Evening star., 1922-03-12

The Winters didn't go to their IN
laws that Sunday. For fully half an
hour Tom busted himself with the
Sunday paper. making notations as
he read the lists of restaurants and
places Of amusement.
Dinner $3.50 ca. $500 %
Tin 80
Sunday movie. ......... rs ca. 1.5O
Carfare ..-......... .lu ed. .Io
Within his coat pocket he found
so cents in loose change. whereupon
he took out the card and added still
a fifth item:
Sodas ............ 20 ca. "A
Total .................. $5.44
Then he went into the kitchen,
where Rose was beginning to prepare
luncheon.
Put that away, Rose" he ordered.
taking the pairing knife from her nm
gers and showing the pan of potatoes
to one side. "Were-we're going to
have dinner in the city. Come on,
now, set things to rights, and let's
get out"
**
TT was well toward the end Of that
- festive meal, while the waiter was
clearing the table preparatory to
serving the desserts. that Tom sud-
denly sat stiff and erect.
"Rose," he whispered. there's Burr
right over to our side. He's the big
boss you know"
Rose lifted her eyes and artfully
turned her head.
who's that with him?"
"wife"
"She-she doesn't look unusual
Just like nice, motherly woman. Do
you think he saw you. Tom?"
What II he did? AS far as this
management is concerned, nobody
knows that he's the boss and I'm the
employe. Ny dollar-fifty and his are
equally good"
A very sound little speech. A bit
confident, too, but it was uttered to
cover the panicky feeling that really
possessed him.
The desserts came and were in due
time disposed Of. Tom reached into
his pocket and drew forth pack of
cigarettes. lighting one. and settling
back in his chair. His first impulse
had been to flee as soon as he could.
but a dogged persistence to hold his
own counseled him otherwise.
Burr and his wife rose. There was
no need for them to pass Toms
table, yet Burr deliberately edged
through the small spaces and came
directly toward him.
"How-do, Mr.. Winters" he greeted.
'How-do, Mr.. Burr! Wonderful
day, isn't it? My wifeAMr. Burr"
: whereupon Mrs. Burr. who had
came up behind. was introduced. A
gracious smile passed between the
women, the dinner was remarked
upon. and they were off.
"Nice sort Of man, isn't he" asked
Rose.
"Who, Burr? Oh, yes. He's all
right" 1t was Mellet whom Tom
hated. Strange" he mused to him.
self. "how big. how unaffected. how
democratic the really big men are.
Mellet, of course. in his mind-"are."
The movie house which they chose
Of all the number to honor with their
presence featured a play dealing with
the very problem upon which their
own lives had so . nearly been
wrecked. All through it Tom sat
silently looking ahead. Some ttime
during the performance Roses hand
crept shyly into his own. but he just
ooyarad IL and continued IN o<o,a
ahead. Then there was a comedy by
way Of lightness and relief, and while
Rose laughed as he hadn't heard her
laugh in a long time. he barely
locked at the screen. He was still
thinking.
A YOUNG girl-blond, howerlike, in
~ hoop skirts and bonnet-came
out and sang "On the Bonnie. Bonnie
Banks Of Loch Lomond." AS her
voice plaintively and delicately in
toned the words, Rose pressed his
arm.
"T've-Tve got that home. Tom,"
she whispered.
"Can you sing IT,"
'M-m."
pretty thing, all right"
"The song and MY girl"
THE song and Ny girl"
'T-omw ~
All in all. that day was a day of
days. To Tom 1t brought back all the
sweetness, all the softness, all the
~ -.