Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-11

"IETELL old girl. what sor, Of day did
w you have7'
Dckys CHEEKY voice came like n fresh
breeze through the stale air of closed
room. had been broodlnE all the after
noon. The dscourteEy and inRrattudc ~
tho woman across the hall and my expert
ence with Harry Underwood on the omni-
bus had depressed me.
had sat pretending 10 read. but in re-
allty idly thinking ever since ! had come
back from my unpleasant bus ride. had
eaten no luncheon, for we had breakfnsted
20 late, and this was the first time / had
Rcen Dlclty since morning
~ perfectly horrid day. Dicky. on but
I'm glad 10 see you"
clung to him NJ he kissed me- lie
evidently read my need OF HIS sympathy.
for he picked me up and carried me 90 our
armchair and sat down. gathering mo close
10 him, and smoothing my hair.
Now tell mo all about H." ho said. "Get
II out ot your system and you'll feel bet
ter"
had to decide swlf,iy how much
should tell him Of Harry Underwoods an
noylnR perslstence In seeiinR my aociety
I know Dicky'R unrcRHoninR childish jent.
ousy. I did not wish to arouse It n
could possibly handle the sltuatlon myself
made up my mind TO hold my tongue con.
ccrnlnK his friends ridiculous actions for
n while. at least.
you were right and was wrong this
morning about those people across the hall"
1 began
why, what did they do? Were they
rude to your DlCty brlBtled Mt the nero
idea OF rudoncRs TO me.
"lll toll you all about II, and you can
Judge for yourself"
SO for the second time rctallcd the petty
little story Of the rudcness Of my neIghbor
across the hall
T,,,a TNt,t,,, ,,.h.. . h,.,1
finEhcd. ~ never heard anything to cquai
that. We saved her bnby'a life among us.
and Hho considers II bore to meet you
Well I guess the next nurscmald who
comes here with a sick baby will he
told to beat II to the nearest hospital"
/ could not help but smile at Dicky's in
dIgnatlon and his way OF expressing II.
There couldn't anything like that happen
again II In too strange an occurrence TO
come more than once"
'I should hope 80" DIcky's tone was
still wrathful.
Let us forget nl about 1t. I'm sure
never want to think about II again"
IAN right. What did you do when you
walked away like tragedy queen2"
Nearly walked into an automobile and
had my lifo saved by policeman"
smiled Mt the recollection.
what! You're joking, Madge"
Indeed. I'm not. but thero wasn't any
danger, think even IL the policeman did
scold me.
Tell me nll about II. this minute"
Don't ever, ever do such n thing again."
he said what do you think would become
OF me II anything should happen to you?
don't want TO think or talk of It,"
He shook his shoulders as II throwing off
the memory OF the occurrence.
81 hope you had pleasant ride. II surely
should have been dandy to make UP for
tho rest OF tho morning"
smiled grImly TO myself at tho hateful
memory OF the ride. But l must not let
Dicky suspect tho truth.
We'll I think him decidedly tresome"
I returned when i rido on tho top OF
a bus either want TO bo alone or have
n really congenlal companion with me-"
Like me7" Dicky tensed, smiling at me.
Like you" answered. returning his
smile
"Dinnor ready" RatIs's voice broke In.
And here have not svon my overooat
of. That's what comes OF comforting
downhearted wives" Dleity hurried into
his room.
The little talk with DIclSy had restored
my cheerfuness. We were both hungry
and we made most excellent meal. neither
OF us talking much until the coffee came
in.
'I have n dandy scheme for tomorrow"
DclSy lighted his cigar as no spoke and
stretched himself luxuriously.
what In III"
We'll. II tomorrow is like today. I've Just
got TO get whin OF country air. Today
was like spring, and tho minute anything
like spring comes, I'm like n fish out OF
water until l get TO tho country. There's
tho bulllest piece OF country out on Long
Island about twenty-five miles. real brooks
and woods and meadows and things like
that And there's an old inn that dates
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