Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-02-23

stand lady like your mama. Sure II
do. She is great old lady, she Is. |
Give me the plain-speaking ones everyl
time"
"She doesn't mean mean word she
says, Joe. You mustn't feel hard to-
ward her; that's just her way"
"She's fine lady all right, but she's
got me dead wrong. Why, honest to
God, Esther, as I sit here II 1t wasn't
that I'd like to see your old gentleman
win back them few hundred bones, Il
wouldn't have touched another card
after the first game"
~ knew that, Joe. That's Just what
I keep telling mama"
"You sweet little thing you-takingl
up for me like that"
II just keep telling her that"
"She's got me down wrong for al
sport. Why, true as 1 sit here, grille,
IL my business didn't carry me like
this all over the world, I could settle
down in good commercial town with
boy like that brother of yours that
your father is trying to find partner
for, make a go of the business and
live quiet the rest of my life. That's|
the kind Of a hairpin am"
"Oh Joe, you-you will just loveI
Niche, when you see him. One great
boy If there ever was one, and busi-
ness like papa to his finger-tips. Youl
and him In little business together,
say, wouldn't that be great! Just look
at papa-how-how little he started,
way down on the East side and-and|
look at his store now-so big and ALL
"I'm not much of fellow to boost
myself, Esther, but with a young fel-
low like that to help me push bust
ness, l could make a 60 of almost any
thing. I'm the kind Of fellow that has
made easy all my life and spends just
as easy. A dollar don't look as big to
me as dime to lots of fellows. Get
me?'
Eyes"
"Just like I can win at cards easy,
| can make easy money on any bust
ness proposition put my mind to.
Say, right now I'm making three tines
what any fellow In my line is making.
But I'm getting sick of this cOuntry-
tO-country business Esther. There's
money in it, but I'm just about ready;
to get me good partner, settle down
and get me lttle-get me home |!
Get me, Esther? A home Is what u
want"
Eyes, joe"
sect me a partner and settle down"
"A fellow like you would just bel
the making Of boy like my brother
Niche. He's such kid yet, and two
years older than me, too. But he's
been under papa's thumb in the busi-
ness too long. A hoy like him, that
never would go to school, gets into
business early. What he needs now Isl
to get out and hustle for himself In al
business that isn't already madeI
That's what always say-papa ought
to set Niche up for himself"
"Sure thing! Say, guess a man
like your papa could set his son up;
In business with twenty or thirty thou!
sand and not feel 1t, eh?"
"That's what Niche says, but pas
slow about It,"
"YOur brothers got the right ideai
all right; why, bet II your papa had
three sons he could set them up I'M
business and not feel II, Ell? know
thing or two about the money that's
been made in the mems clothing bust
| noSo thn OF 6ftonn xyoarcO
papa Is right rich, guess"
"And a grand old man II there ever
was one"
"He sure Is and self-made, too Hon.
est, it's just like story the way he
started-struggling and making his
ried mama, right from off the East
side, too, the two of them starting the
little store together, the two Of them
pushing through all the dirt Of the
East side and coming out Of it so fine
and all. Shows how goodness can
grow out of all that filth down there.
don't 1t, JoeT
"It's grand, Esther"
"Him and mama don't show It, may
be, but they're just pure gold, they
are. They-they're just pure gold"
His hand lay over hers, Quiescent
A waiter lowered in the distance. The
gable and laughter Of tourists was
suddenly remote.
IF the old gentleman only won't stir
up game tonight, Esther, we'll make
last evening Of 1t ON board, alrighty."
II just told papa he-he couldn't
drag you down there tonight, Gibral
tar coming in sight and you knowing
so much to describe about places"
II sure want to stick with you to-
night, Esther. fact is, I just want
to stick with you all Of them"
Her hand flew to her breast.
"JOe!"
"My little dearie-girlie-I want to
steal you"
"Oh, Joe-you-you mustn't"
But he was on his feet suddenly
and grasping his hat from the table.
"Gad," he cried. there's the boat
whIstling three times. We got to do
some tall sprinting, grille. Look, the
rest Of them have all started down
already"
"Oh, Joe! Mama Let's run. Let's"
Hand in hand and with the Hellenic
swing Of youth, they scuttled across
the green turf. Form the harbor, full
Of warning, came another blast,
The quicksilver Of madness runs
through the veins Of moOnlit night,
Poets chew their pen-ends and grope
for meter. The Blessed DamQsel leans
out. Harlequin laughs in his tight