Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-20

@HE cream-colored car clrcleo
Washington Square and came
out under the Washington Arch.
L Whats the matter with Ken
Hall?" Neil wanted to know.
Hes as cheerful as a dirge."
Cathleen watched Neils dark hands
On the wheel. She had not looked again
at his bruised face. 1t gave her
queer ache to do so.
"Oh, it's just one Of Ken's moods"
she said. writers are that way. Up
in the clouds one minute, and down IN
the depths the next"
You're pretty flattering to call Ken
Hall writer" Neil said. What's he
ever written?"
Nothing yet. But he will" Cathleen
was warm in her defense.
Neil laughed scornfully. I'll bet.
That same old book he's been blurbing
about Well, it ought to be good. He's
taking enough time to write it."
You can't do the things he's doing
worth while things-in a day." said
Cathleen.
mo, nor In a year. nor in flock OF
years." laughed Neil. His kind can't,
anyway. He's got nerve, living on his
mother, posing as highbroW and all
that"
Cathleen did not answer. These two
men disliked each other. And she was
at the bottom of it. Jealousy Each
! accused the other OF being Wnat ne
| himself was.
Kenneth's mother spoiled him. To
Mrs Hall, her son was genius. She
must supply the oil so that the lamp
of his genius could burn. And Kenneth
accepted her tending. took of her slen-
der supply carelessly, without thought,
as though it were his due. Indeed, she
! had brought him to believe that it was.
Neil Nelson's father spoiled his son,
/ too-without the excuse that the Widow
Hall Rugged so tightly to her. Joe Neil
sen saw no genius in young Nell II he
| mad he would have resented its pres
ence. He was raising a two-f1sted man
to carry on in his place some day. Until
that day came, let the boy have his
fling, learn what 1t was all about.
Here's a check for a hundred. son. See
you don't spend it all in one spot"
The attitude OF neither of these sons
was one for parental pride. Cathleen
thought. Of the two, Kenneth would go
the farthest-provided he was not
| smothered by his mothers self-immola-
ton.
Neil made no reference to the night
before. That was like him. Unpleasant
ness? Toss it out. Ignore it. Forget it.
But Cathleen was determined he should
know how she felt about the fight in
| Fourteenth street.
ct was rather terrible. wasn't it?'
she said after while.
What was terrible?" Neil shot the
! question straight ahead. She could tell
| by his voice that he was annoyed that
she should force him into an explana-
ton, an apology.
The brawling," she said bluntly
And the shooting"
II suppose you're blaming me-" he
said well you needn't. Those birds
were out to get dad. They've boosted
they'd get him. I knew he was out
somewhere. Seeing them hanging
around. figured they knew where he
was and were laying for him.
You might have called the police
man on the corner and had him chase
them away"
Yes. And I might have hit them
with piece of sponge cake, too. Only I
didn't. You don't stop to think in a
case like that. The only way to treat a
gang of hard eggs Like that is to throw
the fear of God into them"
THE fear Of God, or the fear Of Joe
Neilsen?" Cathleen asked.
She could feel the heat Of Neil's anger
as he turned on her.
Call it what you like" he said. But
If you or anybody else expects me to
roll by and see dad get it in the back,
you got me wrong"
Immediately Cathleen was sorry. Neil
was almost fanatical in his loyalty to
his father. He had done what she, what
Dan. what any other loyal child would
do when parent was in danger. That
Neil had taken foolish way to do it
was part of him-of his impetuosity,
! his fire.
II was sorry to leave you as I die"
! she said.
BY the way, where is that guy who
picked you up and carted you away?"
Cathleen's apology had softened Neils
anger Il want to thank him. I was
mad as a halter when I saw him there
grabbing your arm. But when came
out CT 1t, knew he was life-saver.
Did you get his name?"
mo. The others took him to the
pier. He was sailing on boat that left
at midnight. One of his friends took
me home. never thought to ask his
name. and I don't think he knows
mine"