The Irish standard., 1916-12-30
'I'm Going to Be Straight, Palmer"

-Im 1oIn9 10 DC Stfal9nC, Falmefs
about it. She could not belong to him.
He did not want her to belong to any,
one else.
zone of the nurses in the hospital,
Miss Page, has got me something to do
at Linton & Hofburgs. 1 am going on
for the January white sale. If I make
good they will keep me-"
He had put her aside without q
qualm; and now he met her announce
ment with approval. He meant to let
her alone. They would have holiday
together, and then they would say
good-by. And she had not fooled him.
She still cared. He was getting off
well, all things considered. She might
have raised row.
"Good work!'' he said. you'll be a
lot happier. But that isn't any reason
why we shouldn't be friends, is it?
Just friends; mean that. would like
to feel that can stop in now and then
and say how do you do"
II promised Miss Page" a
"Never mind Miss Page" ~
The mention Of Sidney's name
brought up in his mind Christine as he
had left her that morning. He scowled.
Things were not going well at home.
There was something wrong with
Christine. She used to be a good
sport, but she had never been the same
since the day of the wedding. He
thought her attitude toward him was
one Of suspicion. 1t made him uncom-
Portable. But any attempt on his part
to fathom it only met with cold silence.
That had been her attitude that MORN
! ing.
"Pll tell you what Well d." he said.
I'VE won't go to any of the old places.
I've found a new roadhouse in the
| country that's respectable enough to
suit anybody. Wen go out to Schwit-
ter's and get some dinner. I'll prom
Use to get YOU back early. How's that?"
In the end she gave in. And on the
| way out he lived up to the letter Of
their agreement. The situation ex-
| hilarated him: Grace with her new
| air of virtue, her new aloofness; his
comfortable car; Johnny Rosenfeld's
! discreet back and alert ears.
The adventure had all the thrill Of !"
now conquest in it. He treated tbs!
| she refused Il cigarette, felt gIowin;sl..
! virtnous and exultant,at the same tirlc.
When the car drew up before ,h"
Schwitter place. he slipped Il five-doli;,;
bill into johnny ROSenfcld's not over
clean hand.
Il don't mind the ears" he said.
"Just watch your tongue. lad" Anc
Johnny stalled his engine in sheer SUI.
prise.
There's just enough of the Jew t.
me-" said johnny, "to know how to tall
lot and say nothing, Mr.. Howe"
Johnny Kosenfeld at eighteen haG
developed a philosophy of four WORDS
It took the place of the Golden Rule
;he Ten Commandments, and the Cato
chism. 1t was: mind your own bus
ness"
True to his promise, Palmer wakene'
the sleeping boy before nine o'clock
Grace had eaten little and drunk mott:
ing; but Howe was slightly stimulated
"Give her the once ovcr.'" he toll
Johnny, "ard then go back and craw'
INTO the rugs again. I'll drive in"
Grace sat beside him. Their progress:
was slow and rough over the countr.
roads, but wien they reached the
state road Howe threw open the throt
tie. He drove well. The liquor wa:
In his blood. He took chances and got
away with them, laughing at the girls
gasps Of disnay.
"Wait until l get beyond Simkins.
ville," he said, "and I'll let her out.
You're going to travel tonight, honey"
The girl sat beside him with her
eyes fixed ahead. He had been drink
ing, and the warmth Of the liquor was
in his voice. She was determined on
one thing. She was going to make
him live up to the letter of his prom
Ise to go away at the house door; and
more and more she realized that it
would be difficult. His mood was reck-
less, masterful. Instead of laughing
when she drew back from proffered
caress, he turned surly. Obstinate
lines that she remembered appeared
from his nostrils to the corners Of his
mouth. She was uneasy.
Finally she hit on q plan to make