Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1922-01-19
By FANNIE HURST

She shifted to her nrSt position.
"Well, Peachy, how are you? Peachy
is just the name for you, Ell? Cause
I'd like to take bite right out Of
you--eh, Peachy? How are your"
Fine and-and dandy"
"Look at me-"
"Aw!"
Look at me, l say, you pretty little
| Peach with them devilish black eyes
of yours and them lips that's got cher
ry on 'em. Little devil !" =
"Quit calling me that" But she col
ored as if his tribute had been sheath
| of-lilies.
| They veered corner sharply. skid
ding on the wet asphalt and all but
grazing the rear wheels of recreant
| taxicab.
But, sub, +"
"None of your black back talk"
Jerry" She was shivering, and n
| veil of tears formed over her hot, NOR
tilted eyes. Gee! What are you made
| of? You seen he couldn't help 1t when
that taxi turned into us so sudden"
/
scare the little Peachy? That's the
way they gotta be handled. / amt
ready by long shot to let black
devil spill my brains"
"Shh-h. He couldn't"
"Sure he could. if he watched. He's
bargain l picked up cheap, anyways,
cause he's lame and can't hold down
heavy work. And bargains don't al
/! ways pay. But I'll break his black
back for him if >Aw, now, now, did
l scare the little Peach? Gee! /
couldn't do nothing but kill you with
kindness if you was driving for me.
I'd just let you run me right off this
road into the Hudson ocean IL you
was driving for me-"
She smiled, but as If her lips were
bruised.
| ut amt none of my putin, but he
| couldn't help it, and hate for you to
yell at anybody like that, Jerry"
Jaw, aw, did l scare the little
Peachy? Watch me show the little
Tootsie how nice can be when want
| to. AW--aw y!
"Quit."
She blinked back the ever-recurring
tears.
/ 'All tired out, too; all tired out.
Wait till you see what I'm going to
buy you tonight. A great big beef
steak with mushrooms as big as dollars
and piping-hot German fried potatoes
and onions. M-m-m-m! And more
bubbles than you can wink your eve
at. Aw--aw, such poor cold little
hands, and no gloves to warm 'em.
/ Wouldn't | just love to wrap little
Peachy like you up in "a big fur coat
and put them little cold sands in
| great big muff and hang some great
big headlight earrings in them little
bitsie ears. Wouldn't l, though.
M-m-m-m. Poor little hands,
! Her wrath of a smile dissolved in a
squirt of hot tears which flowed over
her words.
Gee. Amt l the nut to-to cry?
III be ali right IN d minute"
What's hurting you, Tootsie? Been
| bounced? You should worry. I'm
going to steal you out Of that cellar
anyways. Been bounced?"
| "N-nO."
1.-The old bag amt been making 1t
hot for you, has she?"
"Sh-she-"
Cad That old bag gets my fur
up. / had mother-in-law once tried
/ them tricks on me till learned her
! they wouldn't work. But the old hag
! Of yourn-"
| Its her eyes the doctor must have
scared her up again today. When she
4 gets scared like that about 'em she
acts up so, honest sometimes IL just
! wish / was dead. She don't think
girl oughtta have no life"
| Forget n. Just you wait. She's
! going to wake up some morning soon
and find little Surprise party for her
self i know just how to handle an
old bird like her. We're going to give
her a little surprise party Beneath
! the lap robe his hand slid toward hers.
She could feel the movement of the
arm that directed 1t and her own
! shrank away.
But ain't the limit, Jerry airing
my troubles to you, like you was a
policeman"
"Now. now"
Quit Legg0 my hand"
He leaned forward suddenly, en-
veloping her.
II got It. Why don't you femme kid
nap you, kiddo?"
"What"
'Lemrfe kidnap you tonight and
give the old bag the surprise Of her
life when she wakes up and finds you
stolen. I'm some little kidnaper when
It comes TO kidnapping. / am, kiddo.
Say, wouldn't like to take you riding
J all wrapped up In fur coat with moth
ing but your cute little face sticking
out"
Jaw, you're just fooling me-"
"Fooling Lemme prove II, tonight.
Lemme kidnap you this very night.
III