New Britain herald., 1927-09-01
Sa1S ;. Shoulders ?eLl!s !I: =:

| She reached the top OF the stairs
kicked off her silver-kid slippers
with tiny bells fastened to then
straps, and went into her own room
There was a light in it, and sitting
on the edge of the bed was Mabel
She had a large, nickel-plated watch
in one hand, and with the other she
held together the flaps of a soiled
silk kimono
Look at that" she said to her
Sister-in-l law. and Sally did look at
the watch she dangled before her
eyes. Look at the time--five min
utes after l."
Yes, but the baby doesn't get his
( bottle until 2" replied Sally, puZ-
zled, 1t was one of her Jobs to get
Up at every night and go down
stairs to warm a bottle for Beaure-
gard, Jr. Mabel was still too weak
and i'll to be Weakened two or three
times every night, so she said.
I'm not talking about the baby"
Mabel raped out impatiently. I'm
talking about the haby'5 beautiful
/ father, He's not home YETI
Sally stared at her in amazcme nt.
"Not hcme yet, Why,'I didn't know
he was out" she gasped. She was
so busy every evening with the din
ing room that she rarely knew what
was going on upstairs in the rooms
that belonged to the family.
"Why, certainly he's OUT snap
ped Mabel, suspiciously. She SEEM
ed to think that Sally knew where
Beau was, and was shielding him.
He and Mile sneaked out tOgeth-
er in my car about 8 o'clock. |
didn't know it until they We're
gone" Mabel had always called the
rafting red roadster her car, al
though Beau always drove it,
well, then, if he's with Mile,
he's all right, isn't he?' asked
Sally. soothinely. You know, that
car breaks down every time it runs,
and they'll be along pretty soon.
You'd better go to bed, Mabsy, and
try to get some Sleep She stopped
as the Durr of a highpowered car
broke the nighttime stiffness.
Something about the sound Of it
was familiar.
She went to the big bay window
in the upstairs hall and looked out.
A long roadster was Just swinging
into the yard. It's sides shone under
the lights on the gate-posts.
As Sally watched, it slid to
standstill, and Mile got out. Sally
could recognize her in the moonlight
by the huge, floppy hat OF white
straw that she wore.
A second later Davidson jumped
out, took her arm, and they came
slowly towards the house. They
came with uncertain steps, Mile
leaning heavily against the big,
square figure OF the man.
The door bell rang.
BY the time sally reached the
lower hall and had swung the door
open, Millie was standing all alone
on the porch. Nothing was to be
seen of Davidson but the red tail
light of his car, as it Whisked
around the corner and out Of sight.
'Wheres Beau" Soily asked soft
". and laid a warning finger on her
lips. She knew that Mabel was lis
tening at the head Of the stairs.
where's Beau" repeated Millie,
and she reeled a little as she came |
into the hall. In the bright light |
Sally saw that her blue eyes We're |
glazed and that her whole face had
the silly, good-natured look that !
some people have when they have |
had hquor-and far too much |
liquor.
The breath that came through
her soft little pink mouth was
heavy with the vile smell OF Whls-
Key. Her voice was thick.
How do | know where Beau is?'
he asked, heading for the stairs.
He drove me down here to The
ark to meet Dayy, and he picked
- some girl of his and beat it with
Ter in mis- car That's the last
saw of EN-
Some girl o. his" 1t was Mabels
-oice, and it was full OF agony.
WHY. what do you mean"
She had come halfway down the
staircase. and stood there now fac
ng the bcfuddlcd Mile, What
;irlo" she asked sharply, shaking
Willie by both arms.
AulHo was tipsy but not 50 tipsy
hat she Couldn't defend Eeau, as
.he always had, ever sirce they
, ere cunning twin babies. Her face
,ecame blank with that miraculous
Darkness that she could put on like
| mask.