Evening star., 1921-08-21
saved yer manners" she shifted. as

! Sne jumped pan OI DldchcHeU
| cookies out of the window.
Brian dashed down D street and
bolted up the courthouse steps and
into the hall of records, where the
| archives of every deed and misdeed
Of every citizen in the city and county
funereal pigeonhoies. To seek for the
name Hansen over the etaccuwulated
records Of fifteen years weu1d have
required q week of diligence. He
hours Of eleven and three: then he
abruptly gave up the long search and
turned to the coroner's Office, where
he sought the mortuary files under
the charge of Bill Hodge. the deputy.
The courthouse clock pointed three
dust smirching the oceanic blue OF
his new Norfolk coat. repaired to the
stand of Nick Tony. the bootblack.
A small girl wearing a red hat en-
tered SHELLS Pompeian Ice Cream
Parlors across the way.
Il didn't come here to take bath.
said Brian to Tony, who was con-
scientiously sponging q sleeve
Gimme six zings with the broom
and turn me loose"
Betsy Spencer was at the Pom
peian's cash window, searching her
purse for the price Of an ice cream
A blue sleeve crossed her shoulder
and deposited fifty-cent piece.
nahe ~ e"o' saiu Diiah ~ eAie
well, You take lot for grant.
ed! Betsy perked up her nose and
tried to look severe.
"I got to take you some way" re-
can get two ice creams for two bits
in this joint-total saving, nickel
That just shows the economy OF mar
1--WE might as well sit down. #
/ f4 ont
Betsy. followed by her admirer.
crossed over to one of the wire-legged
| tables.
"How's your grandpa9" he asked.
He spends all his time now hang
age cranks there are thinking Of run
ming him for mayor"
Brian finished the last morsel of
his ice and scraped the dish enthusi-
astieally: Howeyer; he e., was looking
"Just sweet enough to take the
Il like 'em that way. don't your
sure he replied. Especially
when they got black eyes and stand
"smarty" She began buttoning
"say-goin' home now?'
eyes. Grandpa's waiting for me-"
''Greati Let mo take y out In my
"Your auto?" Her look was cyni-
"f1lred. Come on. I got to look
up a certain party at Ocean terrace,
/, less a crows hop from where you
"You don't expect to find anybody
alive in Ocean terrace. do your
IT hope not. The fella I'm lookin'
for can't be too dead to suit me-"
'T don't know as care to ride
f6nv al "
to 90 with him. she put on an air of
4 need your advice; grille" he
said quite seriously, I'm on the
| track Of big bear" So he led her
] to the Liberty garage and put her
'sais The co coaxing out of Mrs. Casey. dur
ing the few days following, was q
process involving much roundabout
diplomacy Which avaa Brian asaa finally tg her aer
Seeter Semer'snna nature. re- Attic although she had
known few children in the flesh. her
| love Of childhood as an idea amount
ed to q monomania. So Brian called
frequently. bearing gifts catering to
her saving weakness: Once it was
LABELED '"Tiny Toddlers." Brian pa
tiently scanned the daily papers for
bright sayings of children with which
to interlard his conversation.
y X
Mrs. Casey's garrulity. corked up
AsA for years. gushed forth in food
Of complaints and condolences. At
last, when she lamepted her sleep
less nights and hts Of depression.
Brian aaw his chance. and said:
what you needs fresh air."
"Fresh air don't cure sick heart"
she moaned.
"california air'l cure anything
from corns to cancers" he replied with
optimiam. "come. take jog in my
suto."
= siA't rot 40 elothss." she Oh.
Sootad. ,.e,.
] sWesra tabis.cloth and be comfort.