Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-02-21
By ROE ~FulkERSON

Betty Brown tries to make her
living dancing, as this is the only
thing she knows when the death of
her parents leaves her destitute.
She attracts several men. only TO be
insulted by them. Her oldest friend,
George Harris, asks her 10 stay
away from his place of business aft
er 1t is published that two men
fought yer her outside of a night
club where she danced. Andy
Adair, Harry Ford and a few others
think the affair a joke. although il
cost her her position. She attends
a petttng party and drinks for the
second time in her life. Andy takes
her home from the party. and then
out III his a the newt.
NOW GO ON WITH TIE STORY.
What you Suggest will never
happen, Andy" said Betty, not un-
kindly. She vas surprised She
could discuss such a thing with q
man.
IL am not surel" Andy returned.
doggedly. We are entitled to our
happiness. Wose business il IL that
YOU dc? You have been a good girl
ever since YOU have been dancing.
and what has II gotten you? One
cheap theatrical manager dropped
you OFF his list of attractions be-
cause you n good. A vaudeville
comedian broke an arrangement to
take you as a dancing partner be-
cause you were too particular. You
lost your job at the Iron Door be-
cause you wouldn't take that Dau-
bert as a sugar daddy
What's 1t gettin you?" he dc
named. fierccly. You know me
and you like me. You have known
me ever since l was a boy. You know
darned well l wouldn't ditch you
IN time of trouble. You aren't to
blame because you have no other
way OF making a living except BIZ
dancing. I'm not to blame because
my people never let me work.
That three thousand a year I can
nave as long rs I live If I don't
give the governor n trouble.
Mother takes care of the a she
gave me.
I'D be a lot better off. and hap
pier, and drink less. If l had YOU
TO spend my time with. You'd be a
lot better off If you had me TO play
around with and all that. What's
the difference between spending
ten dollars sitting around a rotten
night club with you. and Sopping up
a lot Of booze. and giving you the
ten collars TO pay rent on a nice
little flat, where we can sit around
evenings and lay off the boozel"
But, Andy"
Nov, wait a minutel You love
me, don't you?" He held her close
70 him and kissed the wrinkles
which had come into her brow. You
know l love you like the very devil.
I'm never so happy as when I'm
with you. Couldn't we have Won
qerful times, spending every day
Just Ike we have spent today? Just
drive around in the car and enjoy
the breeze. Slip off into quiet lit
We places TO go bathing or fishing.
rack a lunch and picnicl You'll
nave lois OF time TO practice your
dancing, and then you'll show me
all the new steps when I come.
Plenty OF dresses and plenty of
kisses. A nice little place Of your
own, with a world of love shut in
and a world of strife shut out!
why, honey, 1t would be just heav-
en-! The reason I didn't want you
70 drink tonight was because /
wanted you TO decide when you
were yourself"
oh, Andy. 1 mustn't"
Who is there to say you mustn't?
VINO cares a darn whether you do
or not, but me? Who cares a darn
whether you starve or freeze. but
me? II is just an old-fashioned
inhibition you inherited from some
OF your ancestors who would have
been equally shocked If they had
seen you In dancing costume.
Things r changing, Betty. We
are living in a new world. with new
standards. Let's snatch happi-
ness while we can, little sweetheart
But, Andy, 1t is wrong!"
rs it any more wrong than for
three men TO demand everything
you had in exchange for giving you
a chance TO make a living?"
But. Andy. I'm not that kind OF
a girl" she exclaimed. "Oh, ]
know how that sounds, but I Just
can't say anything else. There are
that kind of girls. and other girls
who aren't that kindl ! couldn't
live like that"
Don't decide too hastily" He
spoke a bit coldly. You haven't
got enough friends to afford to lose
any"
But. Andy. don't you see that
is the price you put on your friend
ship. you put yourself in the same
class with those other men?"
I'm not a bit like them. or ]
would have got you drunk last
night" he cried. repeatedly. Il
won't have you putting me in the