Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-12-13
CHAPTER XXXIV

Larry ieIt foT lolnmbnS Two lays
later, in a quite cheerful frame OF
mind. Jack was TO give all his at
tention TO the formation OF the new
companies, and Larry was to have
the entire sale and management OF
tho Builders Supply stock.
lie told Byrd that he would be
back IN ten days, or W weeks at the
most. but IL a check arrived FROM
her father during his absence, snc
was 10 take IL right down TO Jack.
And the day after Larry left, Byrd
decided on a plan.
She would go down to Jacksonville
10 see her parents. She knew that
another request for a loan would
bring her father flying 10 Cleveland,
and this time. he would leave no
stone unturned 10 discover the xact
status of the stocks Larry and Jack
were handling. He might not have
the same confidence in Larry that
she had. and he would undoubtedly 90
directly TO Progress Polk, who va
probably an old fogcy. as most bank
officials were, frowning on all stocks,
no matter how reliable.
"Ill probably be gone three or four
days, Tat" she explained to his sis
ter. as she packed her clothes, "snd
you've got 10 promise you'll start IN
70 business college Monday morning"
Pat nodded. but Byrd thought she
heard her say under her breath,
Like fun | Will"
Promise urged Byrd.
Sure thing agreed Tat. non
chalsntly. Would YOU care II India
stayed here nights with me -
"All right. II you promise not to
stay up all hours of the night" con
scented Byrd, reluctantly.
As Byrd stepped off the train Al
jacksonville. she seemed to slough
off the skin IN which shs hsd been
living tbs last six months. Her life
and Lsrry's had resolved itself into
= pursuit Of money and the artificial
pleasure that Il brought. ard for =
littl ewhile she lon-ed for the peace
full. effortless routine Of his little
town. where tradition and prcccpt
ard an inflcxible moral code modelled
the lives Of il citizens.
Some broken-dovn FcrdS and
Chevrolets s,ill formed the battered
taxi service. but she preferred TO ride
on the "Dinky." "Noah's Ark"
"Lcapinr Lena" ss the diminutivc
street car that icrkcd and bumped
along It's single track was %variously
known.
Byrd wanted r. hear Willie SWANS
hreathless and excited welcome.
Willie had driven this 'balky crit
ter as long as her father and
mather could remember. IL required
a technique literally amounting to
genius 20 swing the cumbersome lev
ers, and only accomplished BY wrap
ping his lean. wiry, Old body tortu-
ouSly around the mtoor, twisting,
turning and doubling over il until,
with a snort and a leap, Lena started.
II Willie sighted a passenger in
time. thcrc'd only be . block or two
60 run 10 catch ur. for every one IN
derstood that that part Of her ana
tony which controlled her reverse,
had long aro succumbed to a lancer
Gus condition Of rust.
At the end OF the line, Willie swung
the backs Of the seats forward with
a grandiloaucnt gesture, took the
fare-box and cnsconccd himself at
the other end Of the car behind the
other motor.
With a sudden ripple Of hcmesick-
meas. Byrd looked at the familiar
stores. in one or two-story buildings
thta lined the wide sidewalks en-
either side Of Main street. But as she
watched the people she was glad she
wasn't living her life out in Jackson
Vile.
They marched in domestic forms-
ton. Men and women we're doing
their Saturday marketing with their
small parcels Of tea. coffee and bacon.
Mothers pursued their lips ct .hsir
children, dragging along behind them,
and scoldsd them for not locking
where they we're going or not going
where they were looking.
Then she warmed to the sight OF
her fathers bank on the most pro-
g~resive corner in Jacksonville. a
smooth white building with g%riiled
cages of wrought iron at the win
dowS and Jacksonville Savings and
Loan Company" hewn into the stone
facade around the large glass doors,
Two miles out she bid Willie good
bye and climbed down the high steps.
The complete and uncsnny silence
Of a late Angus. day lowered over
the morning. The streaming sue
pouring its hot breath over the cream
brick and painted frame houses. in
their green gardens. all Of them far