Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-02-23
By Williams

the light die In her eyes and the
color fade out or her cheeks again.
He struggled miserabIy on FOR a
while with his explanation, but he
could IL vas nothing but words
to her. words hardly worth listen
ing 70. She asked him nc last not
70 talk about II any more; told him
she understood and said she want
cd to 90 home.
She helped to gather up the scat
tered contents OF the file and as he
was putting It back In the drawer
she patted him on the shoulder and
told him not to mind.
Il think there must be some
other way he told her h~esltating-
ly. -of doing the thing he wanted
70 do; or setting your fathers men,
DRY right before the world. Think
I've got the beginning OF q hunch
how IL can be done I'm hoping for
light on It tomorrow when we 70
through that trunk. Rhoda. dear,
don't worry any more about IL to-
night You're all I'm and you're half
starved. Let's 90 somewhere and
have q good dinner"
~ don't want 70 20 to 4 restau-
rant" she told him fatty. II want
70 20 home"
"All right" he agreed. and they
started down the long fight OF
stairs In silence. BUT before they
got within range or the night
Waterman at the door she stopped
and faced him.
II don't know why I'm 20 beast
ly," she said. II suppose it's BE-
cause I'm trying not to cry. I'll 90
anywhere you like. Martin" She
gave him n rueful heart-twisung
little smile as she said II, but she
walked straight on without giving
him a chance 70 kiss her.
II was with a notion Of giving the
old Waterman a tip, MS he some
times did. that he put his hand
into his pocket and thus made the
disgusting discovery that be was
penniless. So out on the side
walk. as they were looking up the
street for q taxi. he asked Rhoda.
rather d~iffdently. II she could lend
him any money. He'd given bis
last dollar to the taxi driver who'd
brought them here.
But she told HAM, with a momen-
tary flicker OF amusement In her
tone, that she had given her last
dollar 10 4 tan driver that after
noon. She searched her purse.
however. and announced a find of
six cents. IF you've got a dime"
she concluded. I'VE can ride In the
street q And X you haven't
we can walk
He hadn't a dime but denounced
a walk as nonsense. They'd take q
taxi round TO his clnb and he'd 20
In and get some money. That was
what he should have done In the
nrst place
They didn't precisely quarrel
over this, though she insisted or
walking hcEe and had her way.
he knew she didn't mean To be
unfriendly. She even slipped her
hand within his arm as they
walked along. and left IL there.
But, even So she felt q million
niles away. They tried % talk but
gave 1t up, and By the time they'd
got to the street door Of the studio
building, the silence between had
become a palpable oppressive
thing
she aaked AEm now. IN q strictly
neutral voice, whether he was com
ing In
-T1l 60 I'D with you to your own
door, anyhow he said, and they
kcAubed the two long flights or
s<atrs ade By side wEth01t another
word
i There was a Light shintng
Ithruugh the crack under the studio
door and they could hesr Babe k
there talking 70 somebody. But
Rhoda had her key IA her hand
and she thrust it into the lock and
swung the door open wtthout even
IN mouentary panze for q private
farewell On the hanafng. Marttn
stepped aside. He wouhant no I'm.
But I'm the instant that Rhnda
pushed open the doer the man 70
whom Babe had been talking spoke,
and NJ the sound ofh&s voice Rhoda
stopped as IL she'd been snddenly
frozen Tha mans voice bEnAze OH.
Babe, who sat where mhe could see
through the doorway, said, Here
they are" and Rhoda came to life
again In q surprising way. She
flung herself upon Martin LIRE a
child nc the sight OF an ogre. Mar
tin heard her say i'm n broken voice,
Its Uncle WiilIamI Martin, don't
don't let him
Martins arms came aronmd her
and pulled heR closer STILL, and Ms
he gRzed ever her head nc Babe's
ast0unded face. he whispered 10
Rhoda, Don't you worry, darIEnA
he can't DO anything to you nsA..
You're engaged To me"
Gx0 nm onARREMwMnA