The Republican., 1922-07-20

"See, he likes my hand" and she
replaced it with a tremOlo of great
pride in her voice; "he likes it,"
Mr.. Foddle 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 smile,
revealing a flash of teeth and cellu-
loid-lOoking gums.
$50 do l." he said.
"What?"
Like it?"
Her glance flashed to the door,, It
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 a livin', I'd like to know, if
it amt that? New way of living with
your man."
81 know what I'm doing. What you
don't know about my business would
fill a book"
"Tryin to reform a drunk, eh? Bet
ter try to run the Mississippi river up
Washington avenue"
"What do you know? Why, he
why, he amt touched a drop since the
night left, and I've got his sister to
prove it. He's taken the pledge six
months ago and is as sound as a dol
lar since. II know what I'm do
ing!"
"Then why don't you go back if
you amt afraid? Why amt you fol-
lowing up the pOstmark on them let
hatrack all the time? You're so crazy
about him you wouldn't even see him
that time he came to town after you.
l got that straight from Beasley her
self. Is that your way of showing you
amt afraid?"
w IN, W" bu uOll hilOW lOlIllIlR
about how things are with me and
and him. I've stuck this long, and to
make sure I'll stick it out another few
months if it kills me. Liddy herself
says l should. Pm going to see it
through until May day, and then-if
it's lasted-Tll be sure enough to go
home and"
Until when?"
"Until-aw, what's it 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?"
whats that got to do with it?"
Lots"
81 married her late and she died on
me early, that's an there's to that.
That's ALL What has been amt got
nothing to do with now. Gave her a
square deal, too. Five rooms I'D on
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. I gave her a square
deal while she lived, and that's more
than lots can say. Made twenty-five a
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 a father to stand by
him, and have 1 stood, have IT.
Poor little Robbie"
'Why, easy as swapping fingers
could put the kid up In a home, COM
Portable, too, and live for myself like
gentleman, if / wasn't doing right
by her dust. What I get being cooped
up In a cheap joint like this? On
twenty-five per / can live like a gen
tleman. It's because l need woman
like Beasley who'll look after the little
fellow daytime. Nobody can say
amt doing Lenie's dust proud"
"That-that's no way to talk, Mr..
Foddle"
Zine girl, was Lenle; fine as you'd
want, Miss Annie. A bit spawned, l
used to tease her, from standing in
umbrellas all those years, but not bad
when her bangs was frizzed and her
pony skin on"
"Is that what she's got On in the
picture there on the mantel"
Same She was great one for
style, Lenie. Used to love to do her
fiat and then dress up like a horse
and buggy and come down to the UNI
brelas, givin' the old girls heart fail
ure the first time she sprung the pony
skin on em. Sixty-fve cash that coat
SET me hack girl"