Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1922-02-02

Il tell you I'm going to yell, Loo, If
you mention bill of fare to me. Cover
up my feet, like good girl, and take
them bottles out and femme sleep. NV
head'll bust if don't get some Sleep"
II tell you, Miss Mae, there amt one
of 'em is worth more than his bank
book. You're always giving away
everything you got. Miss Mae. Honest,
you'd give your best blue silk coat off
your back if"
III that's what YOU'RE limiting for.
Loo, for PHYS sake take it, I don't
want it. It's too tight for me in the
arms. Take 1t, Loo l don't want It.
| don't want anything but to be let
alone
Jaw. now. Miss Mae, didn't
mean"
Get out. tell you! Get Quit"
Yes, Miss Mae" With final Pat
to the rug across Mae Munroe's feet
she scooped the litter Of empty bottles
under one arm and hurried out smiling
and closing the door softly behind her
and tip-toeing down the hallway to
the kitchen.
On the couch Mae Munroe lay hud-
died with her face to the wall, her
cheeks crumpled against the white
wool of the dog In her arms, her lips
dry, each breath putting them out
ward. Easy tears would flow, enhanc-
ing her lacy disorder. Noon slipped
into afternoon.
The dusk Of the city which is so
Immediately pepperec with lights
came gradually to press against the
drawn blinds. On the very crest OF
her unrest, as If her mental travail
had stimulated cocaine courage, Mae
Munroe kicked aside the rug from her
feet; rose and advanced to the wall
telephone; unlocked the receiver;
hooked it up again; unlocked 1t this
time with resolution that frightened
and whitened her lips and sent the
color high into her face; placed her
mouth close to the transmitter.
Broad three-six." And tapped with
one foot as she stood.
"Zincas Importing company? want
to speak to Mr. Max Zincas."
Wrinkles crawled about her uncer-
tain lips.
This is his-his mother. Yes, Mrs.
Zincas."
She closed her eyes as she waited.
"Hello, Max? That you, MAXI"
Of rF fhn tv,
strument. tip-toeing up to 1t.
Its me. dear. Butt had to get
you to phone somehow. Il No,
no, don'ts hang up, Max. Don't hang
up. dear, FL got to tell you some
thing got to, DEAR"
She raised herself closer to the
mouthpiece for a tighter clutch of 1t.
I'm sick, dearie. Pm dog sick,
dearie Amt been about in week.
The limp is bad and I'm sick all over.
night, dearie. You amt been near for
for a week. I got to see you about
something, Just quiet talk, dearie.
II just got to see you, Max. I'm
sick. dog Sick
Her voice slipped and away for the
moment, and she crammed her lacy
fribble of handkerchief tight against
her lips, tiptoeing closer to the trans
mitter
mo, no, Max, / swear to God
won't Just quiet and no rough stuff.
For my sake come home to supper to-
night, dearie! l swear It's my thigh,
and / got fever, dearie, that's eating
me. What? Eight! No, that amt too
late. Any time you can come amt too
late. I'll wait. Sure? Good-by, dearie.
At eight sharp. Good-by, dearie."
When she replaced the receiver on
its hook, points of light had come out
in her eyes like water lilies opening
on lake. The ashen sheaf of anxiety
folded back from her, color ran up into
her face, and she flung open the door,
calling down the length of hallway.
Loo! Oh, Loo!"
"Huh?"
Put a couple of bottles of every
thing on ice before you go, dearie; or
der double porterhouse; open can
of them imported sausages he sent up
last month, and peel some sweet po-
tatoes. Hurry, Loo, l wanna candy
'em myself. Hurry. deariev'
From her window and over the
waves of intervening roofs Mae Nun
roe cupped her hands blinker fashion
about her eyes. Motionless she stood
there, bare-necked and bare-armed,
against the cold window pane. inclosed
from behind with lace curtains, and
watching with large-pupiled eyes
steamer slip along into the night.
At five minutes past eight Max Yin
cas- fitted his key into the door and
entered Immediately into the front
room. On that first click Of the lock
Mae Munroe stepped out from between
the lace curtains, her face carefully
powdered and bleached Of all Its morn
ing inaccuracies. her lips thrust up
ward and forward.
Maxi