Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-03-09

Amsterdam roof by next summer, see
If don't. And salving it on is what'E
get me there. gotta look ahead. I'm
keeping MY weather eyes on Broad
way, am
Take it from me. hon, and I'm your
friend for telling you, you're cute and
all; CAD, l never seen anyone coulc
touch you, but there amt no future t.
little soubrette and chorus stuff like
yours. You amt got the voice, hon
You're pretty as peaches, but"
"You-you'd take the life out of any
girl with your joy killing. Ever since
we left Higginsville and you came and
crowded Lee out of this seat, you been
sittin' here joy killing"
but, Lo, darling"
"Lemme alone"
Cant you understand, dear, that
r"
maybe I'm nothing but little baby
doll and maybe amt! Maybe I'm all
| the names you call me right here on
this seat and maybe I amt. Maybe
I'm nothing but little flirt and maybe
I amt. Maybe I'm going to f1irt with
Lee in the wings tonight and maybe
amt. Now whatta you going to do
about it2"
She threw down the gauntlet from a
high hand, the rod of resolve straight
ening her back.
II don't need to stand for no man
sitting here and running me down to
| my face all the way from Higginsville
to Adaiai. I'm an ambitious girl, 1
am, and no man can say the things
| you said to me right here in this train
and get away with them. Lemme out ~
He unwound his feet and jerked his
coat lapels together angrily. Beneath
his tiny clipped hedge Of mustache his
straight lips were compressed.
"What you need, my little lady, is a
good spanking"
"You try it."
"A good garden-variety Of spanking
to bring you to your senses!"
"Lemme out, you! 1 don't have to
sit here and be talked to by fellow
that amt a gent! Spank me! You
just dare to lay hand on me. You!
Youi"
She was edging past him to the
aisle. ~
".Shh-h-h, you don't need to air your
temper to the company, Lo. Here--put
on your coat. Here we are at Adalai"
Down the length Of the coach. heads
rumpled with sleep appeared slowly
above the backs of the seats as IL
emerging from trenches. Bags were
swung down from racks. Voices thick
with drowsiness and Querulous with
travel rose to a hum. The Forty
Thieves" company Strengthened stiff
limbs, yawned, adjusted straps and
hats and sat forward on the edge of
seats in a state of quasi coma, luggage
across knees and gazing out into the
blackness.
Without, the first lights of Adalai
began to flash past, here-there, here
there; then a necklace of lamplights
defining an outlying street; hollow
rafting over a trestle and black wa
tiers rejecting beneath.
Last came the busy twinkling lights
Of the township. an illuminated clock
in tower, yellow as a moon; bill
boards shining in the white flare OF
street arc-lights and brilliantly herald
ing the Forty Thieves Spectacular
Surprise"
Within the coach, the thirty mem
bers of the "Forty Thieves" company
damned suddenly into the aisle.
At the far end of the coach a young
man whose face was cons older thar
his flesh. sprang upon the first of the
plush-cOvered seats waving his light
brown derby hat and then slapped II
on the back of his polished thatch OF
hair. A cold cigar Sagged at an oblique
from his mouth, his tan waistcOat. open
it's full length. swung apart to reveal
the bold design of his shirt. He
rammed the cigar in his waistcoat
pocket and opened his mouth in a
downward slant. cupping his hand
around 1t to incloSe his voice.
"Thirty-five minutes late. Com
pany report direct to opry house"
For Gawd's sake, Lee US girls have
gotta eat-say-"
"Cut it If there's anybody in this
company don't like the trimmings Of this
show, go boiler down we'll"
"Aw, Lee, whatta you think this Is
a four-a-day show? I'm sick. / gotta
get rest or"
"Say, the next member of this com
pany that let's out squeal can dig
down in his jeans for fine before this
train pulls in"
The muttering rose like wind in {
lonely place and the speaker threw out
his oratorical tones above 1t.
"This is decent town with a decent
house; see that you treat it decent. The
milk special for Moline pulls out from
this station at four-ten-breakfast OF
board"
Jaw, Lee, whatta you think we are
fourteen! Say, a fellow that car
hand out route like this would muir
der man for subway ticket"
He waved his hat in a great semi
circular sweep, creating little gus
before it.
"Cut it, l say, or down in you
jeans Fourteen is what l said-la
dies and gents waiting rooms at sta
ton. Fourteen is what said!''
He descended from the red plusl
seat, his mouth sagging and the livit
red Of exertion in his face swelling 1t
"All out. Buses at station. DON
lag"
The procession, a slow file of nut
teringS. charivari. shoulderingS and ex