Evening star., 1928-06-10

blurs Of Steel-blue from street arcs, o.
yellow from windows of shops anc
houses. Street cars, darting un anc
down steep thoroughfareS. clangec
through 1t with muffled clamor oi
gongs. From ships. hidden beneath tht
blanket Of moisture. rose throaty blast!
of SignalS-signals of goings and COM
ings OF liners from the Orient. of coast
steamers from San Francisco and Van
couver, of ferries, of fishing boats, oi
the myriad and motley craft OF the
sound. 1t was a world VI hearing
rather than of sight, an eerie town
through which the home-going crowds
moved like shadows, and David Burt
clouding his own usual blitheneSs OF
spirit as he started up the hill,
From its beginning the day had gone
Ill with him. Margie hadn't wakened
in time to get his breakfast, and he
had quarreled with her while he had
dressed. He had tasted until noon.
The auditor had found a mistake IN
his ledger. At the lunch-counter IN
the market he had met young Barry. all
ready to sail in the morning to China
and thrilled by his chance for high ad-
venture.
Come on with me. Davy," the boy
boy had urged him, There's chance
for another man fellow dropped
out last night. You can get it, if you
try. Come on"
David had refused curtly, not dar-
ing TO explain the ties that held him,
lest they snap under the pressure of
defending them. Msrgie and the baby!
All his life he'd have to think of them
before he thought of hinlself-and he
wasn't two years older than Barry, who
had the world before him!
Through the long afternoon. he had
pored over statements of shipments
that meant nothing to him. except in
the Turing names of their destinations
Singapore, Afalacca. Melbourne, Auck-
land. Colombo, Bombay Coming them
he pictured the places. ports of call
for the wayfarers of the seven seas.
Other Burts, going out 7r1 New Bed
ford. in days long gone, had known
them. His grandfather had known
them in his boyhood. Back on the
Michigan farm to which he had come
when the Civil War was over he had
told Davy of their wonders His father,
going from the Great Lakes country
70 the prairies, had never seen them
but they had been the dream of Davy's
youth, dream he had forsworn with
his freedom when he had promised to
love and honor and cherish Margie
Wen. he couldn't have them now. Fac
ing the prospect Of the dreary furn-
kf1ed room Of their habitation, he tried
70 whistle bach the courage that had
brought him to the Northwest, but
even the wlaistlinE died away as he
opened the door to the place he tried
70 call home.
MARGE was sitting in a chair
beneath the swaying bulb OF the
electric light, reading. Her short, light
hair. elaborately curled. haloed her face.
with its too rosy cheeks, its too red
lips. She looked nyer her shoulder at
Davio. acknowledging his greeting only
oy raising Of her eyebrows On the
moor, amid q pile Of newspapers. the
baby played She lifted her arms 70
her father as Ia turned to her. and he
Lifted her. kissing her with an intensity
OF tenderness that he hardly realized
hac flooded him out of the sense OF
contrast between his childs environ
mezlt and what his own had been in
the spotleSs little farmhouse on the
Nebraska plains.
When do We eat?" he asked Margie
trying TO keep his voice cheerful.
Whenever yoT take us out" she said
Why can't we eat in? There's a
stove. isn't there"
We'll, IL you can make a meal out
OF stove and nothing else. you're vel
come TO try"
Why didn't ~ou get somethinz?"
~ taxes money 10 buy food
But gave you 50 this morning"
We'll, had TO eat at noon. I sup
pose III nothing TO yov If the baby and
gtarye, though"
But 81 would"
Two dollars! What's that?"
"You must have ordered terrapin."
Well, guess ! had to buy stock
u you bought sor.4ethins that wasn't
cooWeD, they'd last longer"
On. yes. know what you'd want me
70 wear. Wei. anyhow. there's nothing
In, and I'm tired Of cooking. We can
60 70 the Chinaman's."
that food"
Why can't she9 She eats it at
DO you mean TO say that you take
her there every day?"
Do you mean TO say that you expect
ne 20 stay a prisoner in this room all
DAY while you're out?"
I'm working"
could park her"
You viii not!''
Wen, what do I get out Of nfe7
Yol saics when you married me, that
yol we're gong To be rich in no time
Xo0 wouldn't take Job in Miles City.
acre knew everybody and everybody
Knew me, No, you had 10 come farther
west All Jour folks moved West every
generation, yoI ss.d Well, we've cer-
tz5Iiiy come 70 the edge of things all
rigbs. II you ysnt " 90 any farther.
you'u have 10 choose ALASKA. But I
Wort 90 With you. can tell you that,
r'gnt here and now"
In not asking you to 90 any
1SIkLegs ne said SuiIcniy.
Then. we'd better 60 back TO Miles
=, Ny folks never turned back, once
they started West"
oh, you make me tired You thinx
your folks had an optior On pioneer
D1g' What 90 you s'pose brought nay
gang 70 Montsna?"
There's no use in fighting like this.
NJ said duly Put on her clothes, and
veil 90 cut
She sprang out Of the chair and vet
kbglt keg13flk READY Tor departure.
4 wonder where you'Il 20 from here. -
ne thought, ss he stared at the child
Its lucky you're girl h@ decided
TN De tolign for boy when there are
nc nsw places left
LIE lifted the baby and stood waiting
. for MaEeifs primplne TO end.
cant We 30 w a movie after VIZ
eStY" she sskad MN,
We cent 30 W movie with her"
on, sEe'Ii 60 70 sleep"
you hnow she wont"
Wei, II she can sleep through tbt
ffirlkks of your old radio, she can sleep
through anything"
That's different"
On, yes, IT'S different, because ~
yours. II had something that spent
all the tine and money on inst YOU dd
IN LQEt, 4 aa3EEE World make Fzekef