Evening star., 1920-01-04

that muddled his movements, made to
cross to her side where she lay with
her arms outstre tched in the fuddle of
dishes, made TO touch her black silk
sleeve where it emerged from the blue
checked apron, hesitated. sucking his
lips in between his teeth. swung on
his heel then around once more, and
placed his hand lightly on her
shoulder.
Madam"
"You-you Just go on, Phonzie, l.
I guess I'm an old fool, anyways, It's
like trying to squeeze blood out OF a
turnip for me to try and squeeze
anything but work out of my life.
Ii guess I'm just nothing but an
old fool"
But, mamam. how can a fellow
like me squeeze anything out of lifo
for you? Look at me. Why, / amt
worth your house room. I'm nothing
but fellow who draws his salary
off woman. and has all his life
Why you-you make as much in
week as | do in month";
Whats that got to do with il? ?"
Look, you with a home you made
for yourself and a business you built
up out of your own brains, and what
a bluff across with a lot of idioU
women. Look at me. forty and doing
chorus mans work. You got me
wrong, madam. l don't measure no.
where's near up to YOU IL did, do
you think I wouldn't be settled down
long ago, like a regular-aw, Well,
what's the use talking"
He plucked at his short mustache,
pulling the hairs sharply.
She raised her face and let him
gaze at the ravages of her tears.
"Why-why don't YOU come right
out and say it, that L amt got the
looks and-the pep?"
Madam, can't you see I'm only"
"You-you can't run yourself down
to me. You and nobody else has
made the establishment what it is.
/ never had a head for the little
things that count. That's why I
spent my best years down in 23d
street. What did know about
the big little things!-the carriage
call stunt and the sachet-bags in
the lining and the blue and gold la
bells. all little things that get big re-
suits. never had a head for the
things that hold the rich trade, like
the walking models, or the French
accent"
you got the head for the big
things, and that's what counts"
II mean it," -. .
That's why. when you say you
can't line up alongside Of me, it's no
excuse"
signing doesn't make me a nine-day
wonder. Why don't you-you come
right out and say what you mean.
Phonzie?" =,
"Why, II don't even know how to
talk to woman like you, madam
La-La girls have always been my pace
and" 10
II, know, Phonzie,. and. III amt
blamin' you. A. slick looking fellow
like you can skylark. around, as, he
pleases and don't need to have. time
for--the overworked, tired-out ones
like me-" =
Madam, never dreamed" sa.'
Dreamed! Phonzie, 1--we got no
shame il 1 tell you, but, God, how
many nights live lain here on this
couch dreaming of--of-"'
"well?" ;'
"Of you and me, Phonzie. hitting it
off together"
Madam"
Her head burrowed deeper in her
arms, her voice muff1ed in their depth.
"Madam"
How many times I've dreamed,
Phonzie. You and me, real partners
in the business and--and in every
thing. Us in little home together.
one of the f1vs-reom flats down on
the next floor, with a life-size kitchen
and life-size dining room and--and
u life-size-aw Phonzie. you--youIl
think I'm crazy"
Madam, why madam, / just don't
know"
"Them's the dreams silly old thing
like me, that never had nothing but
work and-and nothing else in her
life, can lay right here on this couch.
night after night, and-Gawd, IL
4. ..