Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-10-20

When they parted. block further down
the street. Banks said:
"Mebbe well have little surprise LOT
You when you come tomorrow night. l
can't say for sure. but it's more ikely
And mcbbe you won't be sorry you come"
Hunch had no doubts about staying II
would have taken more than the four Man
iStogee tugs to have pulled him out OF the
harbor that next day He went up 70
Banks house early in the evening. and
found the old gentleman alone in the front
room. in his shirt sleeves, popping corn at
the stove.
Come right in. my boy. The women
folks drove me out of the kitchen. we
thought we'd have some old-fashioned pop
corn balls. Hope you like EN-.
Hunch grinned and sat on the sofa.
NO setting around lazy. now. You've got
to gf.t to work along with the rest of US.
Here, you shell them ears there in the
pan.
Humch drew up Il chair and held the pan
between mis- knees
where's all the folks" he said, as he
I started on his second ear.
They're out in the kitchen. the whole
lot of en-. | told en- we'd De out as soon
as the corn was popped
Mr. Banks spoke without looking around,
and in a nervous manner. He was watch
ing the pepper iutenty. and he kept shaking
it after the last kernel had burst into white
bloom. When Hunch grew little impa-
tjent to go into the kitchen Mr. Banks de-
layed. and tired to keep up Il conversation.
, At last however. the corn WAS ready. Mr..
Banks led the way to the kitchen door.
opened it, ard waited for Hunch to 90
! through first. Mrs. Banks greaSing
pans at the table; Mamie was in the pantry.
rafting the dishes. y tall girl stood at the
stove. stirring the candy, her back to the
door. lunch stopped a moment and looked
at her. II WAS jess Bartlett.
Step lively. Badeau. This Is our busy
day" Mr.. Banks brushed by him hold. ng
the pan of popcorn high up on his hand.
| Ike Il negro waiter. and trying to appear
unrnuCerurd
Come on. Mr. Badeau, called Mrs.
Banks. Just hold these pans minute.
We're going to make you work. too.
Mamie came out of the pantry. blushing.
and looked saucily AT Hunch He had not
seen her look like that for more than a
year. Then he kncT that Jess had turned
ner OF the table said:
Hello, Jess"
Hello John" she replied in low voice
The others had turned away. but now Mr.
Banks called out:
pull up some chairs. folks This is
where re all get busy More lively. my
boy. We've got to make the balls before
Z gets hard
Hunch DID not know how 1t happened that
he sat next to Jess at the table. He felt
! strange and uncomfortable. But the others
were fun of mischief. and they joked slyly
| and winked AT eac! other and misinterpret-
| ed Hunch's backward manner, that it
| was. after all. lively evening. When 1t
came time to go Jess said to Mrs. Banks:
| Guess I'll have to go alone and then lin
gered. not knowing whether she would
have TO go alone Finally, Mr.. Banks said
to Hunch: II don't spose you'd mind just
this once seeing that Jess gets home all safe
and sound, would you, now" So Hunch
put on his coat and he and Jess said good
night. and when they got out on the street
she tmidly took his arm and they walked
along together without a word.
The silence continued until Hunch felt
that he must say something.
HOWE you folks been all this tine?'
he asked.
We've been pretty well. Jim spraned
his wrist, but it's all over
Again they werc silent. and though
Huuch tried he could think of nothing more
to say. They Were on the last block of
their walk when Jess, her hand trembling
, Il little on his arm. said:
Haven't you ever forgiven me john"
1t was a relief to Hunch that she had
III oxen the ice
Why. l Iunno / amt got nothing spe-
cal to forgive
Are YOU mad now?"
No. | amt mad"
You didn't come around. It's been
long time
Hunch had no explanation. They stood
at the gate. each waiting for the other to
go on. Jess turned half away. and picked
AT broken corner of the gate post. lunch
tive in the poise of her figure. and even
with her big hat on enough of her hair
showed to give impression of its rich
ness. She looked up at him.
Amt we ever going TO be-frends
john
lunch hesitated. He was making up his
mind to tell the truth.
wv hat makes you act like you do, then -
"'Cause-well cause there amt no use
patching up an old hull and calling 1t IA
| new boat. Jess. Things is changed. There's