Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-10-21
CHAPTER XXXIv

LOT more MOIG ludn 80 gCdASs anu oAG
was at the tag-end Of middle age.
But, somehow. the coming Of that
telegram from her husband seemed
to have taken years and years from
her.
The flush that lay across her face
like a film gave il a look of youth,
and there was a new brightness in
her heavy-lidded eyes. She got up
from her chair, not slowly. as she
usually did, but with light quickness.
You'll have to put him in Miles
ROOM" she said, and ever her voice
sounded younger and more vibrant.
"And you'll have to hurry 10 get it
ready. His train gets in at 10
o'clock"
Sally noticed that her step, as she
crossed the room was springy. She
turned suddenly.
"I1l tell yen what we'll dol" she
cried excitedly. "Well have Beau
and Mabel 90 down to the station
and meet him in their carl / just
want him to see how well we've got
along without him all these years
automobiles and everything"
In that moment Sally was glad
that she had kept her from knowing
how great a failure Beau really was,
and how great a struggle they really
were having to get along.
Smiling with satisfaction, her
mother turned towards the telephone
in the hall and then suddely stopped
once more.
"Pshaw! I keep forgetting that
tLu uLs1I--- L..~--f .Lmr~ - .kuA
new flat of theirs. Sally, you'll have
to run owe there and tell them /
want them to 90 down and meet their
papa with the car ut 10 o'clock. And
you'd better go now, and do your
work here later. For they're prob
ably at home eating supper, and
you'll catch them in now"
That was true, Sally reflected. For
the young Jeromes practically lived
in their little secondhand car these
days. Nothing but food and sleep
and their jobs kept them out Of it.
II was standing in all its flaming
gorgeousness before the door of the
brand-new apartment building, where
they lived. One mudguard had been
crushed in and the paint knocked
from il in spots. But except for
that, il was just as glossy as ever.
And just as blindingly, glaringly,
red.
Sally ran their door-bell, and
after two or three minutes she rang
again.
ooh. why don't they answer?" she
asked herself, impatiently. "They
must know ! know they're here. with
that car standing in the street," And
lust then the inner door gave a click
and she opened it.
Beau and Mabel had taken n tiny
flat on the top floor OF the building.
BY the time Sally reached the top
she was out OF breath and her knees
ached.
whats high mountain you live
on" she was beginning cheerfully.
when the sight Of Mabel's face, as
she onened the door, stopped her.
Mabel had been crying. Her small,
tilted nose was quite scarlet at the
end, and there were pink rims around
her eyes. Water wave combs in her
black hair and n layer Of cold cream
on her tear-stained face did not inn
prove her appearance the least bit.
"Come in" she shifted. "I'm get
Ting myself something to eat"
And then. without stopping TO show
Sally her domain with a brides
delight in her home. she stalked
straight through the small rooms 70
the tiny kitchen at the back.
She was boiling four potatoes In r
gallon of water on the stave, and
some bread. sliced almost an inch
thick, was piled on a plate on the
table.
Beside II was a glass bowl Of but
ter. and the butter had toast crumbs
all over il.
"Here. let me help you get things
ready" offered Sally. taking all this
in with one sweep az her blue eyes.
"Have YOU an apron"
Mabel had one. IL was stained with
egg and coffee. but il was, neverthc-
less. an apron. Sally put il on and
went 10 work. emptying out most Of
the water from the potato kettle.
trimming off the edges Of The bread
slices. screaming the toast crumbs
from the butter.
have9" she asked when she had done
AuHt HHhA hAHu OF meat nave q
"Th-the-there isn't any meat"
M~hel answered. and her voice shook.
No meet, thought Sally. for Young
Reau had THOUGHT nothing OF put
ting away 4 mound Of Il az a meal
whom he lived az homei
"Es~sT" she asked. remembering
hat Bean would eat an omlet. al
though he rrumhled shout having 70
oct COS when what he wanted was
-irloin steak or three pork chops. As
he man 81 the family he had usually
haA Whist he wanted. too.
"The-there aren't n egrsi-
walled Michel. and nut her head down
into her hands and began 10 sob
wildly.
Sally leaned over her little sister
and patted her small. shaking
shoulders.
"Well. that's nothing to have hys-
terics over. Mabsy." she said.
where's BEAM"
Az that Mabel began 20 sob more
than before.
Il don't KNOW" she walled. she
walked out on me q few minutes
ago-because there wasn't any meat
for support"
She stopped crying after q minute,