The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-01-27

expression for. breaking into smiles.
quirks, Pushes. She then pinned the
cotton daisy above her left ear and
like a fash slipped into the ballet
dress Of captivating Pierrette, her
arms outstretched in a well-remem-
bered attitude of the dance and the
sap OF spring rising In her veins.
1t was as if something cheeped with
in her and her heart took flight, soar
ing backward through resilient time
and space into yesterdays Fatigue
vanished as rage before Abrscsdabra
and .Oh-la-la was her song.
"Oh-h-h-h-Lo-o!
She paused. poised on her toes, her
arms flung in a circle over her head
and the quick color draining out of her
face-paused in this tableau vfvant as
if caught in q paralysis.
Loo
For a frozen instant she glanced
about her, dragged at the bed covering
as a cloak for her finery, but ii chung
TO Its moorings and abandoning 1t In
her frenzy. she burst through the
door into the darkened front room.
AL She caught at his hand which
lay atop the rug 1t was limp and
strangely cold.
At six o'clock Ad6lai finished Its
day with bleating of factory whistles
and sonOrOus booming OF the First
Presbyterian chimes. Main street
closed its shop doors and white arc
lights sprang out before two cinemato-
graph theaters. Joe's place, Frayley's
Ice Cream parlor and the Red Trunk
Five and Ten-Cent store-open eve
nings.
At sfx-ten the Prairie Flyer thun-
dered into the station, with row of
pOrters swaying on its coach steps,
stools in hand. Beside the station,
Frank Gills All-Night lunch room
placed a dish of fried halibut and q
platter Of red chopped meat, sur
mounted with a circle Of onion. on its
open air counter.
The Forty Thieves" theatrical
troupe rallied round to a man.
At seven-thirty grilling arc-lights
sprang out before the Opera house
and at that same moment Mr.. Charley
Lee bounded up the front steps of a
cottage on the hill. A light burned
through a crack in the blind and
through that same crack he could see
the hand-painted swinging lamp burn
ing softly.
He knocked, then stood for a mo-
ment In the cooked attitude of listen
ing, his head inclined, and four
knuckles poised. Knocked again and
the door swung back on silent hinges
and in the wavering brown shadows
small black figure peered outward.
"Low
"Wh-who-"
Her hand few to her breast and lay
there white against black.
"Who-"
Don't you know me, kiddo? It's
me; howdy, Lo. Gee, you look so
little and black. I couldn't see you
first. Don't you know me, kiddo? It's
me-"
"Leer"
That's me-"
IF it amt Lee! Come In, Lee"
Her voice was faint as q tinkling bell.
He entered, exhaling loudly and
with great ado Of rubbing his hands
together In a dry wash.
"Well-well-well!'
leone right in, Lee. Gee, gee,
but you're q sight for sore eyes. How's
things7 The girls? Sit down in that
rocker, Lee. Here, femme take your
stick. I-gee, amt you a sight for
sore eyes, Geer
ways. Dragged the rocker bit farth-
er beneath the swinging lamp; leaned
his slender cane in a corner; lowered
a shade. Pink, as delicate as peach
bloom, rose in her wan little face.
"Sit down, Lee. I-sure, 1 knew
the show was playing Adalai tonight,
but-but-gee, you look right slick,
Lee. How's the show-how's the
gangT
He seated himself rather gingerly
on the edge of the seat, the rocker
fitting forward with the weight Of his
body. his shoes firmly planted and his
hat cooked backward.
$50 this is the home-sweet-home you
wrote the girls about. lis it? Some
neat little shack! Some neat little
rest cure"
He glanced about with quick ap-
praisal, then back to her rose-pink
face.
Some little rest cure"
Tits such a sight now after
after"
Her voice died in her throat and she
glanced away from him.
He leaned forward. his own voice
carefully shrouded in croaking
whisper.
How Is he, Lo? Won't he ever
walk? Is he nailed for good?"
"Oh, Lee, don't you know"
Il beat 1t while the company was In
line for wardrobe so you wouldn't
think the gang was forgetting. We
e.