Evening star., 1927-07-30

together, looking over the want
ad sheet of n paper bought from their
common pool of money. frequently
enough dividing a box of crackers the
day before pay day. when both were
usually broke. And this large sales.
room with plateglass windows. a half
dozen cleaning nev cars and horse
shoe cases of plate glass filed with
the finest of accessories; this didn't
look much like those old days!
Even Ray Martin knew instructive.
ly that the room had been decorated
by professional; the mouse gray
walls, with 'just one picture; thai fiat
bowl of yellow lusterware, oh. any one
could have seen with half an eye that
an interior decorator had been busy
herei Even Ray Martin, with his un-
polished shoes and his old-faShioned
suit that smacked strongly of a style
now two seasons old and his chin
that was thrust up with beligerence
rather than success, even Ray saw it
all.
Critically he stared at that one
huge picture that filled so nicely the
wall space. I'D never have picked an
ugly mug like that for a salesroom."
he muttered to himself. "a fellow has
to look at enough dumbbells in real
life without putting up pictures of
them for decoration. The Man with
the Hoe'-a good girls head by Benda
would be lots prettier and would fetch
second glance"
Hello, Ray, old man." came Harry's
cordial greeting.
Rays swift appraising glance told
him of Harry's financial success. Not
only the clOthes-any one could b,,v
those--but his whole bearing, the full,
deep notes of his voice, his capable
well-cared-for hands, the straightfor-
ward look of his eyes-all told of his
success and well-being.
Happened to be in town and wanted
to talk with YOU" Ray said hesitat.
ingly.
why, of course, I'd feel mighty
hurt If you didn't stop in to see an
old pal" said Harry quickly. "How's
everything with you?"
Rotten" answered Raw. with n yvrv
smile. Il see everything's lake for
you--without asking. But me-say-
II take hold of a gold ffve-dollar
piece 1t turns to stone under NV fin
gers. and | can't begin to tell YOU how
many businesses I've been in-since
the old days"
All of us drift about a bit" said
Walker, his eyes straying past Raw
toward the street outside of the wide
windows. 1T takes a while TO find
ones footing, but what are YOU going
to do now?"
:. I'm going out on No. 44-that's
the new road that's been opened be-
tween Joliet and Kankakee, you know
opeheu a year or so now and the time
netils =. ripe Tor people to begin using
49, -, heavliy thls Summer, especially as
.ne otner road from kankakee direct
ly to Urbana is open, too. Retter road
WIDER than the Dixie that is seven
mlie; over the Kankakee. Well. Harry
IN going to open gas station and
accessory shop out there past Wilton
teri" A'o1i |eh-
harry laughed. THAT town with
l5l inhabitants? Yes, a fellow told mo
they went far, far out into the com.
try section to get hold of the hundred
-tnat the town itself gathered to.
gether the 3l-oh. yes, 1 know
wen, between Wilton and Kanla.
kee-or Bourbonnals rather-there is
scarcely a station along the wav,
Nineteen miles, the distance is,
Charhe Ferris told me he'd been in
mere HVe or SIX years ago and IL
thought you had some little shop
IKE the one I'm going to open, you
know-and / thought you'd give me
some pointers. I didn't know you had
a great big establishment like-thisr
His wide gesture included the whole
salesroom. He smiled apologetically.
II may be able to give you some
pointers at that" said Walker. seri-
ously. Eyes. I've had ups and downs
with this place-lost all of the trade
I had at one time and built it up
again. inch by inch
"Oh, people are sure the boobs," cut