Evening star., 1925-03-22

the drink Mr.. Gudgeon had GWendo-
line. There was an understanding be-
tween them. He knew her ways
when she liked to be changed down."
how to coax her up Hill Rise, and
when in spite of the garage expert
she was feeling below par.
And in return she had never failed
him. Eeven when suffering crnelly
from neglected plugs she had been
known to limp home with full cargo
rather than that he should be strand
ed and miss his supper
And because of Gwendoline Mr..
Gudgeon did not know. that he was a
lonely, little man-growing old.
X X X
ONE dripping Winters evening Mrs.
~ Golightly, according to. custom,
became depressed, and, depression
developing into IAN 'orribie sinking
feeling" Elfreda was hustled out for
tn only known remedy. And it was
while trying to edge through the
swing doors of the public. house
without spiliing her beery burden
that she saw .Mr. Gudgeon talking
to Gwendoline. He even patted her,
running his hand over her black
wing with lingering tenderness
that made Elfreda gulp loudly-she
did not in the least know why.
Whereupon Mr.. Gudgeon turned and
became red and embarrassed and said,
Now then very severely.
But for once Elfreda- was not dis
mayed. She knew now that No. AK
was not a terrifying monster at all.
And Mr.. Gudgeon was nice man who
was kind when no one else was look
ing.
Mr. sGudgeon stared at Elfreda.
Ought ter be in bed said Mr.
arD
II dunno"
We'll, run 'ome to 'er. Ought ter
be in bed hours ago"
81 don't go to bed" she said, mot
for hours and hours"
"Oh, you don't Ell? And why not?"
"Cause I'm working"
"Tush," said Mr.. Gudgeon. What
work."
Maxim things"
What things?"
"F-fowers"
We'll, 1 never card tell of any one
maxim flowers" Mr.. Gudgeon con-
ERE, warm those paws of yours a
bit any 'ow. I'll old your beer for
you. Put Sem there"
By stretching up she was able just
to touch the top of Gwendoline's
radiator, and an almost overpowering
wave of comfort poured over her
tense, shivering little body.
She said huskily, ROOTS alive,
amt it?"
Mr.. Gudgeon looked shy. we'll
dunno-in sort of way"
"Wot's 'er name?"
Mr. Gudgeon blushed. "well-I calls
'er Gwendoline."
IT likes 'er," Elfreda said, "'cause
she's warm"
Mr. Gudgeon tried to look casual
and Indifferent. "Oh, she amt a bad
sort-as busses 60" Then in a burst
of loyalty, There amt many of 'em
can go up Ill Rise like she do
can tell you that any 'ow."
So, after all, the great question
came quite easily. Where's Ill Rise,
Mister?"
I'll Rise? It's a might of a way
from ere. Straight across London as
far as you can go. Three hours ac-
cordin' to schedule"
And are there trees-iots and lots
Of 'em?"
Mr.. Gudgeon was about to explain
that Hill Rise was just a pub" as
far as he was concerned, but at that
moment he caught sight of the up
turned face, and it was SO small and
white and eager that in burst of
intuition he lied. Trees enough"
And f-fiowers?"
"P'raps. 1 don't ave much time
for pickin' EN-"
Elfreda went home, slip stopping
through the puddles anl the mist of
rain like a scared, little phantom. His
last shift over, Mr.. Gudgeon went
home, and Mrs. Judd gave him a de-
scription of the Golightly menage-
whereat Mr.. Gudgeon swore. And as
Mr.. Gudgeon never swore, Mrs. Judd
marked the occasion as the beginning
of the end.
SO from being the least and most
despised of ragamuff1ns Elfreda be-
came an important person. She and
Gwendolfne and Mr.. Gudgeon knew
each other. And gradually a deep
intimacy sprang up between the
three of them-a sort Of wordless
understanding.
X X X
THINGS changed. Winter melted
L into a warm and kindly Spring,
and one became restless and inclined
to fall into a kind of dazed dream
about one didn't know what. One
didn't make ones roses and daffodils
so quickly, and Mrs. Golightly's de-
pressions were more frequent and
more painful in their expression.
Mr.. Gudgeon's little flicker of an
ger became a small, smoldering fur
mace. He didn't know, either, what he
was angry about. But he was gruff
~o safl do inc