The Republican., 1922-01-26


"WelI, Peachy how are you? Peachy
is just the name for you, eh? Cause
I'd like to take a bite right out Of
you-eh, Peachy? How are you?'
Fine and-and dandy"
Look at me"
"Aw!"
Look at me, I say, you pretty little
Peach with them devilish black eyes
of yours and them lips that's got cher
ry on 'em. Little devil"
Quit calling me that" But she col
ored as if his tribute had been a sheath
of lilies.
They veered a corner sharply skid
ding on the wet asphalt and all but
grazing the rear wheels of recreant
taxicab.
But, sub, I"
"None of your black back-talll"
Jerry" She was shivering, and
veil of tears formed over her hot, NOR
tilted eyes. Gee, What are you made
Of? You seen he couldn't help it when
that taxi turned into US so sudden"
lie relaxed against her. "Aw. did
scare the little Peachy? That's the
way they gotta be handled. l amt
ready by a long shot to let a black
devil spill my brains"
"Shh-h. He couldn't"
"Sure he could if he watched He's
a bargain picked up cheap, anyways,
cause he's lame and can't hold down
heavy work. And bargains don't al
ways pay. But I'll break his black
back for him if Aw, now, now, did
l scare the little Peach? Gee,
couldn't do nothing but kill you with
kindness if you was driving for me.
I'd just let you run me right off this
road into the Hudson ocean if you
was driving for me-
She smiled, but as if her lips were
bruised
1T amt none Of my putin, but he
couldn't help it, and hate for you to
yell at anybody like that. Jerry
"Aw, aw, did I scare the little
Peachy? Watch me show the little
Tootsie how nice can be when l want
to. AW-aw.'
Quit"
She blinked back the eyer-recurring
tears.
"All tired out, too; all tired out.
Wait till you see what I'm going to
buy you tonight. A great big beef
steak with mushrooms as big as dollars
and piping-hot German fried potatoes
and onions. M-m-m-m. And more
bubbles than you can wink your eye
at AW-aw, such poor cold little
hands, and no gloves to warm 'em.
Wouldn't l just love to wrap a little
Peachy like YOU up in a big fur coat
and put them little cold fands in
great big muff and hang some great
big headlight earrings in them little
bitsie ears. Wouldn't l, though.
M-m-m-m. Poor little hands,
Her wrath of a smile dissolved in a
squirt of hot tears which flowed over
her words.
Gee, Amt l the nut toto cry?
I'm be all right in a minute"
whats hurting you, Tootsie? Been
bounced? You should worry. I'm
going to steal you out of that cellar,
anyways. Been bounced?"
"N-no"
The old hag amt been making it
hot for you, has she?"
"Sh-she-"
Cad! That old hag gets my fur
up. l had "a mOther-in-law once tried
them tricks on me till l learned her
they wouldn't work. But the old hag
! of yourn-"
Its her eyes the doctor must have
scared her up again today. When she
gets scared like that about 'em she
acts up so, honest, sometimes II just
wish l was dead She don't think
girl oughtta have no life"
Forget N Just you wait. She's
going to wake up some morning soon
and find little surprise party for her
self. l know just how to handle an
old bird like her. We're going to give
her a little surprise party" Beneath
the lap robe his hand slid toward hers.
She could feel the movement of the
arm that directed 1t and her own
| shrank away.
But amt l the limit, Jerry airing
my troubles to you, like you was a
/ policeman"
"NOw, now"
"Quit! Leggo my hand"
He leaned forward suddenly, en-
velOping her.
81 got it, Why don't you lemme kid
nap you, kiddo"
"What-"
''Lemme kidnap you tonight and
| give the old hag the surprise of her
life when she wakes up and finds you
stolen. I'm some little kidnaper when
! it comes to kidnapping. 1 am, kiddo.
| Say, wouldn't like to take you riding
all wrapped up in fur coat with moth
ing but your cute little face sticking
out"
"Aw, you're just fooling me-"
"Fooling! Lemme prove it, tonight.
Lemme kidnap you this very night.
| +"
Isis that what you mean by-by
kidnapping me?"
"Sure. There amt nothing I'd rath-
er do. Are you on, Peaches? A SEN
| Sihla Iittla nunan Hka Won knows which