Evening star., 1922-11-26

But he makes no move to get up.
and as he sits there with his shoul-
ders slumped he's a doleful-looking
object. He seems to have lost that
perky air, and the nose lines are
deeper than ever.
| Sorry. Biggs," says /, but it's
closing time and If you're set on
holding lodge Of sorrow you'd bet
| ter draw around to the undertaker's on
the next block. Or was it something
you had for lunch?"
II got a bump, Miss Dodge"
says he at that.
Prom q taxi?" I asks.
He shakes his head. You re-
member that last call you sent me
out on?" says he.
IT ET'S SEE" says 1. "Oh yes.
| IL From a duplex apartment up in
the West Fifties. Some lady wanted
to revise the window seats. Was she
| finicky about it?"
"Oh. I done the work, all right"
says he. at wasn't much Of a job.
She did stand around and do a good
deal Of bossin'. and warned me not
to leave any marks on the hardwood
floor. and made me clean up as 1 went
, along. But I didn't mind that. I did
1t the way she wanted and she-she
gave me a dollar tip when 1 got
through"
Fair enough" says ]. "Was that
what shocked you-the tip?,,
NO" says he. TT was who she
was"
"Eh?" says 7.
you couldn't guess. could you?"
he asks.
Not without a clue" says I.
We'll" says he. letting it out
draggy," she-she was Gladys"
"The broken hearted cast off" says
Gladys" he repeats.
But I thought she was fixture
in Taunton?" says l.
1T was her, though says he.
THAT must have been rather bump
for you" says l. Something Of an
awkward situation for you both.
should say. I suppose she was a bit
surprised, too. What did she have to
say for herself?"
Not much" says Biggs. "She let
on not to notice who 1t was. at first
or maybe she really didn't. The hall
was kind Of dark where she let me
in. and she starts tellin' me what she
wanted done. Then we gets out into
the light, by the window, and 1 says,
Yes. Gladys, and Of course she
knows then"
Did she faint, or anything like
that?' I asks.
up and says. oh, it's you. is it." and
then goes on givin' off her orders,
just as if-well, like she would to
anybody"
Good for Gladys" says I. I
couldn't help the cheer. II 1 had
been on the spot I know 1 should
have applauded. "And them" 1
suggests.
Well" says he. Il didn't say any
was there? I got busy and done the
job, just as she told me-
"And you didn't ask her how she
happened to be in New York, or
when she left Taunton?" I demanded.
Not until I had finished up" says
he. land she'd passed me the tip"
"Just how did you break the ice,
Biggs?" says I.
Why" says he. 'ras she was let
ting mo out says; Seems kind OF
natural. seein' you again. Gladys
And she says, Does it. Leonardo
Then I remarked that she'd got a
swell place to live in here and was
lookin' pretty swell herself. She
was, too. Dressed just as stylish and
expensive as any woman you'll see
on 5th avenue. and her hair done
fancy, and long danglin' earrings
on. She's little heavier than she
older. I told her SO. too"
THAT was nice of you," says I.
But go on. Did she call you
Eunnykins:"
NO" says he. she said how she'd
got in with a French woman up In
Taunton, and they'd opened a shop
of their own. and had good luck. and
that a couple of years ago they'd
come here and rented a little store
and now they was doin' q fine busi-
ness and they'd just hired this du-
pick apartment to live in"
$50 she hadn't divorced you and
married again." I asked.
"She didn't say" says Biggs. but
I guess she amt"
"Then that was all your reunion
amounted to, was it," says !.
YES" says he. 81 left after that"
"IIOW sappoin n ting" says I.
IL There you two had chance to
cut loose with deep emotion. Why,
just think what a dramatic situa-
ton you had worked up! An aban-
doned wife who, instead of pining
away in poverty, becomes rich and
prosperous. She sends for an odd
job man and he turns out to be the
husband who has cast her off. Does
she weep or get panicky? Does she
treat him with cold scorn? No. She
him dollar tip. But that's real
life for you. 1t seldom gives you the
big punch that a play or a movie
show never fails to develop. And
now I suppose it's all over, eh?''
II expect so," says Biggs. II did
get a bump, though. But I guess
I'll get over it. Might as well be
goin' along to the boardin' house"
He yas taking off his jumper when
the phone rang and I answered.
For you, Biggs," says I. Some
one wants to know If you're still