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

later, in q quite cheerful frame OF
mind. Jack was 20 give all his at
tention to the formation of the new
companies, ard Larry was to have
the entire sale and management OF
thc Builders Supply stock.
lie told Byrd that he would be
back In ten days, or two weeks at the
most, but IL q check arrived fros
her father during his absence. she
was 70 take II right down 20 Jack
And the day aI.er Larry left, Byrd
decided or n plan.
She would 70 down to Jacksonville
10 sec her parents. She knew that
another request for a loan would
bring her father flying to Cleveland,
and this time, he would leave no
stone unturned To discover the Xact
status Of the stocks Larry and Jack
were handling. lie might not have
the same confidence in Larry that
She had, and he would undoubtedly 90
directly 20 Progress Polk, who was
probably an old fOgcy, az most bank
officials were, frowning on al stocks,
no matter how reliable.
I'm probably bc gone three nr four
DAYS. Fat she explained 10 his sis
ter. rs she packed her clothes, "snd
you've cot 70 promise you'll start w
70 business college Monday morning"
Pat nodded. but Byrd thought she
heard her say under her breath,
Like fun | Will"
"Promisel" urged Byrd.
"Sure thing" agreed Pat. non
rhalantly. "N ould YOU care III indil
stayed here nights with me -
"All right. II you promise not 20
stay uD all hours of the night con
scntcd Byrd. reluctantly.
As Byrd stepped off the train at
Jacksonville, she seemed 70 slough
cff the skin in which she hrd been
living the last SIX months. Her life
and Larry's had resolved itself into
p pursuit or money and the artificial
pleasure that IL brought. and for q
littl cwhilc she lonred for the peace
full. effortless routine Of his little
town. where tradition and precept
ard an inflexiblc moral code modelled
the lives of IFS citizens.
Some brokcn-down Fcrds and
Chcvroiets still formed the battered
taxi service. hut she preferred to ride
"Lcaping Lena" - the diminutivc
street car that jorkcd and bumped
rlcrr its single track was %yariously
known.
Byrd wanted 70 hear Willie SWANS
brcathlcss and excited welcome.
Willie had driven this "balky crit
ter as long as her father and
mathcr could remember. ID required
a technique literally amounting to
genius TO swing the cumbersome lev
crs, and only accomplished by wrap
ping his lean. wiry. old body tortu-
ousiy around the mtoor, twisting.
turning and doIhling over II until,
with a snort and q leap, Lena started
II Willie sighted a passenger ~
time. thcrc'd only be a block or two
"a rum ~ catch or. FOR every one an
dcrstood that that part Of her ana
tony which controlled her reverse,
hrd long ago succumbcd 10 z cancer
| Gus condition Of rust.
At the end Of the line, Willie swung
the backs Of the seats forward with
4 Erandiloqucnt gesture, took tho
farc-box and cnsconccd himself az
the other end OF the car behind the
other motor.
With a sudden ripple of homesick-
ness, Byrd looked a. the familiar
stores. IN ono or two-story buildings
thta lined tho wide sidewalks .on
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 forma-
ton. Men and women were doing
their Saturday marketing with their
small parcels OF tea. coffee and bacon.
Mothers pursued their lips AZ their
children. dragging slong behind them.
and scolded them for not looking
where they we're going or not going
where they we're looking.
Then she warmed 10 the sight OF
her fathers bank on the most pro-
g~rcsive corner in jacksonville. a
smooth white building with grilled
cages of wrought iron at the win
dpws and Jacksonville Savings and
Loan Company" hcwn 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 uncanny silence
Of a late August day lowered over
the morning. The streaming su~
pouring It's not breath over the cream
brick md painted frame house. in
their green gardens, all cf them far