New Britain herald., 1927-08-12
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any more. 1t takes every nickel We
earn. You'll just have to let us come
and live with you! You can tuck US
in somewhere, guess"
She laid her hands on the white
enamel table top before her. The
nails were vanished bright coral
pink and they were long and pointed
all except one. That had been
broken off, and there was large
blister on one thumb.
Look at my hands-just ruined
for typewriting," walled Mabel. Il
just can't hold down an office Job
and keep house, too. It's too much
to expect of a girl. And the prices
of food! Oh. why did I ever marry
Beau JEROME? Why did II"
She was Despair personified. as
she sat there at the table in her
sloppy clothes, her lips drawn down.
her eyes watery with tears, and her
breath coming in little sobbing
gasps.
Sally's warm, generous heart was
filled with pity for her. She seemed
so woe-begone and helpless and in
capable of facing the hard tasks of
life. A broken finger nail was a
tragedy to her. A new hat every few
weeks was an absolute necessity to
her.
Sally saw it all, and she went on
patting her shoulders with one of
her own hands that had known
many a broken nail and blister
that could WELD broom as deity
as they could tap typewriter.
"All right, Mabsy," she said, COM
fortingly. Wen see about 1t as soon
as my father leaves. He won't be
here long, I imagine"
The promise was scarcely off her
lips when the front door opened and
closed sharply. There came sound
Of hurrying young feet and Beau
popped into the kitchen with a
parcel in his hand.
Come on, dust off the top Of the
stove." he hailed his miserable bet
ter-half. "Papas brought home
some hamburger steak and beans!"
He dumped his package on the table,
and Mabel fairly leaped into his
arms, rubbing her cold-creamed
cheek against his sleeve like an af-
fectionate kitten.
"Oh, Beau, I knew you wouldn't
leave me.' she sighed unevenly.
And Beau! The most wonderful
thing! Sally's promised to let us
live at home again, just as We knew.
she would"
Sally's heart sank at her words,
but Beau's shifty blue eyes were al
most honest for once as he turned
them on his sister. Thank the good
lord for that" he said fervently. II
haven't had a decent meal since I
got married! Now, don't start bawl-
ing again, Mabel. You're the worlds
best vamp, even If you can't cook"
Whereupon Mabel marched into
the bedroom to take off her cold
cream and put on her makeup, and
Sally began to peel onions for the
hamburger steak.
+
1t was $50 when the three of
them locked the door of the flat and
started down the stairs to the car.
And then it was another As min
utes before they started, for the lit
tie red car stubbornly refused to
start and Beau had to tinker" with
it and prime it and heap all sorts of
abuse upon it before it finally de-
cided to take run that evening.
Then it got away to a racing start
that all but threw Sally through the
windshield and made Mabel burst
into avid peal OF laughter. Mabel
adored any kind of excitement, If
she had been man she would have
been a parachute jumper, she often
said
Drop me at the flat, Beau" Sally
said when they We're we'll on their
way. 1--WE got to fix Miles room
UP for my father"
And then after he goes we can
move right in," dubbed Mabel. "Oh,
boy, won't I be happy, though. No
more meals to get! No more dishes
to wash! Hoop-la, says IT,
Sally was perfectly silent. Her
eyes narrowed as she looked into the
lamp-studded darkness of the
streets. Curiously enough, the
thought of the extra work they
would make didn't worry her. It was
the money question.
You'll each have to give me SO
a week for your board" she said
after a moment or two of deep
thought. Il hate to talk about
money right away, but that will have
to be understood from the start"
"Oh, sure answered Beau easily,
Beau would promise anything.
why, of course" echoed Mabel.
Beau would promise anything.
but to get them to actually pay
it-thats going to be the rub" Sally
said to herself, and unseen in the
darkness her face was very grave
and troubled.
ITO BE CONTINUED)