The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1916-04-04
BREAKING THE NEWS
BY WAYNE GRAY.
Nov, Make, you know

Don't call me MaAle. MAJ Shooh
his big blond head wickedly at the
offending one. IF ever a kid needed
1t taken out of him, you do, and FOL
O nickel I'd do 1t myself"
You'll make a fine big brother,
don't think so-maybe," Freddie flung
back, but In a rebuking tone, even a
grieved and disappointed tone. Why
don't you talk that way when Edies
around to listen and get acquainted
with you"
ITS a mighty good thing for Edith
and me there's only n like you in
the family. | don't mind kids and |
know all about boys, but there's a linn
it. What time did they go?"
about seven. | told him you was
coming with your car at seyen-thirty
to take her u You see, 1t was this
way, Max: Edie'd been crying ever
since she came home and the girls
and mother fused over her and told
her it was all for the best and how
nice you were and how they all liked
you-you know the line they hand
out. And Edie cried all the more.
Then pretty soon mother asks her did
you two have a fight and she says no,
she don't want to hear your name"
Max's face redeemed. He lit a ciga-
rette with unsteady fingers.
Go ahead. What else" he said.
Then the bell rings and it's the
boss son down where she's been work
ing this last week and that's all. They
went out to a show"
Freddie stopped short. Even at
eleven one may understand things,
and the look on Max Dittmar's face
cut short any further condolences.
Il wouldn't care. Max" he added
c~onfidentially. Girls is just girls, you
know, and she's engaged to you"
What's that got to do with it when
she'll go out with another fellow" He
turned quickly at the opening of the
outer door. but 1t was only Kitty,
Edith's younger sister.
NOW what's happened?" she
laughed. "Edie eloped?"
Hes having the everlasting colly-
wobbles because she went out with
Jack Lewis"
Mother wants you to go to the
store, Freddie" Kit gave him a long,
steady stare of infinite disapproval.
AS the door shut, she glanced at Max.
Max. will you Just listen to me a
minute before mother in and
the rest? Eide and / room together
and we've been chums ever since we
were toddlers, / guess. She's cried
herself to sleep for three nights now.
You don't mind IL / tell you just the
way 1t seems to me, do you? You've
always seemed pretty big to US, Max.
even before you asked Edie to marry
you. Father'd give me an awful
scolding II he knew / dared to open
my mouth to you, but it's for Edie's
sake. Do you mind?"
Il suppose she's In love with this
kid or thinks she is," Max blurted out.
go ahead. Don't mind me-"
she don't think she Is. She knows
It. So does he. But, you see. you've
got father and mother IN your side.
and Edie's sensible. Edie told me last
night she didn't dare break the en-
gagement. But she said she knew
the minute Jack came into the office
and spoke to her he was the right
one"
Max stood listening. watching her
face all animated and tender as she
pleaded Edith's cause.
Anyway, l don't think it's so wrong
to break an engagement" Kit said
earnestly. Maybe by and by you'd
find somebody you liked better, too
Maybe | would" assented Max.
only we'll miss you awfully in the
family" Kits hazel eyes were full of
regret. Maybe l shouldn't have told
you. but l want to get some sleep
nights. Mother1l be needing me to
help with dinner. Good-by."
She held out her hand laughingly.
Max stood up and laid his hands on
her shoulders. looking~down into her
eyes searchingly.
Say, listen. Kit. Would you throw
me down like that for Jack Lewis ?
Do you think that's fair?"
Kit laughed. and drew back.
Il don't know but what II Is.
know I'd have thrown down Jack for
you II 1t had been the other way"
Freddie opened the hall door from
the dining-room. took one amazed look
at the two figures In the parlor and
moved stealthily back into the shad,
ows.
Gee" he said to himself thought
fallv cha muaf afLa aur Fn-gIxs