The Ocala evening star., 1922-02-16
Copyrigb.- l2O By The Wheeler syndiea.s, Inc.

the floor to the other just honey the
little geezer So"
She withdrew her hand softly from
the heart OF the crib, but a little wall
rose with ii.
See. he likes my hand" and she
replaced it with a tremolo of great
pride in her voice; "he likes it,"
Mr.. FOddie seated himself in the
carpet rocker and fitted the ten tips
of his fingers together His mustache,
SO suspiciously lighter than the hair
brushed so painstakingly across the
thinning spot, raised again In a smile,
revealing flash of teeth and cellu-
loid-looking gums.
$50 do l." he said.
"What?"
Like it?"
Her glance flashed to the door. Il
stood open.
'None of that" she said.
"Why not?"
"You know why not"
"You great big beauty, you. what's
that got to do with it?"
Nothing to you and lots to me-"
you've left him.
Have not!'
"Whatta you call living away from
him like this six months and trimmin'
hats for livin', I'd like to know, IL
it amt that? New way of living with
your man."
~ know what I'm doing. What you
don't know about my business would
fill a book"
"Tryin' to reform a drunk, Ell? Bet
ter try to run the Mississippi river up
Washington avenue"
what do you know? Why. he
why, he amt touched drop since the
night l left, and I've got his sister to
prove it. He's taken the pledge six
months ago and is as sound as dol
lar since. II know what I'm do
ing!"
Then why don't you go back IL
you amt afraid? Why amt you fol-
lowing up the postmark on them let
ters l see layin' down for you on the
hatrack all the time? You're so crazy
about him you wouldn't even see him
rnat time he came to town after you.
l got that straight from Beasley her
self. Is that your way of showing you
amt afraid?"
why, you-yOu don't know nothing
about how things are with me and
and him. I've stuck this long, and to
make sure I'll stick ii out another few
months If it kills me. Liddy herself
says | should. I'm going to see ii
through until May day, and then-if
it's lasted-Pll be sure enough to 90
home and"
Until when?"
"Until-aw, what's 1t to you? It's
my business"
"YOu big sassy doll, don't you talk
to me like that. you big sassy doll,
you"
"Ain't you ashamed, tryin' to cut
up like that with-with her. your
your wife only dead two years?"
"What's that got to do with itP
Lots"
81 married her late and she died on
me early. that's an there's tS that
That's all. What has been amt got
nothing to do with now. Gave her a
tuO tive up
Page avenue. furnished up for her like
| out of a catalogue. Bought her bet
ter duds than she was used to in
thousand years in the umbrella de-
| partment where she worked eight
years on my floor. l gave her a square
! deal while she lived. and that's more
| than lots can say Made twenty-five q
| week and spent twenty-five ON her.
| What's that got to do with nowf
| But"
| promised her the night she died
/ that kid 'ud have father to stand by
him. and have l stood, have II
Poor little Robbie"
why. easy as swapping fingers 1
could put the kid up in home, COM
! Portable, too, and live for myself like
q gentleman. if | wasn't doing right
by her dust. What l get being cooped
up in a cheap joint like this? On
twenty-five per l can live like gen.
tleman. It's because | need q woman
like Beasley who'll look after the little
fellow daytime. Nobody can say i
amt doing Lenie's dust proud"
''That-that's no way TO talk, MI.
Foddie"
Fine girl, was Lenie; fine as you'd
want, Miss Annie. bit spawned, j
used to tease her, from standing In
umbrellas all those years. but not bad