Evening star., 1918-04-14
BY IDA nj. EVANS

snssr. = .in.t got nothing As.s
slimmy hi. him. Swanson hit bseh
Then they fought Swanson WAS ha8s
ger and heavier, but Slimmy was moeo
active, Two minutes later when . po-
liceman reached them. they were eAf-
ing, in turn. the dust Of the aspha1A
pavement. The policeman WAS lnceae.
ed. "ssyCeEgrievedly-~you mussnt
don't you go to quiet SPOT ana seetis
your argument?"
They drew apart and scrambled NJ.
And he took in Slimmy's cheap black
suit pallid skin. and calloused hands.
hazarded shrewdly.
Slimmy hung his head
You make me tired!roWrGehfc1Ry;
I'D arrest you. but I don't Like to
take you up before you've had . ohasca
not to be hard on fellows Just ont
But" b dissSstsdly. YOU must be ischanE
siIimmy brushed ,,g sas aqs oe q.
1rowned at them. than stroiled On.
Well I'll be- slimmy thousht-
fully did not finish the aaseveradon.
the neishborhood where Bella had
lived. THE time no one answered his
ring at the cottage He decided to try
at the adjoining building. II was a
delicatessen store, and very likely
Bella had been known in II. Living 90
CLOSE, she surely must have patronlxad
it
He went fn-and Bella stood behind
the counter. measuring potato salad:
Bella herself. plump little bit ouoes.
for her two small daughters were pull
ing at her clean pink apron, but newer
theless a pleasant-looking young
matron. as restful to the eye a. q
Certainly there had been a mistake.
Slimmy had known It ell along. Bella
was never the kind to go back on you!
He advanced shyly but brightly.
potato salad back into Its glass bowl.
pushed her two small surprised daush-
ters out OF the way and bounced from
behind the counter to hug slimmy.
Ed! I just was saying to Harry
some dayl I'd have come out-there-C
with faint hesitation before the hurt
ing adverb-"But It is so hard TO set
away from the store We're 80 busy
we bought this store7 Yes7 Three
months ago!" And then Bella proved
that she stin had the temper Of old
That woman in the cottagei MeAnf
She 10 the meanest woman that ever
was put on earth! Six years ago We
rented Of her: and every month the
rent was paid right on the minutet
Sure as the sun rises! And then be-
cause we wanted few dollarT worth
of repairing once in a while. And
you should see the way some land
lords in this neighborhood flx up for
tenants! But would she spend q penny
for good tenants like us2
mo. street Not a penny. MOT q
red oentl You see, she thought On &C
count Of US having the store hero
wwed not move away. But we fooasd
Harry. a quiet. blue-eyed man. who
had entered from the rear. nodded
good-naturedly and shook hands oor>
daily with his brother-in-law.
We had the man who owns this pore
building put five rooms above and we
moved right here. And, would you bes
lieve It," triumphantly. "she has never
been able to rent the shack! And 50
she had to move into It herself to get
we meet I Just know you're tired. Ed.
But your room is all ready. You can
go right up and wash and then supper
will be ready. Children. come here and
kiss your Uncle Ed"
Ed-otherwise "Slimmy"-was blinks
ing. Bel1a's rapid-fire conversation waS
blfnk-inducing. He kissed the two
small, bashful little girls; he went up
to his room; he came down and had
supper-an very thoughtfully; Ana a
finally quit talking and begun to yewns
and Harry was shaking down the fur
mace in the basement. Sltmmy sai9
humbly, eyes down: This IL good OF
you, Bella And I'm going to go
straight5.you needn't worry-rn hnd
Bella cut a yawn In tho middle.
Worry! Who said I wais worrying? ?
You children"-shrilly-" back into
bed this minute! No. your Uncle Ed
don't want to see you! AS for work.
you needn't look for work! With this
store booming, and Harry can't ma 9
man he can trust. right there's your
work. Listen to that child cought
Where's the Group medicine? I'm got
ing right up and spank her; she waded
right In the rain puddles today in spite
Of all could dor
Bella bounced up to her eff1n9 onS
spring. And presently she called crosss
ly down that Harry and Ed should
come straight to bed 1t was late. And
then: 'Oh, that alley window is un!
barred I 10 believe. Harry, you fix it,"
But Harry could not make the bar
tight. He asked Slimmy to bring him
a hammer. THE screw must have fall
en- out. / got to tend to it tomorrow.
concernedly. There's been lot OF
burglaries around here lately"
THAT so?" asked Slimmy. solicitous.
ly. Here, I'll drive q nail right there
go. Therei That's tightl First
thing tomorrow morning TIL make .
thorough Job OF It"
II wish you would.- agreed HAFrys
I'm darned glad you've como I 90.
tAinly do need some one to hefpss