Evening star., 1925-06-14


her arms around your neck"
An strangles me?'
An says as how she knows she
has done YOU wrong, an does you
call off them suit fo' divohce you en-
have ev'thing Ho' own way at home
an plenty of her money, an never
have TO do wuk mr. nothin'. an"
You is sho' they amt nothin
gwine wrong with this scheme? Ise
powful fon' of Clarry."
The mo- fool you. But they amt
nothin' gwine wrong"
Sudden determination lighted Pri.
vacys face. II does it. Florian.
Come on along with me an we
'scusses the matter with Lawyer
Chew"
Now you talks like a man, Pri.
vacy. It's pity you don look like
one."
One hour later they parted from
Lawyer Evans Chew. The wheels of
legal machinery had been set in
motion and Privacy started uncer.
tainly for home. II wonder" he
speculated. nervously-"I wonder has
l done gone an made a mistaken"
x X
THE two days Immediately ensuing
i were anxious ones for the doubt.
full little man. He knew that he had
started something-but he didn't
know precisely what that something
was. Finally, when he could stand
1t no longer, he sought Lawyer Chew
That legal light greeted Privacy
enthusiastically
"Ev'ything's fixed" said he.
"FiXed?"
"Uh-huh. The clerk which I hiahs
an employs to wuk TO me has les
served them divohce papers on yo'
wife, to wit: Clarry Robson. He must
have got to yo' domicile jes' after
you depahted therefum.'
A great fear smote at the heart
of Privacy. He's done done it?"
"He suttinly-" and then. as a
dapper young negro entered the
office: "Heah he is now. Joshua, has
you served them divohce papers on
Missus Robson?"
A sudden haunting fear played
about the clerks eyes. 'Y-y-yassuh.
Lawyer Chew
What did she say?"
well" the clerk spread his arms
pressively-"Taint presac'ly what
she said Lawyer Chew-its how she
said it,
Privacy felt himself grow small
with fear. "Wh-what she said now.
cullud boy?"
The lad glanced at his employers S
client commiseratinGly. She jes'
soht of said like this: Reckon they's
one skinny cullud man gwine take a
ca'iage ride with a heap of flowers
an a ban of music-on'y he amt
gwine smell them formers mr. heah
them latters."
An ominous stiffness brooded over
the little house as F'lorian turned in
at the front gate. which hung de-
jectedly from a single rusty hinge.
About the place was an air of for
bidding gloom. In the kitchen he
caught sight of his wife industriously
mending a bungalow apron.
He knew that she knew he was
there, yet she gave no indication of
her knowledge of his presence. He
stood uncertainty in the center of the
ROOM fidgeting uneasily, shifting
awkwardly from one foot to the other.
Still she did not raise her eyes. He
coughed = fearfully apologetically.
No indication from the large colored
lady. And then, lured by the same
attraction which sends a bird strolling
Robson shuffied into the presence of
his wife.
And yet she appeared unaware of
his presence.
Privacy was trembling from head
to foot. Vituperation, fury, even
physical clash, he could understand.
This fierce introductory silence WAS
getting on his nerves and rubbing
them raw. Finally he could stand
the silence no longer
III h hello, Clarry.'
No answer.
'F-f-f,fine day. amt it?''
Ditto.
"C-c-c-clarry-you amt deef. is
you?'
She hummed the opening measures
of new jazz tune. Clarry missing
an opportunity to talk! 1t was
CHASTITY,
"N'r neither amt you dumb?"
She paid no heed. He prepared to
fee the onslaught which he knew was
inevitable He tried to make meek
amends
is - is somebody fun Lawyer
Chews Office ben to see you, Clarry,
honey"
She rose, moved across TO the stove
and inspected something which was
boiling in a large dark pot.
MY sweetness, what the matter is
with you?"
But still she did not answer. For a
half hour Privacy hung around,
begging TOT the RulllOllne, ana Del1lS
vouchsafed not even one single con-
soling blow. Clarry on a rampage was
bad enough-but at least she was un-
derstandable. Clarry, quiet was Clarry
terrifying. Privacy sought secluded
corner of Bud Peaglar's Barbecue
Lunch Room & Billiard Parlor and
there he covered in quivering terror
until long after the dinner hour had
come and gone. And then he rose
and trailed slowly toward home.
x Z X
THE place was shrouded In black
ness. He crept guiltily within,
yearning for the caressing bang of a
tfat-iron against his Skull-any gentle