Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1930-09-26
CHAPTER XII-Continued


before-Loring's talk with her, the
murder car at Pastano's, her revulsion
of feeling, how she had come home,
and how, In the night, while she slept,
everything had Strengthened out for
her. viii lay beside her in silence,
her hand in his, and again and again
as she talked her fingers were pressed
against his lips. They were back again
In the cradle of love-rocked In magic
which overcame all difficulties and
healed all misunderstanding
He told her then about himself and
about what he had been through.
1--WE made ten or eleven different
developments of Poole's cartoon, alter
ing them all. and I've made each one
up for about six weeks, and planned
the continuity out beyond that time,
but | can't sell them. When l sat
down to write TO you what was there
to say? l would resolve to try again,
hoping to have some wonderful news
for you. I've not been eating or Sleep
ing-I missed you so, and repented
so my selfishness with you, and my
attitude toward your family. I've not
been reasonable, or fair-or generous.
felt that you were slipping away
from me, because couldn't hold you
because | didn't rate you"
These pictures moved Ernestine pro-
sold. The fear Of losing her and the
children, and the need to stick at the
thing he was trying to do until he
did it. She could feel in him a sharp
pain of restlessness and discourage
ment, and her love poured out on him.
"Darling-it doesn't matter. / can
stay here with mamma all summer
She understands. can stay here
until you get your comic strip right.
They understand that it's you and
together always, WILL"
Don't cry. darling"
at doesn't mean a thing" she told
him and added with some whlmsicality,
''it's my condition, darling. am SIM
ply weepy, and when think how near
l came to doing something that would
have ruined all my life and yours"
you couldn't-you didn't-not even
nearly, Ernestine."
Peter had come up to them, and,
seeing his mothers tears, he began to
wall loudly. and Elaine crowded close
and thrust out trembling lip. Will
drew their attention from Ernestine,
and gravely, abstractedly, he began to
amuse them. He marked out the old
familiar squares.
Make a cat, Daddy-make a cat"
commanded Peter, and viii, listening
to Ernestlne, but only half attentive,
began to put down the cats that Peter
loved so, the squares for a drawing
board, bit of stick for a pencil, the
firm wet sand making good plaque.
The child screamed with joyous
mirth, and Elaine, beside him, clapped
her hands with delight.
'Tabby cats got his head stuck in
a tin can. Look, Mammal"
Wits attention swerved from Ernes-
tine. He sat staring at what he had
drawn, as though at a strangers work.
His face wore startled look. The
small squares, in which two ridiculous
cats went through a ridiculous adven.
ture. Suddenly he leaped to his feet
and gave whoop which Comanche
indian might have enyied.
Don't worry-our fortune Is made.
Can't you see-there it is. Not Mr..
Poole's old comic strip in any way,
shape or form. but my own darned old
cats? Even the children can see it.
Trust me few days longer"
The cats were great success.
When fall came VIII was working on
the Sun again, In Mr.. Poole's old office,
under a three-year contract The cat
drawings were valued at sixty dollars
strip the first year. and more the
second and third. Six days a week at
sixty dollars a day. A full page for
the Sunday supplement, in colors, at
special price. The tide of money
and prestige poured In on them in a
startling way. The movie people made
attractive offers. Will knew how to
make animated movies.
The Todds moved into a Colonial
home only about mile from mamma 3.
They had rented the house ito see how
they liked 1t" with the possibility OF
buying it In their minds. VIII offered
the West side house in on trade
but Ernestine would not sell the little
house.
"You never can TELL" she insisted
and though VIII laughed at this, he
did not resist her tenderness toward
the house.
Papa established the trust funds
Money poured in upon them In the
ridiculous and unreasonable way in
which money behaves. 1t seemed now
that nothing was too nice for the