Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-12-27
CHAPTER XVI


I've been SEM this house ever
since il was built, Mr.. Borden. Never
did seem like to me folks really lived
in places like this. Kind Of get a
real kick out Of visitin' one"
You'll get used to il soon enough"
But it's a great thing for Bob. here
amt it. kidd" And he placed a
big paw on Terry's knee.
I'm not sure" Bob smiled shyly.
Sometimes / think / take il for
granted-and then | find I'm wrong.
| never was used to anything like it
before"
The eyes OF the two girls met. For
a second they stared levelly, then
both smiled. Here was a common
bond which they recognized and well
coined. Each was amazed that she
understood the other. They were
surprised by the mutually of their
attraction. There wer ethe two moth
ers Of the one man, and as the three
men immersed themselves in small
talk the girls drew together on the
lounge.
The hum Of deep masculine voices
came to them-Borden directing the
conversation and steering il away
from the shoal waters; occasionally
Todd Shannon's big laugh and Bor-
den's small metallic n rang through
the room. Bob was smiling. He was
proud Of Todd and Kathleen. He saw
that the girls liked each other-but
he did not hear Kathleen's frank
question:
"We really want to talk about
p1k IA-ff ~~n Me- nn-Inn ~F
Nor did he hear Lois equally hon
est answer.
"Of course we do"
Save for an occasional ~reassuring
glance in the direction of the three
men, Lois devoted her entire atten-
ton to Kathleen. The bond between
them had been instant and mutual.
They were as far apart as the poles,
but there was no difference in the
straight glances which each reserved
for the other, no difference in their
honesty-and no difference in their
interest in Bob Terry.
There was no hint Of combative-
ness. Each girl recognized the ster-
ling in the other and admired IL.
They accepted their common meeting
ground, and each, in a second.
completely altered her preconceived
ideas. True, they both probed for
hidden feelings, but their frank lik-
ing of each other made that a diff
cult task.
It was Lois who voiced the first
question:
Don't you thing Bob has improved
recently ?"
Tremendously. It's the work that
has done it
"The particular work he Is doing y
moo" Kathleen shook her head.
II can't say / think that. 1t is rather
in his just having something TO do
a job TO 90 to every morning"
you're right. He hasn't been easy
to handle. ! suppose you know him
better than / do-the underlying
man, that is. And if you do. you can
readily enough visualize the way he
has brooded around the house as
though he were deeply hurt and
afraid Of being struck again"
Kathleen smiled. "You do under
stand Bob. don't you?"
Eyes" Lois answered wistfully-
"But he doesn't think I do. He
thinks | am only sorry"
al see" The girl with the mid
night hair was too human not to be
conscious of a heart Tilt at this con-
fession. 81 guess that's why he and
| have hit il off so we'll together. !
never was sorry for him-but ] did
understand. OF course. my work
"-in Mr.. Carmody's office"
"Yes. That gave me an insight
which a non-working girl could not
possibly have. And the fact that
Uncle Todd looks on Bob almost as
a son. You see. they were cell
mates"
They looked at each other. The
smiles had been erased from their
lips. They spoke now of tragedy.
but they did it honestly and fear
lessly.
at Is difficult 10 restore a mans
confidence in himself and the world
when he has been through what Bob
has. You knew him before. Miss Boz
den; wasn't he sensitive-unusuplly
receptive to impressioEs%
Il think so. / don't know him
very we'll. He was a sort OF protege
of Dads and I met him occasionally,
but not often enough 70 know him
we'll. Yet I'd say that he was SEN