Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-14
This Story --: II Ri7'er Combine - Pro-
tfesioual Is One Of the Prize Stor'e, Of
the Year, as 1T Mas Gi0eu One Of the
0. Henry Memorial Asoards Another
Story Complete mn ARpear Exclusively
IN the Magazine Of Newt SandayS Star.

anyhow, an she stood nervous and doubtful
as she, looked out into that black night.
I'VE better cook supper" told her. You've
q tarpaulin SOS you can sleep into your skiff?"
"Oh, yes!" she said IT sleep into It."
lighted big round burner lamp had,
and We stretched her tarpaulin over the hoops,
for It seemed like rain was right theh. : Then
we cooked supper on my oil stove, she being
mighty good at hot bread while I amt no
SLOUGH cooking meat Course, I'm one Of those
people that always has plenty to eat on
board. even II am fiddler. made good
money. I'd come down the rivers just so I
wouldn't be pestifed by neighbors and any
body, practising my music all day an all night,
too, I wanted to- We had regular meal,
which she ate Of hearty, as did, both being
right hungry after all the work that after
non-work we loved, but work, at that.
wondered who this girl was course. She
was brave--Lordy, but 1t took nerve for her to
come down that coiling old running lake If
she didn't have to! But she wasn't the kind
OF girl anybody asks questions of, free and
easy When she. danced she found her skirt too
tight and slipped II off so casual and easy
that in trying to run the music right didn't
really notice she was Ia knockerbockers till
afterward. Course. professional people are
thataway. In no time we knowed we'd be
teaming 1t. go 81. i, .,t..SSs 10 eai3[,
WE both were tired after supper stirred
w up the soft coal I'D found In 10 tow barge
wreck on q sandbar, opening up the front gates
in the fireplace Stove I had for heater. She
sat into q low rocking chair and kitterfng
across from her in an old armchair I'd picked
up in drift pile. I'd refined my. shanty
cabin with building paper but some curling
wisps Of cold circled around from the north
wind so the IRE felt mighty comfortable.
How come hit you're a shanty boater?" she
asked, quick as that.
Course, nobody asks questions like that down
the rivers II you amt of the bank, or one
Of them writin' fellers or a sneakin' detec-
tive. I couldn't answer first of. man don't
tell even pretty girl some things, and mout
say, specially pretty girl. I knewed, though.
I'd tell her when I'd laid tongue to words quiet
enough to use.
Why" I answered, careless like, after 0
minute. II jes' come down. jes' took my.
fiddle an come down"
mo- you didn't" She shook her head. EFT
want hathaway. You know theory. You've
taken lessons-real lessons on the violin. No.
body who hadn't done that could play river
music the way you do. Besides, you talk river
talk like you learned it in school,"
'Tain't no use trying to fool some women
never met one could fool. That's ben my
experience. Perhaps somers there's women I
could hoodwink, but they amt on old Mis-
sissipp'!
Course, I'm from up the bank" admitted.
II just tripped away down same's anybody"
Same as anybody" she nodded. That's so
II came because I couldn't stand bein' Q
dancing girl In hick town! And you?"
"Why-why-" You know how a man
don't talk of some things when he has TO- an
can't get out Of it. II couldn't stand being Q
fiddler in a hick town. when-when-"
couldn't say it. Some things hurt too
much to say It,
II know!" she said Somebody thought
more Of good business than good music?"
"Jes' sol" told her. "You know some girls,
they don't want a fellow. sweetheart hus-
band that don't know nothing but music, sort
Of no count in the chamber of commerce and
on Main street."
eyes, subj" she nodded. I'D no right to ask
you wanted to know. had to know.
could tell you was white, honest-the way q
good man is when he thinks. he's lost out.
Musicians, AIT SITS, writers-big ones but un-
discovered-always feel they're mean an trifling
beside Of good money makers. You're that
away!" .-.,s..
hadn't never looked at hit before the way
Sne put II. 1eS KnoWed had powerful big
ache down around my heart, where I'd felt like
a humming bird looking into a big rose in
those old days. Yes, sub. Now saw that girl
lookin' into the fire, her eyes full. She had
a mighty powerful mouth and jaw, but she
hadn't no way Of controlling her eyes. They'd
twinkle, and they'd I'LL up, the way they had,
feeling sorry for me. reckon just that one
look had at her face before that fire in the
red light was obliged to save kerosene, an
she'd turned the light down, knowing it, even If
did have lots to eat on board. You see-well,
course a man picks up eats down the rivers
a shoat here, yearling there; maybe some