The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-10-01
CHAPTER XIII

CHAPTER XIII
swell, let's start Anna said,
smuggling into the auto sales
mans squirrel coat. and adjusting
the bond brokers' wrist watch
over her glove.
Marguerite Sanderson wouldn't
come with them, she wanted to go
out to the hospital and see her
husband instead.
pity she wouldn't send him
out to the Veterans Hospital at
Iiyermore or Palo Alto or some
where" Hogan shifted. "Then she
wouldn't have to be running to
see him every night. and it
would be better for him anyway.
This town is no place for a man
with T. B."
but he isn't going to get het-
ter. so what's the diff inquired
practical Maudie.
well. Murphy! About two
hundred dollars month differ
encel Why sacrifice yourself for
a man that is going to die any
way? Pretty soon all she'll have
for her trouble will be lot of
gray hairs and a tombstone
Maudie Murphy chuckled.
Most of us never have a tomb
stone for q souvenir" She patted
her brassy curls tenderiy. "All
ever had was the gray hairs
to remember my true love by"
They all laughed at that, all
but Joan. She didn't laugh. Like
Maudie, she had nothing to
mourn. nothing to remember her
love by. Not even a photograph
or q letter
THE regular dinner?" a waiter
was asking. They were at the
little Italian restaurant already,
and Joan's thoughts so far
away.
Regular nothing" Maudie
doomed. What do you take us
lone women"
''oh, go on and order and don't
talk so much" Hogan cut in.
look at them. Maudie talked so
loud. The orchestra struck ND.
Two or three couples rose and
began to dance in the center OF
the room.
Someone was waving at Anna,
q little man with sheIl-rimmed
glasses and a bald head. Call
him over here-he's got two
others with him." Aline whis-
pered, but Anna wouldn't. She
glided over to his table, smiling
vaguely.
This is the last time l go any
where with her" Hogan snorted.
The same thing every time. I'm
sick of it. Do you think she'd
introduce him? No-not her.
That was Arlin Savenski. the
tobacco man. Worth a mint. The
selfish pig,''
Maude and Aline melted away
while Hogan was talking. They
were dancing too. Hogans
Ratchet face under her girlish
purple hat was red and angry.
And then a young boy came ana
stood beside them.
''Dancing?" he asked smiling.
Joan looked down at her plate,
terribly embarrassed. When she
looked up again Hogan had gone
away with him. She was laugh
ing up at him as she danced.
After a long time Hogan came
back with the boy. They sat
with their heads close together,
and talked in whispers. Hours
passed, surely it was midnight.
But when the waiter brought the
check and Joan paid it and
slipped out of the door il was
only half past eight.
Next day even Maudie Was
cool. Gave us the slip, Ell?
Well, it's your affair, but YOU re
not much of a sport. Hastings"
Joan's attempt to fraternize
with the girls" was a total
failure.
Discouraged" Francine asked
the next morning. finding her left
out Of the chatterIng group i'll
the coat room.
Yes" Joan burst out suddenly.
She had been gathering courage
for this all day. "Francine. I
wasn't made to model dresses.
1t isn't enough. Maybe 1 could
have done IL if-if | had some
thing-someone you know--some.
thing big 10 think about between
times. But / haven't. I'm go,
ing to leave, Francine, and
'Leaye!'
"Yes-oh not because of the
glrls-just because of myself
that's alt. l just saw, all of a
sudden-that l could-if i tried
real hard-do something with my
life
But what do you want TO do?'
Francins was asking for the third