New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1926-07-24

the little dark woman q great deal
and called her Fiji"
"Morley's been crazy about her for
years" Cassie said, Her husband
knows it, but he won't divorce her.
He doesn't live here, you know
I've just found all this Quit
Hush."
She raised warning finger.
Out in the little back room. LII
lie was piling up her dishes with
clatter. A chair scraped against the
floor.
Here she comes!" whispered Cas-
sic, jumping up She took out a gold
vanity case and powdered the in
famed skin under her eyes.
She faced Lille with her hard.
bright smile, and delivered herself
into her hands.
Merry was glad to get out of
the shop. and out into the soft Sep
TENDER sunshine. She tried to forget
Bill Erskine and Cassie and Lille,
and even herself, as she walked
along.
She was glad that she was going
to meet jimmy, and be with her for
a couple of hours.
jimmy, with her slang, her frank.
ness, her young honesty, her soar
ing spirits was like a tonic.
Life had not yet had a chance to
touch her with its soil and Its sor-
row. Merry wondered If it ever
would - Jinny's cheerful decency
was almost like a suit of steel
armor.
After her one wild party" with
Derrick Jones, she had publicly
vowed never to touch another drop
of liquor. 1t made her mouth taste
like pennies. she said and that
was reason enough for giving it
up foreveF!
She did not use paint and pow
der because they made her feel
"gooey" she said. jimmy was all
for comfort.
Merry met her at the corner Of
Fir street and Eighth avenue. She
was leaning against the mail-box
that stands there, with her hands
stuck into her pockets, and her lips
pursed up as she whistled softly to
herself
Hello, Little Sister, she greet
ed Merry, initiating the tones of
Bill Erskine. Then she added in
her own voice: wipe some of that
lipstick off your mouth, or l refuse
to walk down the street with you
You look like a wax model out for
an afternoon stroll"
Nonsense" Merry answered
snappishly, 81 look all right" She
took jimmy firmly by the arm and
marched her along the crowded
sidewalk.
jimmy giggled. I'm glad you
think So" she trilled. But anyway.
there's man trying to flirt with
you-My stars! He's coming back
He's going to speak to you"
AS Merry half turned. she saw
a familiar face in the crowd that
was pressed around her Cabby
Marsh was coming toward her, his
hand outstretched and broad
grin on his dark handsome face.
He seized her hand and worked
1t up and down, like a pump han
die.
well this is lucki" he said.
heartily. What are you doing
here, in this town."
I'm this town." Merry repeated,
looking amazed. why. where else
would / be? This is my town.
live here silly" she laughed.
you do?" He seemed to be non
plussed, That's funny. I'm sure
Muriel told me you were from
some little tank-town, down state
l asked her, particularly"
Merry introduced him to jimmy.
Cabby that. Muriel knew that he
liked her, and she was jealous.
She didn't want him to ever see
her again.
Well. She would Just pay
Muriel in some of her own coin
for that little trick!
She gazed up at Cabby, and her
eyes shot him a starry look from
between their thick, curved lashes.
There was throb In her voice
as she spoke to him that made him
suddenly remember the afternoon
at the Crows Nest. The afternoon
when he had kissed her as they
danced together.
Aren't you going to take me
somewhere for a soda or glass
of iced tea?" it was saying, hus-
kily. caressingly, TIN just dying
with the heat - just perfectly dy-
ing"
Her eyes travelled down the
crowded street where the Towers
hotel reared itself into the sun
shine, three blocks away. Cabby's
followed them.
1--WE could go to the Towers for
lunch - all of US" he said, looking
from her to jimmy.
Jimmy can't go. She's got to
meet Mons, to do some shopping
Merry fibbed.
jimmy was pinching her arm to|
attract her attention. But she
gave her no notice - She certainly
didn't want jimmy along, on this
party!
but I'd adore to go, Cabby,'
she lifted sweetly, "By-by, jim. SeeI
you Iater!'
Before the disappointed jimmy
had time to utter a word, she had
waved her hand gaily. and van |
ished with Cabby into the crowd :
And jimmy was left standing alone
in the middle of the street, with
the streams of people flowing past
her on both sides, like water going
two ways.
She had no money for lunch. y.
she went into a store where MONS
had a charge account, and spent
the afternoon picking out dresses
all by her lonesome.
(To BE CONTINUED)