Evening star., 1919-04-27

scrubbing clothes. the steam drver,
the bathtubs. the Iunchroom. TYLER
looked after him regretfully Then he
sped after him and touched him on
the arm.
Listen. Could would they-do
you mean 1 could clean UP in there
az much as ! wanted, And wash my
things: And take bath in a bath
tub, with all the hot water I want"
"Yo' sho' kin Ony things look
mighty grabby now, Always ia SAT-
days Jes wait aroun' an grab vo.
tu'n."
Tyler waited. And while he waited
he watched to see how the other
boys did things. He saw how thew
scrubbed their uniforms with srub-
bing brushes. and plenty of hot water
and soap. He saw how they hung
them carefully. SO that they might
not wrinkle. in the dryers He saw
them emerge, glowing. from the tub
rooms. And he waited. the fever of
cleanliness burning in his eye.
His turn came. He had waited
more than an hour reading. listening
to the phonograph and the electric
piano. and watching
Now he saw his chance and seized
it, And then he went through a cere-
mony that was almost a ritual. Stslla
Ramps. could she have seen it. would
have felt repaid for all her years OF
soap-and-w water insistence. He washed
all his clothes in hot water. ne took
a bath in hot water and he took a
nap.
Then he placed his absurd round
hat on his head at what he conside red
fetching angle. though precarious
and sailed forth on the streets OF
Chicago in search Of amusement and
adventure.
He found them.
Madison and Canal streets, west.
had little to offer him. He sensed
that the center OF things lay to the
east. so he struck out along Madison
trying not to show the terror with
which the grim, roaring clamorous
city filed him.
1t was late afternoon. His laun-
dering. his ablutions and his nap ha d
taken more time than he had realized.
1t was a mild spring day; with just a
Lake Michigan evening snap in the
air. Tyler, glancine about alertly.
nevertheless. felt dreamy and rest
less. He wished he had some one to
talk to. He loitered a moment on
the bridge. Then he went on. look
ing about him tnterestedly. and COM
pairing Chicago. Ill.,. with Marvin. Tex,
and finding the former sadly lacking.
A dairy lunchroom invited him, With
apples. and Drowned beans and its
coffee tank. He went in and ate a
solitary supper that was heavy on
pie and cake.
When he came out to the street
again it was evening. He walked
over to State street Uhe wrong side).
He took the dance card out of his
pocket aad~looked at it again. IL
only he had learned to dance. There'd
be girls. There'd have to be girls at
= dance.
VOICE very soft and low. Hello.
c~oetd0AFl. lu0 VOICE SAlu MS
nickname. He whirled around.
eagerly.
The girl was q stranger to him. But
she was smiling. friendly, and she
was pretty. too.
why howe DO. ma'am." said Tyler.
Texas fashion.
where you going. KID" she asked.
Tyler blushcd a little Well no.
whore in particular. ma'am. Just
kind of milling around"
Come on along with me-" she said.
and link ed her arm in his.
why hy--why-thanks, but"
Hello. Sweetheart" said voice.
again. A mans voice. this time. Out
OF the cigar store came Gunner
Moran. the yellow string Of a tobacco
bag sticking out of his blouse pocket.
A queer feeling OF relief aud glad
ness swept over Tyler And then
Moran looked sharply at the girl and
said. why. hello Blanche"
Hello yourself" answered the girl.
suddenly.
Thought you was in Frisco. -
Well. | amt"
Moran shifted his attention from
the girl to Tyler. Friend q yOurs?"
~. L. iisu 10