New Britain herald., 1927-08-15

his IlI1le IMAM LOT any OtIcI icdooll'
Sally stared at him in sick amaze
ment. Why, it was like knockin
the very earth from under her fee
to tell her that Mr.. Peevey wa
closing up his funny old office. Ant
she still owed him almost a hun
dred dollars. What would sh'
60 about that Where would sh'
so?
Il can't come here to work, that.
certain" she said to herself, hei
solemn gaze on John Nye's face. 81
never could stand watching hin
and Millie all day. I'd go and wash
dishes in restaurant first"
And then the thought of Aunt
Emily's wayside inn came to her
Yes, she could go to Aunt En-
lily, if nothing else turned up. She
could take chance with Aunt En-
lily.
The telephone on her desk rang.
1t sounded as loud and alarming as
a fire bell in the silence.
She picked up the receiver. This
is Mr. Nye's office" she said even
ly, in a cool business voice.
you, Sally?" Ted Sloan answer
ed her. Say, I'm up in your house.
Your mothers having a fit about
something and wants you to come
right home. I'll be right down in
the boat to ge: you" He hung up.
1--WE got to go home" Sally told
John Nye. Ted Sloan's coming
! down for me. But III keep right on
working till he gets here. I was
! supposed to get supper tonight for
my mother and father, and / reck-
on they're getting pretty hungry"
| 1t was s o'clock. The bells OF
some downtown church were chin
ing the hour as she spoke. their
voices clear and silvery on the
night air.
What's wrong with Mother?" she
asked Ted when they were in his
| shivering. jumping automobile,
! speeding towards home.
| How do I know? Don't ask me
riddles, Sally. I'm in low gear to-
night" he said. Just missing a
street car. 'All I know is that ]
ran up to your back door to see il
you were washing dishes and she
was sitting there, crying her eyes
out She told me to get you right
away"
Poor Mother. She shouldn't have
tried to get supper. She always gets
hght-headed and dizzy when she
does any work." she answered. her
voice full Of concern and tender
ness. Il suppose my father wanted
something hot and she stood over
the cook stove too long. Step on
the gas, Teddy"
He stepped on it. He loved speed.
He should have been an ambulance
chaser,
BY some miracle they we're not
arrested on the way home
Sally started up the dark back
steps of the flat building while he
put his little car into the garage.
Before she reached the top he
called 10 her in hushed voice:
wait minute, Baby"
She waited, wondering what he
wanted.
Up through the warm heavy,
darkness he came to her
Perhaps it was because she was
wistful and quiet after her evening
with John Nye. Perhaps it was be-
cause the night laid Its ancient
spell Of darkness and star-shine
upon young Ted Sloan.
But anyway. when he reached
her he put his arms around her
and kissed her-twice. very quickly
before she could stop him.
ooh. Sally, be a sport and marry
me-" he said. and even il his words
were slang, his voice was strained
with longing. Sally. I hate to think
of you shut up in an office, late at
night, with John Nye-"
John Nye!" repeated Sally, with
great scorn. rubbing her lips with
her handkerchief under cover OF the
darkness. "Why. I'm as safe with
John Nye as I'd be with Beau! Why,
he's crazy cracked over Mile! He's
as good as married to her! In an
other six months I'll bet you money
that he's my brother in-law
Also under cover Of darkness.
young Mr.. Sloan shook his head
rnbelievingly. He had looked
EN- all over, so he told himself.
And mo guy in his right senses
would even see Mil'ie when a hot
locker like Sally was around"
"And besides, how could l marry
you? How could I marry ANY
BODY, even if I wanted to-" she
wanted to know, and her voice was
gentle She knew just how Ted felt
and she was sorry for him. 1t was
no fun to be in love with someone
who didn't care bit for you. 1t
hurt Didn't she know?
why couldn't she get married ?"
Ted asked doggedly. as they walked
across the upper porch, past the old
painted rocker and the geranium
boxes and the milk bottle box.
"Well because of Mother. Who'd
look after her?' asked Sally.