Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-03-16

HAS' Ills hedu lnCllneu, ana -FOUR
knuckles poised. Knocked again and
the door swung back on silent hinges
and In the wavering brown shadows
small black figure peered outward.
LOT!
"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. l couldn't see you
first. Don't you know me, kiddo? It's
me-"
"Leew
"That's me-"
IF it amt Lee! Come in, Lee ~
Her voice was faint as a tinkling bell.
He entered, exhaling loudly and
with great ado of rubbing his hands
together in a dry wash.
"Well-we1l-well"
"I-come right in, Lee. Gee, gee,
but you're a sight for sore eyes. How's
things? The girls? Sit down in that
rocker, Lee. Here femme take your
stick. I-gee, amt you sight for
sore eyes. Geew
She was fiuttering and full of small
ways. Dragged the rocker bit farth-
er beneath the swinging lamp; leaned
his slender cane in corner; lowered
shade. Pink, as delicate as peach
bloom, rose in her wan little face.
NSif
the show was playing Adalai tonight,
but-but-gee, you look right slick,
Lee. How's the show-how's the
gang?"
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, is 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 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 a croakins
whisper.
How Ia he, Lo? Won't he eves
walk? Ia he nailed for good"
"Oh, Lee. don't you know"
II beat it while the company was in
line for wardrobe so you wouldn't
think the gang was forgetting. Ws
got in just in time for makeup and
we're out for Principal ON the Ieven'
seven. The girls squealed for time I'd
come and see you both, but it's all
we can do to run the show of and
beat 1t out on the 'leven-seven. Is hi
nailed for good?"
Tears rained down her cheeks am
Splashed to her black dress.
Don't you know, Lee? Amt 20,
heard? Don't you know"
know what?"
He could see her shoulders heav
ing.
"A week ago today, Lee, he
| he-last Monday, /"
A flash of understanding shocke,
him halfway to his feet and his han,
shot to his hat refexly.
"Blinked! Aw, now whatta--whatt,
you know about that? Amt 1 tn
dub? Sure, Lo we never heard
Blinked! Aw-Aw. Lol Poor guy
Poor guy!"
He was strangely inarticulate anC
they sat for moment in a lead
heavy silence.
Presently she raised her tear
daubed face.
He was game through up-up tt
the end, Lee. lit came so sudder
like HE never let us know-but hi
must have known-he knew all the
time-but-but he never let out q
complaint or let US know he knew
He was the real stuff, Lee, Tiff evel
fellow was. He was! He was!"
He twirled his hat.
AAC "oo-h ia LlC Ecdl Lee
he"
You was, too, kiddo. Nobody cal
say you didn't stick. And it wasn't
your fault, neither. AL was always g
great one for keeping his own props
and the next day Ed found there wa.
screw gone from his spring board
1t wasn't your fault; the gang al
knows that"
Her tears welled afresh.
mo. 40, no. He was always savins
that, too. But you can't tell me moth.
ing about that. Nobody can. Nobody
can"
ut was grand thing you done, Lo
You oughtta seen the space we got
about it. We had a headline in every
| town this side of Oklahoma City. It'll
be, good press stuff for the future, Lo
Sticking to guy like that when
when he was nailed. and marrying
him in hospital. Some press stuff
| that -
ITS just like Ben says about him
he-he was too good fOr-for-he
was too good to live"
Nav, nav, quit crying, Lo. Cry
Ing amt going to help. Brineys never
salted down anybody's troubles"
She dried her eyes.
"Ain't the silly? Only, when ]
get started about him and what he
was and all II just can't keep 'em
back. Lemme get Won some cider loo