The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-01-11
CHAPTER ".

z
Derby. Even close up to the rim OF
the tiled highway itself, an occasional
colony of wood violets dared to show
theirw heads for the brief moment be
fore they suffocated. The threat of
rain still lay on the air, but the Sun
day rank and file of motors threw back
tops, lowered windshields and turned
shining noses toward the greening
fields.
In the red-leather tonneau, with her
little face wind-blown and barred to the
kiss of the air, Sadie Barnet turned to
her companion and peered under the
visor of his checked cap and up into
his small inset eyes.
Isis that the house up on the hill
there, JerryF"
Not yet. It's right around the next
bend
Gee! My-my hands are like ice,
I'm that nervous"
"Lemme feel"
"No."
That's swell way to treat fell
low who's promised to marry you"
Jerry. Honest, with a wink of sleep
I'm so upset with poor Dee Dee,
and on top of that so nervous about
your little girl and the house and ev-
erything And, Dee Dee-when think
of Dee Dee"
Don't think, Peachy; that's the way
to get around that"
ar =
seen her at the doctors this morning,
how-how the poor thing lost her nerve
when he told her that therefore
wasn't no hope"
saw, now, cut the sob stuff. Peachy
You can't help it. Poor old devil.
Maybe she's just getting what's due to
her"
"Jerry!'
Sure, believe every one of US gets
what's coming to u.s."
She"
Here we are, Tootsie See, Peachy,
that's the house | bought her and her
mother, and they was kicking at it be-
fore the plaster was dry
'Oh! OH"
That's concrete 'front.' Neat amt
it? That's mosaic-floor porch. too,
built on a year after her and her
mother vamoosed."
Its a beautiful house, Jerry"
You're the kind of kid thai knows
how to appreciate a home when she
gets it. But her with her she-devil of
in hnn
they began to side with each other
against me-her and her old mother
trying to learn me how to run my own
shebang."
Say, but amt it pretty, Jerry, right
up over the river, and country all
around, and right over there in back
the street cars for the city when you
want them?
"This is going to be your street car,
Peachy, a six-cylinder one."
She colOred like a wild rose.
"Oh, Jerry, II keep forgetting"
Shy Cad it's good thing I'm going
to give up my city rooms and come
out here to watch my p's and as. Gosh
darn her neck l told her to quit clut-
tering up that side yard turf with her
gosh darn little f1ower~beds Gosh
darn her neck! There never was a
servant worth her hide"
Jerry, why, they're beautiful! They
just look beautiful, those pansies, and
Is that the little girl sitting up there on
the porch steps? Isis that MaisieT
They drew to a stop before the box
shaped, ornate house. On the topmost
step of the square veranda the inert
figure of small girl.
saw, amt she cute?"
Miss Barnet sprang lightly to the
sidewalk. and beside her Mr. Jerome
Beck flecked the dust Of travel from
the bay of his waistcoat, shaking his
trousers knees into place.
Jerry, call her here, the little girl.
| You tell her who-who l am. Tell her
gently, Jerry, and-and how good I'm
| going to be to her and-aw, amt the
silly, though, to feel so trembly?'
The child on the steps regarded their
| approach with unsmiling eyes, nor did
she move except to draw aside her dark
stuff skirts and close her knees until
they touched.
Hello there! Moping again, Ell?
| Get up! Didn't l tell you not to let
| me catch you out playing or help
ing CloOnan around? Say howdy to
| this lady. She's coming out here to
live. Come here and say howdy to
her."
| The child shrank TO the newel-post,
her little face overtaken with an agony
of shyness.
Cat got your tongue? Say howdy.
| Quit breathing through your mouth
like ish. Say howdy, that's good
girl"
Don't force her. Jerry. She's BASH
full. Amt you, deariel Amt you.
Maisie7'
"Moping, you mean. II it was her
month In the dirty Harlem fiat she'd
be spry enough. She knows what
mean when say that. and she knows
she better cut out this pouting. Quit
breathing through your mouth or I'll
stick a cork I'm IT."
Jaw, Jerry, she can't help that"
Cat got your tongue? Where's
ClOonan?"
Jaw, Jerry-you-you scared her
Come here. darling; come here to me
Maisie; come, dearie'
But the child slid past the extended
arms, down the wooden steps, and