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 n venture that wasn't safe,
she argued to herself. That stony
feeling that she felt now so continu-
ally around her heart disappeared.
Her father had put his 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 to do, but dreaded doing It
with Tiny.
The Lake Breeze" was a popular
tearoom in one OF the 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 c%ylindrs, sus-
pended like lanterns from the ceiling.
The tables and benches, %lacquered in
the same brilliant c%olors, we're tucked
away romantically 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 thistledown that was car
ried hither and thither with every
passing breeze. and she took about
as important a place in the scheme
of things as that 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 ~over-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 Tiny! Byrd knew
that her heart was as soft rs a little
chi,d's. and her married life the hap
r.est of all the couples she knew.
Horrorsl She was not alone. She
had brought Jack Duncan with her.
OF all the crazy things 70 do! Byrd
was disturbed and angry.
she ntT HUlufI 10 AhNAAt
and they found a table.
late" apologized Jack. "She was
irving on 'make-ups' and finally got
the one she liked best. A little thick.
/ told heri"
Byrd hadn't mentioned 10 her
mather that Jack was Larry's part
ner. Mrs. Hamilton had disposed "
him with one glance. Men who had
time 10 run TO tearooms with women!
Her glance attempted 10 wither him.
"You great big gazabo, II you don't
like IL. YOU can lump it," Tiny's
voice shrilled out into the room. ITS
my face and I'm going to stick TO y!
Tiny laughed uncontrollably. The
English language, rs Tiny used T.,
consisted Of secondhand jokes which
she had been collecting for years
from the musical comedies that she
ard Fred attended weekly.
"Well, Mrs. Hamilton. what do you
think Of this great big ~overgrown
town? ?" asked Jack, socially. wv
"Not much. if you ask me-
snapped Mrs. Hamilton. ITS Sodom
and Gomorrah combined!
Her remark checked a movement
which Jack had just made toward his
hin pocket. Tiny hastily laid down
her cigarette. with childlike amaze
ment in her eyes.
ooh. really" she trilled. "Byrd's
heer telling Us that she's been
dragged up in a funny, little, old
hnrr' 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 n 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 out her words like a turtle
snaps it's head. "Shc hasn't an
earthly thing 10 do in that cheese
box ali day. No wonder she gets into