan instead. It was Edward who relationships. She must seek it in knew that he had read his fate her own self, find her own con­ there, and he who found the look solations. The trend of her think­ enchanting.

The Cottonwood

By LARRY KADLEC

The cottonwood rises up from the valley, A symbol of the impalpable search; The strange tree, searching straight upward, With strong arms, stretched with hope outward; Greyed with a cracked hardened skin, But slowly decaying within. Race Preudice: Mississippi and Montana

By BILL ROGERS

ESTERDAY afternoon, upon Comparing Mississippi with Y entering a fr ie n d ’s room, I Montana on this basis, Montana is was asked to answer a question: by far the worse, because in Mis- j “Is Mississippi more race-pre­ sissippi no laboring job is barred i judiced than Montana?” to Negros. After thinking the matter over A short while ago, a Negro boy ' from many points of view, I re­ graduated from Montana State plied, “No.” Immediately, I was College with a degree in engineer­ asked to explain my answer. This ing. He accepted an offer of a is what I said: job at the Anaconda smelter, and In my home town, Anaconda, was ready to go to work when his the majority of the male popula­ employer discovered that he was tion make their living working colored. The offer was quickly “on the smelter.” During Christ­ withdrawn, and when he at- mas vacation, I wanted to work tempted to find out why, he was to help meet my expenses at told that it w a sn ’t the policy of school, but, because I am a Negro, the company to hire Negros as I was refused the right to do so. engineers. The company admitted There are only three jobs which that he was capable of handling a Negro can hold in the smelter— the job, but they just c o u ld n ’t hire janitor work in the office, loading him because of his race. calcite, or working with the ar­ I ’ll admit that race prejudice senic. If these three positions are is n ’t shown as openly in Montana filled, the Negro must remain un­ as in Mississippi, but that d o e s n ’t employed until a vacancy occurs. mean that it is n ’t present. In Mis­ But a drifter can come to Ana­ sissippi they 8top the Negro from conda from anywhere, and go to voting by the poll tax—and by work immediately—that is, if he violence. In Montana they do al­ is White. low him to vote, but, as my father There are nearly one hundred says, “What good is voting, if Negroes living in Butte, but not after you do help to elect some a single one is allowed to work in man to office, he refuses to let you the mines. They cannot even hold work to make a living?” any job that is in any way con­ I have a friend who was work­ nected with the mines. ing in the “Ironworkers” depart­ Great Falls is almost as bad. ment of the Anaconda smelter. He There is a smelter in Great Falls was very light-complexioned, and also, but not a single Negro is al­ could not be distinguished from a lowed to work there. white man. For a good many mountaineer page 13 years he worked on this job before seat upstairs. We left the show, he decided to get married. His and Mother h a sn ’t gone to a movie wife was dark and easily recog­ since. nized as a Negro, and upon dis­ Not only is the prejudice strong covering his race through his mar­ against the Negro in Montana, but riage,- the firm quickly released also against other minorities. One him from his job. day while I was playing a game Another couple whom I will call of whist with a group of Montana “Jack and Jill” were forced to go State University boys, a conversa­ to Spokane to be married, since tion arose about a certain Jewish Montana does not allow inter­ boy. The talk ran something like marriage. After a few years they this: had a baby, and moved back to “Say, Joe, you know that Kike Montana. Later they decided to get a divorce, and “Jill” asked downstairs? Well, he had nerve enough to ask Alice to the dance for possession of the child, but the Saturday.” judge ruled that she had no legal claim, since the baby was Negro “No kidding!” said Joe. and she was White. “Jesus, you would think those In Kalispell a white girl was damn Kikes would leave something married to a fairly well-to-do of ours alone.” Negro. When he died and left his I left the room then, and I knew possessions to his wife, it was that if they spoke about that boy ruled that she was not the legal in such a way, they would do the heir, because Montana laws did same about me when I w a sn ’t not recognize their marriage. there. When I was twelve years old, With these few examples I have my mother and I went to a movie. tried to show you why I answered Mother had bought the tickets, the question as I did. There is a and we were ready to take seats lot of prejudice in Montana, and, downstairs, when the manager down deep, there is really no dif­ stopped mother, and asked if I ference of attitude between the was her son. She said, “Yes,” two states. Can the situation be and he then asked her if she would changed for the better? Perhaps mind sitting upstairs. Mother it can—if enough people can be asked why, and he told her that brought to realize that a powerful Negros w e re n ’t allowed to sit race prejudice does exist here. I downstairs—that she could do so, am in a position to know that it but that I would have to take a does. Wait for Me

By A. E. PEDERSEN, JR

UTSIDE the schoolhouse the and she always tagged along with O December snow was cold him. The other guys made fun of 1 and gray, but the schoolroom was him when he walked along with his warm. Fred tried to keep awake little sister. to hear what Miss Graham, the The clock over the blackboard fifth-grade teacher, was saying. said two o ’clo ck . Only a half hour It was something about Minne­ to go before school let out. He sota. I t ' s too hot and stuffy, turned in his seat as Clayton Hall, thought Fred. I ’m sleepy. Wish who sat across the aisle, nudged four o ’clo c k would get here. him. “You going to the show, Then he remembered that Fred!” Clayton asked in a whis­ classes were shortened today. The per. Fred nodded. “I t ’s gonna theater had a special free show be a good show. Besides, I gotta for all the kids this afternoon. At take Carla to see it. Mom w o n ’t two-thirty school would let out let her go unless I go with her.” and everybody who wanted to “L e t’s go out to the snow fort could go see “David Copperfield.” instead,” Clayton urged. “Frank It would be a good show, Fred de­ and Stan and Doug and I are gon­ cided. The book had been pretty na play snowfight. Let Carla go good. by herself.” Fred straightened “Minnesota has 10,000 lakes,” up, and so did Clayton. Miss he said half aloud as his mind re­ Graham was looking at them. turned to Miss Graham who was “You, Fred, and Clayton, too, still talking. That was a lot of stop whispering. Pay attention to lakes, he decided. If every lake class.” was as big, half as big as Terry Fred liked to play snowfight. lake, there must be a lot of water He and Clayton usually took the in Minnesota. He thought of the fort to themselves, and let the rest Minnesotans going from one island of the kids try to attack it. It was to another in gondolas like they just like fighting a real war. Na­ did in Venice. poleon used to play snowfight He wished the class would end. when he was a kid, he remem­ Carla, his sister, would be waiting bered from his last y e a r ’s reader. outside in the hall when her third- There was a picture of young grade class ended. He remem­ Napoleon in the book, standing on bered he had promised his mother the snow fort driving off the at­ that he would take Carla to the tackers. show. Carla was short and fat. “I promised Mom,” he whit- mountaineer page 15 pered over his shoulder. “Aw, neck!” Clayton said. He picked let Carla go by herself, ” said up a handful of snow and moved Clayton-. “You always have to toward the girl. Carla scampered drag your sister along. Why c a n ’t around until Fred was between she go by herself? N o b o d y ’s her and Clayton. The three stood gonna hurt her.” irresolutely on the walk before Miss Graham passed down the the schoolhouse. aisle, giving out maps. The maps “Leave her alone,” said Fred. were blank, with only the state Clayton threw his arm around lines drawn in. “L e t’s see how F r e d ’s neck and dragged him into many of you can draw in the a snowbank. They wrestled in the names of all the western states,” snow. Fred felt like he hated she said. “You should finish by Clayton as the other boy held him two-thirty. When you finish, hand down and pushed snow in his in your paper and then you may face. Fred knew Carla was watch­ leave.” ing. Why did she have to come This is easy, Fred thought. He along and try to drag him off to started with Washington and Ore­ the show, and then stand there gon, and then Idaho. After watching while Clayton licked awhile he became puzzled. What him? comes under South Dakota? Then “You better leave me alone,” he uncertainly lettered in KAN­ he demanded as he spit snow from SAS in big letters, and handed his his mouth. Clayton pulled him to map to Miss Graham. “I ’m fin­ his feet. “Come on, then, cry­ ished now. Can I leave?” She baby. L e t’s have a snowfight,” nodded and he went out in the hall. Clayton urged. Fred knew the Behind him Clayton laid his paper other boy was really friendly even on Miss G rah am ’s desk and fol­ if he did drag him around and lowed him through the door. lick him once in awhile. “All The big buzzer sounded and the right,” he answered, “but you third-grade classroom across the better not pick on me again.” hall burst open as the younger The two boys, with Carla fol­ kids ran out. Carla was the first lowing stubbornly, walked one through the door. “Freddy, through the snow to the fort. le t ’s go see the show. I want to Frank and Doug were waiting at see ‘David Coppersmith’.” the fort. They called out happily “ I t ’s ‘ David Copperf ield ’, ’ ’ as the two approached. “Hey, Fred corrected her. He and Carla, Clayton, me and Doug will stand with Clayton following close be­ you two,” Frank said. “You hind, walked down the stairs and guys take the fort.” went outside. “Come on, Fred, Fred wanted to turn from the le t ’s go out to the fort,” Clayton other three and run off with insisted. Carla. He wanted to join the “Mama says you got to take snowball fight, but he wanted to me to the show. I want to see the see the show, too. Carla was a show!” Carla demanded. Then she nice kid, even if she was some­ started to cry. “Freddy, l e t ’s go times a pretty ornery little sister. to the show right now! I wanta Just then a snowball hit him in see the show! I wanta see the the shoulder and he scrambled be­ show!” hind the fort. Clayton was pack­ “L e t’s put snow down her ing the soft snow into hard balls. p a g e 16 mountaineer

He handed three to Fred. “Here down the alley toward C layton ’s. they come,” he yelled. “Let's get “Bet I can hit that woodshed win­ 'em!” dow !” Frank said. Clayton yelled, “Wait over by the school, but Frank threw anyway. “Boy, Carla,” Fred said. “I ’ll be there bet we catch hell,” Clayton said in a minute.” Then he forgot as the snowball crashed through about Carla as Doug raced around the glass. “T h a t’s our woodshed the side of the fort and threw a window, and Pop will take it out hard one. The snowball hit Fred on me if he thinks I did it.” in the leg. “Hey, th a t’s no fair! “D o n ’t tell him,” Frank re­ You guys are supposed to stay torted. “Make him think some­ away. I t ’s no fun like this.” body else did it.” Doug and Frank retreated, and They tramped through the snow Fred saw C la y to n ’s snowball hit into C la y to n ’s yard. “Wait out­ Frank in the back of the neck. side,” Clayton commanded. The Then Frank got mad, and Clayton other three stood uncertainly as called him a sissy. “L e t’s quit it/’ Clayton walked into the kitchen. Frank demanded. “I ’m tired.” Pretty soon he came back. “Okay, Clayton had an idea. “L e t’s go come on in. But leave your over­ over to my place. My mom will shoes outside.” When they got make us some sandwiches and into the kitchen Fred took his cap cocoa. Wanta come along?” Fred off. Mrs. Hall smiled at them. looked over at the schoolhouse. “How about some cookies, boys?” Carla w a sn ’t there. Probably she she asked. Then they were eating had gone to the show with one cookies, and after awhile the cocoa of her girl friends. Well, might was done and they drank that as as well go with Clayton. If Carla they ate. w o u ld n ’t wait for him, she could “I better go home,” Fred said. go to the show by herself, or she He pushed the cup and saucer could even go home and tell Mom away from him. Mom would sure on him. That possibility made be mad when Carla came home him pause for a second or so. bawling about Fred because he Well, he thought, just let her tell. w o u ld n ’t take her to the show. Carla was a crybaby. He would Maybe if he came home right have taken her to the show if she away and told Mom that Carla had waited. w o u ld n ’t wait for him, Mom “Okay, let’8 go,” Fred de­ w o u ld n ’t tell Pop, and maybe he clared. Doug was not so sure. w o u ld n ’t get a beating. “Will your ma like it if we come “Let’8 play cards,” Clayton in?” he asked. “My ma will sure answered. “You d o n ’t have to go as hell give me a paddling if I yet.” Fred played with only an bring a bunch of the guys in the occasional thought for the game. house.” I ’d better get home. Why d id n ’t “Sure, i t ’s okay. Come on.” I go to the show with Carla? Won­ The four walked along the der how mad Mom will be? street toward C la y to n ’s house. After a few games, Mrs. Hall “Watch me hit that tree,” Fred looked at the clock. ‘ 1 Hey, boys, announced. He threw at the tree, I think y o u ’d all better be going. which was only fifteen feet away. Your folks will be looking for you The others hooted as he missed by pretty soon.” Fred looked at the a good five feet. Then they all clock. It was twenty minutes to picked targets as they walked five. “Thanks for the cookies and mountaineer page 17 cocoa, Mrs. Hall,” Frank called “I waited for her! I waited for through the open kitchen door as her after we got through playing the three stood on the back porch and she had already left! I told putting on their stiff overshoes. her to stand by the schoolhouse Fred and Doug mumbled “ thank and then I ’d go with her! Can I you” too, and then the three help it if she w o n ’t wait for me?” walked toward the alley. “So Fred half yelled the words at his long, Fred,” the other two called mother. as they left him to walk down a different street. At that Carla turned quickly. I bet that was a good show, he “Y o u ’re a fibber! I waited and thought as he walked toward waited and you kept on throwing home. Maybe Carla went to the snowballs. I told Mom, and y o u ’re show by herself, and h a sn ’t got going to get a licking when Pop home yet. Then I can tell Mom comes home! I ’ll tell Pop you she w o u ld n ’t wait for me. were mean to me and see what The street lights turned on as you get then!” he neared his block. He h a d n ’t “Is this the way I ’ve raised noticed it was so dark. Now it you?” his mother cried out. looked really like night as the sky “Ca n ’t you ever take care of your seemed so black compared to the little sister once in a while? You white snow at the street corners better get some wood in the wood- under the lights. It was starting box before your father comes to snow again. home, or hell hear about this. No, It was too dark to get the wood you c a n ’t use the lantern. The in without the coal oil lantern. w o o d ’s all split and all you have H e ’d get it in after supper, he to do is carry it in the house.” thought. Mom was always yelling about getting plenty of wood in Fred carried three loads of before it got too dark. He could wood into the house and then car­ see through the kitchen windows ried in some kindling. His mother as he walked up the driveway. gave him and Carla a couple of Carla and Mom were in the kitch­ doughnuts and told them to go en making something. It looked into the dining room and set the like doughnuts. Carla seemed to table. be cutting them out and Mom was dropping them in the frying pan. “I ’m sorry I d id n ’t take you to the show,” Fred said slowly. “Me He took his overshoes off and and Frank and Doug went down kicked them into a corner of the to C la y to n ’s house. We played porch. Then he opened the door cards and I forgot to come home. and walked into the house. Are you still mad?” His mother looked up as Fred “Did Clayton hurt you when he closed the door behind him. Carla got you down in the snow?” Carla ignored him as she cut dough­ asked in return. “He always picks nuts. “Fred, I told you to on you. I hope he d id n ’t hurt take Carla to the show!” his you.” mother said. She d id n ’t yell, Fred took a mouthful of dough­ though. He was glad of that, but nut and chewed it as he answered. still he felt sorry or mad or scared “Naw, me and Clayton are good or something. friends. Besides, I can lick him mountaineer p a ge 18 if I want to. Just watch me the “T h a t’s a naughty word,” next time he takes me down in Carla protested. the snow. I ’ll beat the hell out of “Well, I will beat him. Wait him.” and see.”

As a Friend Betrays . . .

By MARY FRAN LAW

Slowly the sky is shot with thin clouds— opalescent green, blue, pale pink as a pearl, just lifted, still merging with milky gelatin. The twilight gleams briefly, then the pearl falls into dark wine. Night is dead, but the clouds are working— white worms, greyed by the black sky— congealing into clods of close dampness, of heavy foreboding. Dust is all grey; the clods do dry; dawn will essence through the fog. Sky is no longer sky but ceiling, limiting space— square and porous, wet, a dripping dungeon-stone sealing the cell with fathomless weight. The clouded pearls, the twisting fogs vaporize; wet rock still chills. How Much Rube?

By HARRY C. NELSON

T T WAS night. The lighted glass as I go? Suppose I buy a ticket on the bus read St. Louis. It to St. Louis?” pulled to the side of the road and “If you do, you pay as of Deca­ ground to a stop. The driver tur.” leaned back, looked in the mirror, “As of Decatur hell. I t ’s not and without taking his eye from my fault if you fall down on the it he said: “All right. You in the job and I sleep through my stop. last seat. Your ride was over in I ’ll pay as of here.” Decatur. ’’ “Look punk, I ’m not going to In the back seat a boy in a gray argue with you. You got three sweatshirt sat up. He appeared dollars and forty-five cents?” about nineteen. “Punk, eh?” “DECATUR! DECATUR” he “I said you got three dollars said. “You mean w e ’ve passed through Decatur.” and forty-five cents.” “Yeah, I got three forty-five, “Now d o n ’t give me that—that but you w on ’t see it. I d on ’t think I must have been asleep routine. the bus co m p a n y ’d ever see it. It’8 old stuff.” Y o u ’d graft it. What kind of a “Old stuff hell. I t ’s your job receipt do I get?” to wake me up. I was asleep.” One of the passengers in the “Yeah, I know, and you always middle of the bus said: 1 ‘ Make up fall asleep behind the seats so you your minds. This bus is late, and are well hid.” I ’m in a hurry.” “You knew how many were The boy in the sweatshirt supposed to get off in Decatur. stepped into the aisle and moved Why d id n ’t you count ’em ? ” toward the front of the bus. In “Oh, y o u ’re wise a re n ’t you. the middle of the bus, when he You think you know what I ’m was abreast of the passenger who supposed to do, eh. All right had just spoken, he stopped and smart boy. L e t’s go. Outside.” leaned over the passenger. And, “Outside! I ’m not getting out suddenly the boy straightened up here. This is n ’t a stop. Christ with a look of surprise on his face this is n ’t even a town.” and said: “A nickel for a cup of “Th a t’s right. But, its as far as coffee? You want me to give you you go.” a nickel for a cup of coffee? But, “As far as I go? As far as I I d o n ’t even know you.” go? How do you know it ’s as far The passenger rose in his seat. p a ge 20 mountaineer

“Why I d id n ’t ask you for a . ..” at one end of the counter, and a He looked at the other passengers. waitress was standing on a stool “I h a v en ’t said a word,” he said. pouring water into a large chro­ The boy shrugged his shoulders mium coffee maker. He moved up and then turning to the passeng­ to the counter and sat down on ers, announced again. “He wants one of the stools. me to give him a nickel for a cup “Give me a cup of coffee,” he of coffee.” said. The statement was greeted with The waitress appeared not to silence. Then someone in the back hear him, for she remained stand­ of the bus began to snicker. The ing on the stool, peering down into boy shook his head and moved on the coffee maker. Then, she down the aisle. At the front of stepped off the stool and without the bus the driver said: “Jesus, I turning around she said, “Cream get sick of you wise kids.” or black.” “You know why sucker? ’Cau se “Blonde and sweet.” you get outsmarted.” She turned her head and ran He stepped down to the door her eyes over him coldly. “The and then before stepping out he sugars on the counter,” she said, said: * ‘ Thanks for the ride, rube. ’ ’ giving him his coffee. “You better get off this bus, The Ink Spots were singing “If kid.” I D id n ’t Care” on the juke box. Outside the night was damp. He drank his coffee and listened. He stood on the slanted road bed The Ink Spots finished and Ella till the bus pulled out and watched Fitzgerald began the “Cow Cow the two red tail lights draw to­ Boogie.” He finished the last of gether in the distance. At the side his coffee. of the road a sign said: “St. Louis “Give me a pack of Camels,” 90 mi.” Behind him he saw he said. the lights of a car. It was coming She took a package from a glass his way. He put up his thumb. case and tossed them on the The car swung out in the middle counter in front of him. of the road to avoid him and kept “How about some matches?” going. Ahead of him was a high­ She threw two packages of way restaurant. He started walk­ safety matches to him. ing towards it. “They cost a penny extra.” It was a lunch counter and out “A penny extra?” in front were two gas pumps. He “T h a t’s right. They have a big stopped in the light by the pumps tax on cigarettes in this state. We and reached into his pocket. He d o n ’t make enough money on withdrew his hand and held it un­ them to be giving away matches.” der the light. In it were a dime “D o n ’t give me that. These and two nickels. He wanted a matches have advertisements on cigarette, and he wanted a cup of them. They give them to you coffee. He d id n ’t have enough free.” for both. He put the money back “Look, do you want the matches in his pocket. or d o n ’t you?” When he opened the door a bell He took out a cigarette and lit jingled above his head. A lunch it. He made no reply. Outside a counter ran the length of the car pulled up by the gas pumps. room, parallel to the highway. It was a new car and the driver Two farmers were drinking beer was alone. He got out, said some- mountaineer page 21 thing to the service attendant and cigarettes and threw them on the came into the lunch room. He counter. Then he threw the two waved his hand at the two men packages of matches. drinking beer, said hello to the “T h e re ’s your cigarettes and waitress and sat down at the lunch th e r e ’s your matches. I ’m not counter beside the boy. He or­ buying.” He laid a dime on the dered a cheeseburger and a glass counter beside the cigarettes. of milk. “The d im e ’s for the coffee,” he “I t ’s damp out there tonight. said. “Now, if you want to call I think i t ’s going to rain,” he said in the local sheriff or whatever to the youth. you have around here, w e ’ll see “Yeah.” about you selling free matches.” “Fella on the radio just said it “Oh, a re n ’t you tough. A re n ’t was raining in Chicago,” the man you clever,” the waitress said. said. “I ’m two steps ahead of you, “Yeah, they get their share of Sarah Jane.” it.” “Get out of here. Get out of “You from Chicago?” here, you cheap bum,” she said. “I guess y o u ’d say I was from Outside he began to laugh. Chicago. Right now I ’m headed “What a rube she is,” he said. He for St. Louis. You going that began to laugh again and heard way?” someone else laughing. He looked “No, I ’m only going to Hills- over toward the gas pumps. It bourgh. I t ’s down the road about was the service attendant. He forty miles. I ’d be glad to give was leaning over a car, having you a lift that far, though, if i t ’d trouble closing the hood. help.” “I guess it is funny,” the at­ “Yeah, i t ’d help.” tendant said. The juke box was playing “W h a t’s funny?” the boy “Moonlight Cocktail.” He lis­ asked. tened for a minute, then got up “The trouble I ’m having with from the stool. this hood.” “I ’ll wait for you outside,” he The boy walked over toward the said. He turned to the waitress. car. The attendant was peering “How much do I owe you?” through the grill, trying to see the “Th a t’ll be twenty-eight cents.” underside of the hood. The boy “Twenty-eight cents? Twenty- crouched beside him. They both eight? ” examined it. “Th a t’s right. Twenty cents 1 1 The catch is broke and it for cigarettes, seven cents for cof­ w o n ’t lock,” the attendant said. fee, and one cent for macthes.” The boy poked a finger through “I ’m not paying for any free the grill and toyed with the catch, matches, and how do you get off trying to fasten it. He probed with seven cents for a cup of cof­ with his finger for several sec­ fee? I t ’s a nickel where I come onds, then stepped back from the from.” car. “We get seven cents for coffee “The h o o d ’s out of line,” the and one cent for matches and you boy said. owe twenty-eight cents.” “I know. I t ’s been like that “Look baby, y o u ’re not dealing for a week. I told him about it with the farm boys now.” the last time he was in here,” the He took the opened pack of attendant said. page 22 mountaineer

They lifted the hood and ex­ “I opened it by mistake.** amined it. Then they closed it “Oh.” and the boy pushed the hood from “D o n ’t worry. I just helped the side while the attendant tin­ myself to the coke,” the boy said kered with the catch. Finally, the and smiled. “You offered to buy catch slipped in place and locked. it at just the right time.” The attendant pulled upward sev­ “Oh, I*m not worried. You eral times on it. d o n ’t look like that kind to me.” *1 I t ’s locked all right,** he said. The b o y ’s smile vanished. “Thanks.” “Well, d o n ’t let it fool you,” he “You got a rag I can wipe my said. “You guys take too much hands on?** the boy asked. for1 granted. I gave you a break. * * “There*8 one in the station. It*s He stepped outside and walked on the shelf to the right of the over to the car. The driver was door.** just coming out. The station was a makeshift ad­ “You ever give a sucker an 1 dition built onto one end of the even break?” the boy asked. lunch room. Inside was a Coca- The driver smiled vaguely. Cola container, a desk, and several “Well, i t ’s something that I barrels of oil; on one of the walls have a hell of a time learning not hung a calendar with a picture of to do,” the boy said. a girl fishing; there was grease on The driver looked at his watch. the rough wooden floor. “I ’m late,” he said. “I ’m going The boy found the rag and to have to hurry.” They both got wiped his hands. He looked into the car. around the room curiously. There As he pulled away from the gas was no cash register. He stepped pumps and on to the highway, the over to the desk and opened the driver turned to the boy beside drawer in it. Inside was a small him and said: “Did you have the box. It was the change box. He waitress in there mad! I don *t quickly shut the drawer and know everything that happened looked outside. The attendant so I ’m not going to take sides, but, was washing the windshield of the wow, I d o n ’t think I ever saw car. He opened the drawer again. Cheryl that mad.” There was a small stack of bills. “Cheryl, Cheryl, Christ d o n ’t He picked them up. tell me her name is Cheryl.” “You want anything in there, “That*8 right, Cheryl Bailey. help yourself,** the attendant Her father owns a farm down the called to him. “Have a coke.** road.” The boy started slightly, then “Her old man must have been began to smile. “You buying?** drunk the night he named her. he asked. How could he pin anything like “Sure, help yourself.’* that on her?” The boy shrugged his shoulders “Oh, I d o n ’t know if s h e ’s that and dropped the money back in bad. S h e ’s . . .” the box. He closed the drawer, “Yeah, yeah, you got a cigar­ walked over to the coke container, ette?” took out a bottle of coke and The driver searched his coat opened it. The attendant came in. pockets, found the cigarettes and “Why d o n ’t you buy a cash passed them over. Then, he began register?** the boy asked. again: “8he is n ’t ...” “I ’ve been thinking about it.** “You got a match?” mountaineer page 23

*1T h e re ’s a lighter on the dash.” The boy made no reply. There was a short silence and “I t ’d probably be better if I let the driver began again: “Like I you out here,” the driver said. was saying, she . . . ” “Y o u ’d probably have better “Which one of these knobs is luck.” He pulled the car over to the radio?” the side of the road and stopped. The man behind the wheel The boy got out of the car and glanced warily over toward his slammed the door. As the car companion. drove off the boy began to laugh. “I d o n ’t usually pick up hitch­ He felt a raindrop on his cheek hikers,” he said. and glanced at the sky. It was “Yeah, why not?” black. “Well, you never know what Up ahead he could see the lights you are going to get ahold of. of a car. He thumbed it, but the Some of the guys I see along the car kept going. There was an­ highway look awfully tough.” other one right in back of it. He “How come you picked me up?” thumbed it also. He sat down on “Oh, I d on ’t.know, I guess . . a guard rail and decided he was “Maybe I look different,” the on a bad stretch of road. There boy interrupted. “Maybe I ’m a was a curve in front of him and guy that looks like he w o u ld n ’t be people d id n ’t like to stop on packing a gun. Is that the way I curves. look to you?” It was starting to rain*, He “Something like that,” the walked up the road till he came driver replied, and paused. “Any­ to an open stretch. It was rain­ way it w o u ld n ’t do a hitch-hiker ing hard now. He thumbed three much good to stick me up, because more cars. Then he thumbed a I never carry much money.” He big truck and it stopped. There glanced at his companion. The was a sign on the windshield, “No boy said nothing. “If any of them Riders.” The door was flung ever want my car they d o n ’t need open and a deep, gruff voice to knock me on the head for it. asked: “H o w ’s the weather out I ’d give it to them. I got insur­ there keedo? Kind of damp?” ance.” The boy jumped in the cab of “Yeah. Y o u ’re lucky. You the truck without replying. d o n ’t have much to lose.” “I ’m not supposed to pick up The driver made no reply but riders kid,” the driver said. “But moved over to the far side of the this is a bad time of night to be car. The boy played with the tun­ hitch-hiking. I ’ll bet you were ing control on the radio. mighty glad to see me pull up.” “If y o u ’re worried whether I ’m While he was talking he put packing a gun or not, relax,” the the truck in gear and started up. boy said. “I ’m not.” The youth looked over at him. He “Oh, I d id n ’t mean that.” was a big, heavy man. The driver “Yeah, I know.” double clutched into a higher gear The boy turned up the volume and continued: “I ’ll b e t ...” on the radio. A news program “You got a cigarette?” was on. They listened in silence The driver ignored the interrup­ for the rest of the trip. Then the tion. “I ’ll bet you were saying a driver said: “Th a t’s Hillsbourgh little prayer that I ’d . ..” right up ahead. I t ’s as far as I ’m “You got a cigarette?” going.” “Now, look, you got it all p a ge 24 mountaineer wrong. It a in ’t the w ay it ’s done. boy on his knee. “Cheer up kid. D o n ’t ask me for a cigarette be­ I ’m not sore. No hard feelings. fore I finish talking. Especially, I ’m sorry if I roughed you up a right after I pick you up out of little. How far you going?” He the rain.” glanced over at the youth who was “You got a cigarette?” still bunched in the corner. “Y o u ’re tough a r e n ’t you?” “I ’m, I ’m . . . trying to get to “You gotta be tough.” St. Louis.” “Why?” “St. Louis, huh. Well, I ’m go­ “You get pushed around.” ing to Bellville. I cut south about “You got it all wrong.” ten miles this side of East St. “Why is it all wrong? What Louis, but I ’ll carry you that far. ’ ’ are you doing, holding school?” He took out a package of ciga­ “Get the chip off your shoul­ rettes and lit one. He threw the der.” package across the seat. “Here “How about that cigarette?” kid. Keep ’em .” The boy let j “My cigarettes are in the glove the cigarettes lie. “Go ahead, you compartment. ” can have them/’ The boy started to open the “I d o n ’t want ’em .” glove compartment when the “You d o n ’t want ’em . Well, truck driver reached over sudden­ you just asked me for ’em three ly and bought his fist down across times, and now I give them to you the b o y ’s wrist. and you d o n ’t want ’em .” “Ow, ow, Jesus Christ you al­ “You figure you got the drop most broke my arm. W h a t’d you on me so now you can play the do that for?” bigshot,” the boy said. “I d id n ’t say you could have a “Look kid, y o u ’re all wrong cigarette. Anyway there a r e n ’t again. I picked you up ’ca u se I any in that compartment. I just wanted to give you a break not said that. I ’m wise to you kid.” ’ca u se I wanted to play the big “You big ape. You son of . . . shot. Now, go on, take the ciga­ I ought to blast you where you rettes. I got another pack.” sit.” The boy looked at the package The driver received these words lying on the seat. in silence; then he pulled over to “Well, if you say you got an­ the edge of the road and stopped. other pack.” He reached over and grabbed the “I got another pack.” boy by the front of the sweatshirt “Thanks.” and jammed him into the corner “You say that word, ‘thanks,’ of the cab. Holding him helpless like it comes hard.” with one hand, he searched him “I guess it does. I d o n ’t use it with the other. very often.” “You got a gun on you kid?” “Take off the wet sweatshirt. After satisfying himself that the T h e r e ’s a wool sweater in back of youth was unarmed he released you.” him and said: “Y o u ’re all talk, “0. K. I will. Thanks.” a r e n ’t you?” “You better look out with that He put the truck in gear and word.” drove back on the highway. “I ’m “All right, I w o n ’t use it glad I picked you up. Y o u ’re again.” good for laughs,” he said. Then “Naw, you keep on using it, he reached over and slapped the kid. D o n ’t listen to me. I d o n ’t mountaineer page 25 know what I'm saying half the to be having difficulty seeing. He time. It don't hurt a guy to show was seated on the edge of the appreciation. Not that I rate cushion, peering out through the any.” * part of the windshield kept clean “Sounds like you're holding by the wiper. He felt sleepy. school again,'' the boy said with a smile. About five miles out of East St. “Yeah, don't it.” The driver Louis the driver reached across looked sheepish and then began to the seat and shook the boy. laugh. “Hell kid, d o n ’t mind me. “Wake up kid. We're almost I just talk.” there,” he said. The boy leaned back and re­ It had stopped raining. The laxed. He looked small in the road was dry. In the east a streak dark sweater of the driver. of light was beginning to appear. “Where you going?” the driver It was almost dawn. The boy sat aslced up and rubbed his eyes. He looked “I'm headed for St. Louis.” over at the driver. “I guess I “You got some relatives down fell asleep,” he said. “You prob­ there?” ably wanted someone to talk to.” “I got a sister.” “Naw, I haven't felt like talk­ “I'm only going as far as Bell- ing. I've been driving since three ville,” the driver said. o'clock yesterday afternoon.” “Well, every little bit helps.” The boy made no reply. He was “Yeah, if worst come to worst, taking off the heavy, wool sweat­ you could walk the last ten . . . er and putting on his own. “Do Aw hell. I'll tell you what I'll do. you know St. Louis?” the driver I'll swing down to Bellville by asked him. way of East St. Louis. It's only “No, I've never been here be­ a few miles out of my way.” fore, but I won't have any trouble “Aw, you don't need to do that. finding my way around.” I can get a ride. Besides you're “No, you won't have any trou­ probably in a hurry, or you might ble. St. Louie is an easy town to get in trouble with your boss. No, know. I'll let you off where you you don't need to do that.” can catch a bus that will take you “It's raining out there. You're across the river; then you can ask liable to stand on that road a long someone over in town for the ad­ time before you get a ride. I'm dress you want.” in no hurry and what the boss “How far is it across the bridge don't know won't hurt him.” into St. Louis?” the boy asked. “Well, if th e r e ’s much chance “Oh, it's not far. About ten of you getting in trouble I'd minutes on the bus.” The driver rather take a chance on getting a paused. “You got bus fare, ain't ride,” the boy said. you kid?” “Don't worry about it.” “Yeah, I got . . . Naw, I ’m “Well, I won't if you won't.” broke, but I can walk that okay,” The boy couldn't see out the the boy said. rain-covered windshield, for there “Aw hell kid, sure you can was no wiper on his side, but he walk it, but it's too early in the could see out the door window. It morning,” the driver said. He looked dark and cold outside, but reached in his pocket and took out it was warm in the cab of the a handful of change. He selected truck. The truck driver seemed two coins. “Here,” he said. page 26 mountaineer

“H e r e ’s a buck. I t ’ll pay your pany,” it said. On the truck box fare and get you a cup of coffee. ’ ’ in back of the cab the rain had “I d o n ’t want to take money dried leaving a coating of dust. from you,” the boy said. “I can He rubbed his finger through it. walk it easy enough.” It made a mark. He looked up at “D o n ’t be silly kid. A buck the truck driver. “Well, thanks,” d o e s n ’t mean anything.” he said. “I guess ...” He looked “Yeah, but I d o n ’t like the idea down and commenced making of it,” the boy said. marks in the dust on the truck The truck driver reached across box. the seat. “Come on, take it.” “Now, look kid,” the driver “Well, all right, but I feel like said. “I d o n ’t want you to start a heel.” making me feel like Jesus again.” “Why should you feel like a He began to laugh. “Goddam heel?” the driver asked. this is really rich. You got me “Well, I bummed a ride from feeling like a young school-girl.” you, got your cigarettes, used your He ground the truck in gear and sweater, and now I ’m bumming said, “Goodbye kid and good a buck off you. And I done it all luck,” as he drove off. after you had the drop on me. It makes it look like I ’m taking you. The sun was coming up in the I d o n ’t like it.” east. The first rays were strik­ “Now goddam it kid, cut that ing down on to the street. They out. You make me feel like Jesus struck on a southbound, dust-dried Christ.” truck whose driver sat very erect, “I want you to know that I ap­ feeling that the world w a sn ’t such preciate ...” a bad place. The dust on the “Okay, okay. T h a t’s enough. southbound truck had been rubbed D o n ’t say any more. This is the away just behind the door on the place I ’m going to let you off at, driver’8 side. The first beams of right up here. You can catch a morning fell on the spot where the bus at that stop-light.” dust had been erased. It had been He pulled the truck over to the erased to spell the word “SUCK­ side of the road and stopped. The ER.” boy got out of the truck and Back on the highway, standing walked around in front of it to in the same sunshine, was a boy the other side. The truck d r iv e r ’s about nineteen in a gray sweat­ window was open. The driver shirt. He was standing in the leaned out and said: “You w o n ’t street looking at a dust covered have long to wait. Buses run finger. He watched the truck get­ every half hour all night.” ting smaller in the distance and The boy d id n ’t look up. He shook his head in disgust. “What read the sign on the door of the a rube,” he said. “Holy Christ truck. “Mayfair Trucking Com- what a rube.” The Adventures of Peter Rabbit (From Pygmy Primer to Pendantic Pleonasm)

By G. NEWTON BUKER

ETER is a little brown rabbit. radishes. And then, feeling rather P Peter has three little sisters, sick, he went to look for some i One is named Flopsy. One is parsley. But round the end of a ( named Mopsy. The other is named cucumber frame, whom should he Cottontail. Peter has a nice moth­ meet but Mr. McGregor! er. Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail and As Peter came around the cor­ Peter live with their mother in a ner of the cucumber frame, it just sand bank. The sand bank is un­ happened that Farmer McGregor, der a very big tree. Flopsy is a who was on his hands and knees good rabbit. Mopsy is a good rab­ planting cabbages, looked up and bit. Cottontail is a good rabbit. beheld Young Rabbit peering at But Peter is not a good rabbit. him. McGregor lost no time in Sometimes Peter is a bad little getting to his feet, grabbing the rabbit. business end of a nearby rake, and pursuing the frightened rabbit “Now, my dears,” said old Mrs. and shouting gustily between Rabbit one bright morning, “you gasps of breath, “Cease running, may go into the fields or you may robber! Wait there! Hold!” Peter go down the lane, but do not go was nearly scared to death, and into Mr. McGregor’s garden. Your in his confused state of mind, he father had an accident there. He tore wildly around the garden, was put in a pie by Mrs. Mc­ circling along the secure fence, Gregor. Now run along and do and forgetting completely the not get into mischief, I am going place whence he had entered. In out.” Then old Mrs. Rabbit took P e te r ’s rapid cruise about the gar­ a basket and her umbrella, and den, one of his shoes became dis­ went through the woods to the engaged from its buckle and flew b a k er’s. She bought a loaf of from his foot. After this calamity, brown bread, a loaf of white bread he lowered himself onto all four and five currant buns. feet and in this position he in­ Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail, creased his speed to the extent who were good little bunnies, went that he was able to lose McGregor. down the lane to pick blackber­ Peter had escaped! But n o! Just ries. But Peter, who was very as he was crawling under a con­ naughty, ran straight away to Mr. venient hole1 in the wall, the but­ McGregor’8 garden, and squeezed ton on his new jacket engaged under the gate! First he ate some itself among the strong fibers of a lettuce, then he ate some French gooseberry net. In his wild mental beans. And then he had some condition, Peter d id n ’t think of page 28 mountaineer freeing himself from his captivity. Who should come along but a j So here was poor bewildered Peter mother Rabbit. Up from nowhere ap­ Mouse, bearing peas and beans T ] peared McGregor, the enraged Behind her another pursuer, and in an additional bit Mouse, her baby, followed. of fright, Peter wriggled from his Peter Rabbit saw them and swal- J jacket and tore off, searching for lowed new cover. He found sanction in A big lump in his throat. This ] a water container in the tool shed. Reminded him of his Mother: the way she turned As Peter assumed the attitude around to of resting upon his haunches, Mr. Look back at her offspring. McGregor, the legal possessor of “What do the domain, inaugurated the posi­ You use for a gate to leave this I tion of a curved posterior lumbar, place ? ’9 and commenced keen scrutiny of Asked Peter. Mother Mouse the several inverted urns of pot­ loked at him and has- tery that desisted from exertion Tened on, urging her child to greater speed. upon the surface between the two “Need adjacent vertical levels. Unfor­ You be so unfriendly V 9 thought ] tunately, Peter, barren of personal poor Peter desire, by involuntary spasmodic To himself. He looked ahead, saw action drove ozone forcibly and her goal and said “I ’ll beat audibly through the cavity of his her cranial orifice, thus communicating To it and get away from the location of his proximity to This unfriendly place and go his pursuer. Without hesitation, home. I ’ll never come the latter resumed his hurried Back again.” quest, till the former removed He ran very fast, and when himself from the edifice via an He had crawled under the fence, architectural casement, the while He ran straight toward the woods, disquieting a trio of earthen re­ since ceptacles. Said casement, being of He was afraid of Farmer Mc­ more diminutive magnitude than Gregor, and Mr. McGregor, constituted the dis­ Since he was eager to get back junction of Peter Rabbit from his home to the bar of sand pursuer. Thus frustrated, Mc­ Under the old trees and fences. Gregor recapitulated his halycon horticulturist endeavors. Young The Rabbit, running rapidly, j Rabbit reclined for the express reached the relieving roadway and resolution of assuming catalepsy. rested. But Bunny balked at bar­ His inactivity (by enthymeme of ren banter. No need nap now, no- I regressive meditation, nostalgia ticed naughty Peter, pushing past I for his consanguinity) anteceded the posts on the pavement. Good lacrymose sensibility. An indunda- gosh! Gotta get going: garden I tion of anguish suffocated his in­ gate is giving! McGregor might testinal fortitude. make more mileage than my meager muscles make. Now This is how Young Peter (alias Red Rabbit This tale commences: of Kansas City fame) came gal- mountaineer page 29 loping down the trail, leaving the beheld his own Mother, as she was posse to bite his dust. His fine his parent, who did beget Flopsy, hair was flying in the breeze, his Mopsy, and Cottontail, who were clear eyes were shining with the his sistern. He did spy her and excitement of the chase. “ Shucks, did rush to her. Thou art back, amighty,” he muttered to him­ my son, said Mother, and she did self, “I might just as well rest a hold him close. Preparest thy son spell, ah reckon. A in ’t no man his manna, quoth Peter. Drop nor beast can ketch up to me no dead, thou naked Rabbit, said she. how.’ ’ He pulled up under a wel­ Where hast thou left thy gar­ come shady fern, and laid his ments, and why doth thou look as handsome straight body upon the of the Earth? Thou hast indeed ground, and hoisting his two hind been an unworthy son and must be legs into the air comfortably, he sacrificed—thy supper. Maketh picked the cactus quills from be­ thyself ready for sleep, oh, way­ tween his toes with a nonchalant ward son. paw, and fanned himself with his ears. Now poor little Peter the Hare “Wal,” said'he a short spell Was forced to sit in his chair. later, “I reckon I better be a While his three little sissus pokin ’ on, since Ma will be Ate porridge delicious, a-slicin’ the carrots and cleanin’ The top of his platter was bare. the lettuce. Shore am glad to be For a moral I ’m all at a loss, a-gettin’ near home.” Since the story is stupid and gross. But with shins black and blue, And after he had rested, he did The mails must go through, arise onto his feet and began And a rolling stone gathers no homeward. It was then that he moss. Poems

By DAVID PERKINS

Ballad: "One Floating Flower"

New Y e a r ’s Eve in London: H e r e ’s Piccadilly full Of people surging up and down To wish each other well. Among them moves a figure With eyes of oceanfoam; A girl plucks at his overcoat And leads him to her room. An Irish girl of seventeen, No longer virginal, Draws down the blinds against the night. Beyond the windowsill The midnight bells go booming wild All over London-town, Singing echoes through the streets, The bright confetti’s thrown Into the air, th e r e ’s colored snow Beneath the hurrying feet, And laughing voices fill the pubs Far into the chilly night. Though morning will be greeted by The weary, revelling crowd, For many stiffly silent folk The final cock has crowed. For others, calendars go up As morning storms the sky, But elsewhere Molly Kelly greets The dawn of No Y e a r ’s Day. A sound like thunder fills the room, Beating against her waxen ears: Out of a conch-shell paperweight The turbulent ocean roars. mountaineer page 31

Landmarks

Notice the leaves; how quietly brittle, so Brittle a gust would break them loose. Oh, Notice the leaves.

(The children come and go, Wearing bright colors, laughing; they Have grown a little; the sky expands, the day Tilts under the sunlight)

11 Stay, oh stay A* moment longer; we remember you Taller, or somehow different.”

“Roses grew There on the corner last year—two Enormous bushes; you were gone Long before that. Blossoms upon Apple trees promised fruit, but autumn came on Too quickly, most were lost; the cold Held tightly all that winter.”

“We are old, You know, you young men have so many choices; We have none ...”

You shake their hands, Hearing the brittle leaves, the brittle voices, Rustling in the air. The children dance Beyond you, unapproachable; the traffic noises Drift from the city. Turning, you can see The sooty spear piercing the factory As when you went away: a smokestack, Holding its frozen tornado in the midst of change. This is the end of the voyage, and how strange, How stranger than leaving, is the coming back. The Seventh Post

By REID COLLINS

ARREN eyed the sugar bowl about that look that made Warren W through sleep-stained lids shift imperceptibly in his chair, and asked John to pass the sugar, something that made him pull too please. He dumped two spoon­ hard and too often at the post­ fuls in the coffee and hesitated— breakfast cigarette. three w a sn ’t too much. As he Finally it came. Oscar wiped stirred he collected his thoughts his leather lips and squashed his from the haze of 6:30 a.m. and, cigarette in a saucer. He raised like the others around him, pre­ his watery blue eyes and surveyed pared to address the day. When the heavy plates which all but ob­ the coffee and sugar were one, he scured the red checkered oilcloth. took out a new pack of cigarettes “Well, i t ’s getting time to move.” and opened it carefully. That No one said anything. “Well, first one always tasted good on i t ’s gettin’ about that time. Guess top of breakfast. He lit it and w e ’ll fence some today while John felt the smoke erase all taste from and Emmet finish with the bind­ his throat and fill his lungs. This ing.” He was looking at Warren. was the best time of day; this was No one spoke. Oscar pushed at the best place to be at the best the dead cigarette in the saucer time, lingering over the coffee, and teetered on his chair. He put leisurely waiting for Oscar to his hands against the table and make the first move, to tell them began pushing himself backwards. that they had better get an early Breakfast was over. start, that they were way behind As they filed out onto the porch, with everything. each nodded to O s c a r ’s wife and With the others—John, Emmet, daughter Elizabeth. They rarely Roy, and Lindy—Warren enjoyed spoke to them and when they did a small show of independence aft­ it was a mumbled “Mornin’ Mrs. er breakfast. Until Oscar made Golden.” Usually the older men the first move th e y ’d all keep merely inclined their heads while quiet, basking in the silence, forc­ the boys—Roy, Lindy, and War­ ing his hand. ren—went to the trouble of look­ While thus engaged, Warren ing the other way. It was routine glanced across the table at the for all but Warren; when he had foreman. He was looking intent­ had time to wash pretty well, h e ’d ly at Warren, not evincing a de­ sometimes stare at Elizabeth until sire to speak, simply looking at she looked away. Then h e ’d smile him. But there was something and walk down the steps. mountaineer page 33

This morning, as usual, the stuff around the y a r d ’s at least work details banded themselves twenty years old, stuff they together in silence, waiting to be bought when prices were cheap driven or directed to work. Oscar an’ they figured they were gonna adjusted his hat, smoothing back go places when things got better. ’ ’ the gray hair out of sight. “Well, His youthful voice held an atmos­ the boys and I will try to finish phere of complete knowledge and the fencin’ down to the corner. understanding of the problem. You fellas ought to get the bind­ Warren flipped his cigarette ing done to d a y .’’ over the side board and smiled. They all nodded and walked “What the hell do you care about down to the yard by the sheds, the the company ? If the old men want men picking up their feet from the to lay out in California and let ground, the boys scuffing clouds the place be run by stupid bastards of powdery dust. It followed like Oscar, then it serves ’em them along, caught in their wake, right.” He tilted his head back thin and yellow, a ghost in the and closed his eyes to the warm­ cold light. ing sun. His features were fine They stopped by the sheds; John and well-molded. A scruff of a and Emmet stood together while beard broke the line of his jaw the boys gathered like indifferent and gave his face a dirty rather sheep, waiting for the next order. than manly appearance. They kicked their heavy boots at “Well, anyway, it seems pretty the ground and lit the second dumb to buy all that stuff and let cigarette of the day, while Oscar it rot in the yard.” Lindy, too, lay gazed up the hill to where the sun back in the sun. It glittered on would soon appear to tell them his peach-blond stubble and made that they must work. At last its his normally rosy complexion rim moved up on the ridge, mak­ vivid. He and Roy were both ing the hill itself black. young, still in high school. They had each taken the ranch as a “John an’ Emmet can get the tractor and commence with the good place to get in shape for fall binding. The boys and I ’ll go out football, a good place to train for where we left off.” that all-important pursuit. They went their separate ways, Warren, the tall, detached fig­ Lindy and Roy to the sheds for ure slumped in the truck with the implements, Warren to gas up them, was not much older. His the truck. Their tasks done, the long frame sometimes betrayed his boys hunched themselves down in immaturity with its awkwardness. the bed of the truck and waited A youthful enthusiasm occasional­ for Oscar to drive them to work. ly broke out in the bunkhouse at This morning as usual it was his nights, especially those Saturday duty to fill the water bags. nights when th e y ’d go to town, the boys to the show and Warren Lindy yawned and looked at the to the bar. Warren, the mysteri­ surrounding yards. “A goddam ous, who would lie in his bunk shame. Look at it, all the old and intimate experience with junk—stuff th e y ’ll never use.” weird currents of society; a tramp “That’8 the way it is with these steamer to Australia, a fast freight big outfits that lose interest, ’ ’ to Tampa, unfamiliar terms, agreed Roy. “They could be real­ ‘bu n k o ’, ‘cr ib ’, obscure manner­ ly big, but look at ’em. A ll the isms from places far away. That page 34 mountaineer was Warren, from some place far bad out here if things were done away. right. You know, w e ’re doin’ a Their drowsy minds were jolted job on this fence line that could into action as the water bags be­ have been finished weeks ago if gan dropping over the edge and th e y ’d do it right.” into their laps. They swore at “Yeah,” said Roy. “T h e r e ’s a Oscar as they gathered them up goddam post-hole digger sittin’ in and put them into a corner. The the garage right now. If they truck shuddered and began rock­ w e re n ’t using the tractor to bind ing through the yard and up the down in the bottom, w e ’d have it hill. Ahead of it lazy grasshop­ up here runnin’ the digger. I t ’s a pers, torpid with the morning waste of man power to screw cold, crawled wearily out of the around with bars and shovels. ’ ’ way; later they would jump and Warren nodded and smiled. fly. As the engine whined and “Uhuh. So maybe y o u ’d rather climbed out of the valley, the run the place. ...” In the en­ countryside began rolling away, a suing silence he centered his at­ huge panorama of yellow and tention on an industrious hawk brown and blue; the yellow was circling feather-like above them. wheat, endless strips and pools of “See that? T h a t’s the way to live. it, ragged and scotched by the On your own; working for num­ brown which was bare earth rest­ ber one. H e ’s out earlier than the ing until the next planting. Over­ rest—probably eats the best, too.” head the sky was blue as usual; He fondled one of the cool water no sign of rain that might mean bags, letting the soaked canvas trouble for the owner and rest for moisten his hands. Within sec­ the worker. onds the dust had caked thick The trio sitting on the jolting upon them. “Whatever you do, truck-bed held themselves away d o n ’t work in a bakery,” he said, from the sides and braced their musing over the hands. “I t ’s the palms against the splintery floor. gummiest, hottest thing on earth.” Now and then a crow bar or a The others nodded and Roy spade slid away from the piled said, “Yeah, I was thinkin’ the equipment and one of them would other day, an’ I bet the women kick it back. Warren pushed an back at the house put in as much insistent spade away from his work feeding us as we do dig­ boot. “God, what a mess today ging.” is. What a hell of a way to live. Warren moved farther away You kids ever see Australia? They from the sideboards and grinned. got the damndest country there “Yeah, I guess they do.” Wiping you ever saw. Right in the mid­ the doughy dust on his gloves, he dle is nothing—nothing but scrub added, “Poor little Elizabeth, and sand, hundreds of miles of stuck clear out here in the nothing but desert. You holler woods. ...” sometimes about being thirty miles “Bet s h e ’d be pretty if she ever from the home town; you should dressed up,” said Lindy. “In live where there a r e n ’t any people school s h e ’d do okay alongside a but cannibals and snakes. . . .” lot of ’em .” He looked curiously Lindy, the boy who would make at Warren whose smile had frozen first-string tackle, looked back at on his face in a manner approach­ the dust cloud following the truck. ing an arch fiend. “W h a t’s so “Jeez, though. It w ouldn’t be so funny?” he asked. mountaineer page 35

“Nothing, kids. Nothing at all,” picked up a bar and a spade. Warren continued grinning. ‘ ‘ Roy, you an ’ Lindy can work to­ 14Well, tell us if y o u ’re think­ gether while me and Warren team ing something funny. Y o u ’re al­ up.” Warren followed him in ways putting on that know-it-all silence as he paced off the dis­ look an ’ then keeping the secret. ’ ’ tance from the last post and Warren looked at them and worked the spade in. It was a laughed out loud. “Maybe, when primitive method: using the spade y o u ’re a little older.” as deep as possible and then the “Little older, hell. I still d o n ’t crowbar, inching and biting away think y o u ’re as old as you say. the graveled earth with the bar C om ’on, w h a t’s funny?” until there was enough loose mat­ “Nothin’,” insisted Warren. “I ter. to shovel out. Warren was was just thinkin ’ about poor little shouldering the bar before the Elizabeth, stuck clear out here in others broke ground. They la­ the woods. . . .” bored steadily, digging a hole, The truck bounced, the bed standing a naked post in it ,and dipped and dove into the ditch. tamping the earth down. Tamp­ Without looking they knew that ing was the hardest, lifting the they were where they had left off bar and letting the flattened end fencing. Oscar drove into the compact the dirt around the post. field and followed the fence line Warren muttered to himself as for a few hundred yards and his stringy arms began to protest stopped. He climbed out and went against the weight of the bar. By around to the back of the truck. ten o ’clo c k he was silent again; “Here we are, boys. Climb out.” there was no point in wasting They kicked the tools off the energy. Now and then h e ’d find bed and jumped after them. War­ O sc a r ’s liquid eyes examining him ren looked at Oscar. “How far do as they worked; the blue puddles you think w e ’ll get?” would usually glance away upon “Down to the corner,” the fore­ discovery and Oscar would in­ man replied, adding defiantly, crease the pace. ‘‘th a t’8 not so damn far.” His Eleven: the sun began to revel small, blue eyes watered and he in its strength . Their shirts clung wiped the dust from their heavy against them while O s c a r ’s wrinkled edges. “Depends on how gray stubble harbored countless hard we go.” He said it as a man little globes of sweat. Lindy and who had worked ranch work for Roy took more time tamping and some forty years, a man who had moved ahead slower,. displaying found that pace of all good hands the pained expressions of youth and who could follow it for hours feeling overtaxed. Warren met without stopping. The boys had the old m a n ’s repeated stares with tried before to outdo him, Roy and smiles, now, inscrutable and blank Lindy had tried, that is; Warren smiles. knew better. And as Warren and Eleven-thirty: the water bags, the old man exchanged glances, now dry and dead on the outside, there was an almost indiscernable showed signs of collapse as they note of something beyond the hung limply sagging on the posts. ordinary relationship of foreman It was hot. The hoppers buzzed; and hand. Warren turned away the flies sang through the rising and began putting on his gloves. air; the tall cheat-grass was si­ Oscar pulled on his gloves and lent; all the victims of the noon- page 36 mountaineer time oppression began to feel the from their faces and necks. They heat penetrating, boring in to took off their gloves and let the meet the warmth of their own be­ breeze creep into their palms and ings. On the human ones the relieve the cramping muscles with sweat ran sticky and profusely. coolness. L in dy’s and B oy’s heads wobbled “You tired?” Lindy asked Roy. on their shoulders and their hands He turned as Roy nodded. “You flopped at their sides at any op­ tired, Warren?” portunity. Warren rolled over on his side. Warren, too, began utilizing lulls “Not too. You know, this is a in the activity. When Oscar funny country—not bad for a shoveled, he arched his back and while. Any place gets you after then hunched his shoulders for­ a while, though. Quess this is ward, searching for new positions gettin’ me.” of rest. Oscar moved on; the yel­ Roy glanced over at him. “You low veins around his faded pupils planning to leave?” grew taut and full and the sweat He was a long time in answer­ matted his hair to his forehead, ing, being engaged with the yel­ but still the pace was not broken; low powder chasing the truck. he had worked this way before “Maybe,” he said finally. “Yeah, many times. More and more his I guess so.” He said it as though eyes dwelled upon the drawn he had just made up his mind. youth working at his side. Less The vehicle rolled into the yard and lessl were they inclined to and lurched to a halt. As the dust looking away when discovered. enfolded them, O sc a r ’s eyes ap­ Once Warren arched his back peared over the edge of the side from picking at the stubborn boards. “Hurry an’ get washed, ground and found the orbs staring boys.” He disappeared and the blearily at him. He raised from voices of Emmet and John hailed the hole and grinned through his him farther up towards the house. sweat. His mouth formed a vile The boys eased to the ground phrase, but no sound issued from and ambled slowly to the pump his throat; he resumed digging. where they took turns dousing Finally, when the sun allotted a each other with the cold surprise mere stub of shadow to the land­ from the well. “When do you plan scape, the foreman squinted at his on leaving?” asked Roy. watch and proclaimed, ‘* I t ’s noon, “Maybe pretty soon,” replied boys. W e ’ll quit now.” He Warren. “When you begin to get glanced down the road and ob­ fed up,” it gets bad awful quick. served, “Only seven more to the Like a disease; you ’re fine ’ti l you corner. Not a bad m o rn in ’.” get it and then i t ’s no time ’ti l Roy and Lindy lost no time in y o u ’re sick as hell. I ’m sick as quitting their project and hustling hell.” the tools into the truck. They lay They threw on the pungent back on the bed and rested their shirts and walked up to the house. heads on their arms to absorb the The bell seldom rang at noon; roughness of the road, grateful at there was no need for it. Inside, the rocking as they emerged onto the Kool-aid p itc h e r ’s red liquid the county road and headed for rapidly diminished under the de­ the valley. The warm air floated mands of thirsty bodies and the over the cab of the truck and felt warm food gave way quickly un­ cool as it evaporated the sweat der the attack of forks and spoons. mountaineer page 37

As in the morning, talk! was fence line.” He swiftly noted short and seldom. The binding that the others had raised their w a sn ’t quite done. Yes, they got heads and were staring at him in a few holes dug. And Christ but disbelief. “Besides that, it never i t ’s hot. works to have the company men When they were satisfied, they out in California and some old sat back and had a cigarette. War­ bastard back here tryin’ to run ren found the fo re m a n ’s eyes on things.” him as he was looking towards the As he spoke O sc a r ’s skin began kitchen. He turned and stared at to glow, and it gradually became Oscar, the same stare he had used sanguine after he finished. The all morning. They sat transfixed foreman gripped a glass* in front that way until a clatter in the of him and said, “Any time you kitchen pulled both their eyes in think I ’m not doin’ the best job that direction. Warren moved in possible, you d o n ’t deserve to his chair. “You know, I ’ve been work here. Look at you, a filthy thinking. W e ’re damn near done guttersnipe we took in because we with the fe n c in ’, only seven more needed help. ...” He thrust his to dig, an ’ stringin ’ wire w o n ’t be lower lip forward and stared much. H a y in g ’s next and i t ’s one harder at Warren. thing I ca n ’t do because of bein’ All eyes were on the youth, even allergic. ...” He paused, looked the ones from the kitchen had around the table and back to been diverted from the scullery Oscar. “It think I ’ll quit, Oscar.” tasks to witness the cause of the No one said anything. John and commotion. He wrapped his arms Emmet were unmoved and the around the back of his chair and boys imitated their disregard. glanced towards the kitchen and Oscar merely looked at or through back to the men.. “Shall I tell him, his hastily combed hair them, Oscar f Shall I tel? ’em matted in streaks of gray over the why I ’m really quittin’f” A bald spaces it was supposed to crafty smile lifted the corners of cover, smoke drifting from the his mouth. “What would have spit-ringed cigarette in his hand. happened if I d id n ’t quit! Y o u ’d “Oh,” he said. “Well, y o u ’re have figured up something to get probably right. With hayin’ com­ rid of me anyway. ...” Another mencing and you not liking it, glance kitchenwards and there re­ there is n ’t much use in sta y in ’.” mained but one pair of eyes there. He continued to stare until War­ He got up slowly, nonchalantly, ren ’s returning glance grew and walked to the window. ‘ * Make vicious. out my check, Oscar. I want to Warren flicked the long ash from catch Grogan for a ride when he his cigarette into the saucer and goes after the mail. ...” said quietly, “Besides that, this Oscar got up and shuffled to place is all backwards, Oscar. A guy the big roll-top desk where he wastes more time here just won­ kept the books. The others at the derin’ what’8 cornin’ next than he table fastened their gaze on the spends w o r k in ’. Look at all the saucers or the silverware. From junk out there in the yard an’ the someone’8 lips came a whispery sheds. Piles of it goin ’ to rot. An ’ whistle while Roy and Lindy ex­ look at us up there fencin’ with changed a couple of glances for- the men down here binding when telling uproarious laughter once we could use the tractor on the outside. Occasionally someone took page 38 mountaineer an unrewarding look towards the cigarette and said, “Say, John, he 1 kitchen. bunks with you. Maybe you Warren stood tall and lean by s h o u ld ’ve gone down an’ watched the window, watching for the him pack to see that he d id n ’t neighbor, Grogan, who could give take nothing.” John examined his cigarette him a ride to the highway, or into critically and said slowly, “Not town if he chose. much danger, Oscar. I d o n ’t have “There,” said Oscar. “A hun­ much to bother ta k in ’.” He drew dred an* thirty.” He walked over a lung of smoke and added, “Be­ and handed the check to Warren sides, he packed two weeks who swung past him and out the ago. ... 8 door. The fo r e m a n ’s hand smashed The foreman turned and shuf­ the cigarette into the saucer and fled back to his chair. He sat he rose to stare out the window down and started to finish his where Warren, the former em­ cigarette when the sound of a ployee, was boarding the truck, i truck came drifting down the The weak blue eyes leapt back to valley. “That 11 be Grogan goin’ John as the truck began cracking for the mail,” ventured Roy. They its way up out of the valley. listened in silence as the un­ “You . .. that son of a bitch.. . !” muffled engine cracked down the The old man stood up, hesitated, grade towards the yard. One by and took a step towards the door. one they turned to the window. He remained there bent over for Down in the yard stood Warren, a moment and then, the tr u c k ’s one hand held high above his head engine a thin cackle in the dis­ as a signal, the other gripping the tance, he turned and screamed to handle of his bag. Oscar stopped the kitchen, “Elizabeth! Eliza­ in the process of squashing his beth, goddam it, come in here... !” Your Friendly Gas Company

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