Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-12-03
CHAPTER XIV

Byrd ran to close the bedroom
door when Larry walked IN. Mr..
Hamilton got up and handed him the
check, with a hearty slap on the back
and a smile of confidence on his lips.
Immediately Byrd regretted the lit
tie suspicious that kept cropping
up in her over-anxious mind. Why,
Larry was too clever to risk his repu-
tation, his entire future, their happi-
ness, in a venture that wasn't safe,
she argued TO herself. That stony
feeling that she felt now SO contsnu-
ally around her heart disappeared.
Her father had put mis- seal Of APP
prevail on IL, and it must be all right.
She must have patience. She
really must!
Tiny had invited Byrd and her
mother out TO tho Lake Breeze" that
day for lunch. Byrd welcomed some
thing 10 do, but dreaded doing 1t
with Tiny.
The Lake Breeze was a popular
tearoom in one OF tho suburbs. IL
was done in the futuristic style, with
great geometrical patterns Of black
and gold and re drumming a riot Of
imp~ressionistic design over the walls
and ceiling. The lights were con-
cealed in great, striped %cylindrs. suS-
pended like lanterns from the ceiling.
The tables and benches, ~lacquered in
the same brilliant c%olors, were tucked
away Economically in little stalls.
People always waited for Tiny. In
her butterfly life. time was not a
thing to be reckoned with. Her mind
was like th~istledown that was car
ried hither and thither with every
--- L ~ H. 4AAI ahnsN4
as important a place in the scheme
of things as hat light, airy bit Of
fluff.
They had been waiting a half hour.
Mrs. Hamilton's mouth was drawn
down TO a grim line. Then Byrd
caught sight Of her. Tiny looked like
an o~ver-painted doll. her face inflex-
ible with the heavy. white liquid
lips. She wore her red outfit. The
effect was startling.
Hard, calculating, adventurous,
she looked. Poor Tinyl Byrd knew
that her heart was as soft as a little
chi.d's, and her married life the hap
rest Of all the couples she knew.
Horrorsl She was not alone. She
had brought Jack Duncan with her.
OF all the crazy things 10 do, Byrd
was disturbed and angry.
She introduced her mother 10 them,
and they found a table.
ats Tiny's fault that we're so
late" apologized Jack. "She was
trying on 'make-ups' and finally got
the one she liked best. A little thick,
] told herl"
Byrd hadn't mentioned 70 her
mather that Jack was Larry's part.
ner. Mrs. Hamilton had disposed OF
him with one glance. Men who mad
time to run 10 tearooms with women!
Her glance attempted to wither hiin.
you great big gaZRbo, If YOU don't
like il. you can lump III" Tinys
voice shrilled out into the room. ITS
my face and I'm going TO stick TO it,"
TINY laughed uncontrollably. The
English language, as Tiny used u,
consisted Of secondhand jokes which
she had been collecting for years
from the musical comedies that she
and Fred attended weekly.
well. Mrs. Hamilton, what do YOU
think of this great big overgrown
town 2" asked Jack, socially.
mot much. If you ask mel
xnanped Mrs. Hamilton. Its Sodom
and Gomorrah combined
Her remark checked a movement
which Jack had just made toward his
hip pocket. Tiny hastily laid down
her cigarette. with childlike amaze.
ment in her ewes.
ooh, really? ?" she trilled. "Byrd's
been telling US that she's been
dragged up in a funny, little, old
burg. I didn't believe that people
still had such queer ideas. Doesn't
ANYBODY in Jacksonville smoke or
drink"
Mrs. Hamilton shot her a look that
would have devastated a more intelli-
gen person. But Tiny continued TO
smile her simple. childish smile.
as that what Byrd's been doing
since she's married. she asked.
swapping put her words like a turtle
snaps its head. "She hasn't an
earthly thing to do in that cheese
box all day. No wonder she gets into