San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-02
Begin Here Today.

| sdIIit Itth. tllDloyt VI tHe All
| Deal Five 4 Ten, on her way home
to supper, meets the crippled son of
a railroad switchman. The lad tells
Salie that his father is drinking
and that he is worried for fear he
| may be the eause of disaster.
Saflie passes on to the home of Ma
Brennan, with whom she lives. Ma
is reading in New York paper an
in New York. She tells Sallie she
policeman, when he comes to call on
Sallic.
Sallie is beartbroken and angry
at the Empire Theater with Name
has taken Name home more than
once lately. Ma prepares a steak
for Sallie but Sallies can not eat it.
Now go on with the story. l. =,
"Mike won't be here" Sallie rose.
"Sit still, Ma, I'll do UP my dishes. :"
you've ate nothin'! That store'E
be the death o We. an glad III be to
see We out o it for good an all :" Ma
Brennan exclaimed meaningly. ut
uou Sttfu tHut MltIidtl was any
sooner out O the army and back on
the force than he loses the uniform
again, this time for shield Young
est plainclothes man-Why Sallie,
child :"
"Don't talk about Mike any more,
Ma. J" The girl spoke through set
teeth. al don't ever want to hear
his name again oh, there's some
body on the porch. I'm going up
stairs!"
But she was too late, for after one
stupeficd glance Ma Brennan waddled
to the door and opened it, admitting
the stalwart subject of her interrupt
ed eulogy.
"Helio, Ma" The hearty voice of
Detective Sergeant Michael Curtis
doomed through the little kitchen as
he shook her hand. "How are you
tonight Where's Sallie-!"
His rowing glance had passed her
and stopped and the eagerly expect
ant smile died on his lips for the girl
confronted him from the stairway
with blazing eyes.
81 thought you were on duty to-
night" She spoke jerkily in an eff
fort at calm.
mo, last night
Last nightn" Sallie caught him
up with whitening scorn. I'm wise
to where you We're last night. Mike
Curtis, and other evenings besides
when you were pulling this duty
stuff and getting away with it-not.
Why amt you at the Empire tonight,
listening to her tickle the ivories?"
His face whitened beneath the tan
and then colOred dull red while
hurt. half-bewildered look came into
his brown eyes, like those of a faith
full dog which has been kicked when
he expected caress.
"Sallie-girl. You don't under
stand ~ He advanced step or two
pleadingly as Ma Brennan gasped
and looked from one to the other of
them. you've got to listen to me!
I've got a right to tell you, to ex-
plain"
"There's some things that don't
need explaining!" Sallie struck the
banister rail sharply with her small
fist. "What you done is your busi-
ness, Mike, and who you run around
with; thank goodness, never give
You any reason to think you had to
hand me an excuse!"
"NO-reaS0n :" MlchaelS Jaw SET.
AZ told you / was on duty; / couldn't
say any more before"
"And you can't now, not TO me.
Say. listen. Mike, and get this
straight" She paused and then said
slowly through lips grown suddenly
white. 81 don't want to see you
again, not ever! hate lies, and I'm
through"
For a moment longer he gazed at
her and back of the hurt look in his
eyes something else dawned which
she had never seen there before.
Then he drew himself up, bowed
stiffly and wheeled as though on
parade, to lay his hand for a moment
on Ma ,Brennan's shoulder and then
pass with firm tread out into the
night. .
Sallie flew up TO her room like a
small whirlwind and locked the door,
before her trembling hands sought
match. Mechanically but with fever
ish haste she undressed. avoiding her
own eyes in the little mirror over the
dresser, then turning out the gas she
opened her window and flung herself