Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-12-04
CHAPTER XVI


It was just a week after Byrd's
parents had returned to Jacksonville
when Pat arrived.
Larry's attitude was enigmatical,
for he had seemed delighted with
the arrangement when they first dis
cussed it with her father and moth
er. Now he had grown grouchier
and grouchier each day over the
prospect of having one more person
in the little apartment. He would
wait until it was too late to write,
thought Byrd, with an agony of
pain wrenching her heart.
How in the world were they GO
ing to put three people in the break
fast ~alcove, he wanted to know. Pat
would have to use the in-a-door bed
that opened into the living room,
and a sixteen-year-old ought to be
in bed ut nine o'clock, or ten at the
latest. Where was he supposed to
spend his evenings? Sitting in the
kitchen sink? Or take his books
and papers into the broom closet?
Pat was too young to be Of any help
at n party. and too old to stay at
home every night. What were they
going to do with her? Well, he'd
be darncd il he'd turn nursemaid.
He hadn't gotten used to being mar
ried TO n person. not to mention
twol He wound up each diatribe by
wondering why he'd gotten married,
anyway
Patiently Byrd answered every
single querulous statement.
why, Larry. / hadn't the least
idea you weren't willing to have Pat
come up for a little while" she
burst OUT in fearful evaporation.
You told father you were going to
be out Of town practically all the
time now since you and Jack de-
eided to work the small towns
around the state first, and il would
be company for me-"
Silver sheets of trimming blue
water filmed Byrd's deep-Set eyes.
That's another thing again. ar
gued tho augumentative Larry. "A
kid her age is bound TO want a lot
of excitement. She'll be dragging
the entire neighborhcod in all hours
of the day and night"
Il can manage her." answered
Byrd. quietly.
"-umph!" shrugged Larry, with a
belittling shoulder. -Youl You'll
have just about as much influence
as q fly with a monkey. Well. IL
she starts going a pace, I'll take a
handl"
"-umph!" thought BYRD 70 her
self. with a Scornful mental gesture.
The idea Of Larry managing any
PIMA was ridiculous. Still, If he
felt responsible for Pat as a mem
Der Of his family, who. like herself.
was expected TO reflect only credit
on its male member. Larry's in
fIuence might have a Christening ef-
feet even on the irrepressitle Pat.
"She's probably got the appetite
of n yak" said Larry. ~grinning.
"You needn't worry about the eX-
penses." said Byrd. quickly, father
will take care Of that
Byrd felt a momentary resentment
that Larry could borrow money with
such equanimity from her father
and bubble like this over a little
added expense 10 the grocery bill.
Don't you really want Pat to
Gomez" Byrd eyed Larry challeng-
ingly. for her deep love for Larry
wouldn't swerve her from her sense
Of duty toward her sister. Perhaps
il wouldn't be 50 bad. she decided.
with sudden intuition, to permit the
tiniest little breech TO take place
between her father and Larry.
"Oh, let her come" Larry decided,
magnanimously, shut for Pete's
sake. see that she doesn't hang
around us all the time
And now here size was. Or rather
here they were. For some incNplic-
able reason. instead Of sending Pat
70 the apartment in a taxi, as he
had said he would do, Larry was
escorting her in person. Byrd could