New Britain herald., 1924-03-20

hadn't he gone 10 the Empire Picture Palace where that red-hoaded Name Dorsey played tho piano nnd taken her 10 supper at tho Elite.
 Sallie hurried past the picture palace and along the struggling line Of shops to the railroad bridge. Name could play all right. sallie had to hand that 10 her: hadn't she plugged away st tho latest ballads and jazz numbers in the sheet music de- partment al the Fire-&-Ten for six months right next 10 Sallie's own counter'
 A sharp gust Of the March wind caught Sallie as she crossed the bridge and made. her clutch the rail in a grip that split her neatly meudod brown glove straight across the sharp little knuckles, but she hastened on needless of the calamity.
 Ma Brennan would keep supper hot for her. Of course. hut Ma had had a hard days wash and she wasn't so well lately in spite Of all that fat There had been place for her in that dream of tho future which al- though it had never been put into definite words had seemed Of late 10 i'll the girls waking thonGhts-a little cottage away from the incossant roar and grime and coal-dust of the tracks where Ma could sit in com fortabe idleness and read tho lurid detective stories so dear to her heart and Mike out of the fullness of his experience on the Force would kid her about them when he came home.
 But that dream vas over now Nora Jenk., Of the tinwarc, had been to the Empire the night before and the Elite afterward with her intended and Nora wasn't the catty kind to tell what she had seen just to make her feel bad. Louise Grote from the ribbon counter had chimed in. too: her brother had the beat down ncar where Name Dorsey lived and Make had brought her home more than once lately.
 Sallie had replied with hravcly gay assumption Of unconcern but TOW she brushed angrily from her eyes somet hing stinEing which the sharp March winds had not brought there and started to turn in at the rickety little gate when a small, mis- shapen form emerged hurriedly from the gloom and caromed against her.
 "Hughie.' She put ont a hand to steady the slipping crutch. "Where you going so quick"
 "Oh. Sallic. you didn't sec Pa as you come long. did you?' The boys voice was breaking with anxiety. "Hc's at it again. dunno where Inc got it and he's gone"
 Conc" Sallie echoed. winding her arm about the bumped shoulders. "It's most lime for the seventeen. sint it Your pas prob1y right down there al the junction now. ready 10 throw the switch same as usual"
 T gotta 20 see.'' The boy took a fresh grip of his crutches. He s rretty bad this time. Don't iet that Thorkinsen. girl know; she said her pa'd report him the next time!"
 He hobl,led of as a shaft Of light strnaked ont on thc porch Of tho house next door. just beyond which he lived Hith his :ather. and lIs. Thork nsen's long. .nquisitive nose was poked out.
 Dat you. salIie?" she simpered. "I fought somebody bane wit you. wanter run over after supper? We rot two new records"
 Thanks. Iisc." sallie interrupted shortly. "Tm tired tonight"
 "uh, if your faller bane comin' to see you--2''
 "IIe suf. 1'In-I'm just tired.
 Ilse shut her door as sallie went up Ma Brcnnsn's oath which parslIeled inc ThorkjusFns' a scaiii twenty feet away. Ilsr was se. 'ani,y and sharp featured and as ssIIOw as the hides ia tIe tsnnnry *hcre sIie "orked as 2 stencgrs pher.
 Hello. dearie." Ma Brennan .ufncd