Evening star., 1923-06-10

. sofa with cushions on it-you know,
like they have in the movies"
"Sure!" said Martin sympathetically
'Whatd you like to have-if--"
'I'd like a car. too And guy dress
ed up In one Of them monkey suits to
drive mo round. You know-a shofer.
A shofer named James
'"Why?"
SOS could get In and say, Home,
James!' She laughed. And I'd like
a. place down the island" continued
Martin dreamily. Like Far Rock
away. or somewhere-you know"
! Yeah. with a garden"
Sure! A garden"
She Looked at him, and he thought
that she was smiling.
''Funny-ain't ft?"
"f'unny-yesh! feel like we was
old friends"
so do l."
"Say-Minnie?
i "What?""How'd you come to-what
give you. the idea? I mean, the
| river"
II was sick Of the whole works. L
had enough Of It."
| II bet 1t was some guy--
YEAH" said Minnie, vaguely
"The dirty dogr'
She glanced at him, her hands play
| ing with the cheap handbag in her
/ lap.
'He-he was dog, all right"
"Whatd he do to you?"
Well, I'll tell you. Say, got a ciga-
rettef"
produced a crushed packet, which he
held out, to her.
| TITS your last one
go on: take 1t. I don wanna
smoke"
"Thanks!"
TIE struck a match for her, observ-
IL ing. by the nare of 1t. the youth
full curve of her lips, the CLEAN Of
her cheek, the dark curl OF her lashes.
She was pretty.
Say, I got some gingersnaps in
my bag. Want one?"
Sure. I don't CARE
He munched them hungrily while
she smoked
They're good. 1 amt had feed
since yesterday mornin'."
Gee"
What was you sayin' about that
guy?"
Minnie blew a cloud of smoke into
the April mist.
well, it was like this-see? was
workin' in a store and this guy-his
name was Harry-Harry Van KIRK
he used to come and talk to me over
| the counter. I was at the gents neck
wear. Well, he says to me, Minnie,
| he says, marry me- he says. and you
can have anything you want L got
| lotsa dough- he says. He used to
take me out in his car. Some car"
You was married to him?'
| Yeah. And we had a swell apart
ment and ALL Only. he wouldn't tell
mo what his business was. Then, one
day, the bulls come and pinched him
| for runnin -toint-see?
And on topa that a dame blew in
from-from Alaska and says he was
married to her when he was a gold
miner"
Gee. Minnie!"
! She turned to him. What's the
story Of your life?"
"Oh, it amt nothin'. Only. I had a
good Job before the war. I was in
a storage warehouse-on the movin'-
end. we had a nice little fat over on
West 1ssth street, me and my moth
er-" He suddenly put his face In
his hands and gave a whimpering cry.
The girl slipped her arm about his
shoulders.
That's all right, bo! She's, better
OFF where she is."
Martin sat quietly. his elbows on
his knees. Minnie withdrew her arm,
but her shoulder still pressed his.
We'll, then, the war come and I
I was drafted. I was In France and
| Russia-three years. When I come
home she was dead. I couldn't get my
job back because I got hurt in the
shoulder, and I couldn't do no heavy
liftin'. I .tried tb get some light
work. I was might watchman on 6
construction Job for while. and
got thirty days for vagrancy-that
helped. And the rest Of the time
slep' in doorways and on park
benches-only. the bulls run you outa
there"
Gee! I don't blame you for givin'
1t the go-by."
We'll. I was hungry. and I didn't
see no chance"
Me, neither"
His hand groped for hers. found II
! and squeezed 1t.
I'm glad met yeh, Minnie"
Same here! It's kinda nice-hav-
! in, somebody to talk to. Say-it
must be gettin' late
, They looked at each other.
"Well2" said Minnie sharply.
I'm game If you are"
I'm game" Her glance wavered
was turned toward the river. Gee
. 1t looks cold" She pressed against
him. trembling. Her voice was .
wall. Ell dom wanna die, Martini!
This time It was he who put his
. arm round her.
Look, Minnie! Don't cry. We car
try 1t a while longer. Well stick to.
, gether-I and you. Huh?"
stick together2" ~
Sure! I'll start in lookin' for q
job again. Maybe L can get some.
, thin. And If don't-well-we car
always come back here, can't we?"
YEAH That's right"
Sure! AS soon as get coupls
dollars saved up well go down tr