The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-09-15
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and went out into the cool air for
a walk.
Monday morning brought the in
evitable problem. Where was Mark
to find work? He breakfaSted as
usual, put on hat and coat and de-
parted. Shortly before he re-
turned. Norma, aware Of his pride,
asked no questions.
=
THREE days passed, then four
Il Each forty-two hours became
a dreary repetition of the one be-
fore. Norma, so anxious to be help
full, so eager to hear bad news as
well as the good, was wise enough
to wait for Mark to speak.
She knew pocketing his pride was
for Mark the hardest struggle.
A week went by in this fashion.
Presently Norma noticed that each
night Mark was scanning the news
paper help wanted" columns. She
noticed he set the alarm clock for
half an hour earlier.
What struck her painfully in the
transformation taking place was the
disappearance Of the gay alertness
from his eyes, loss of the old brisk
confidence. He talked less, fell into
moody silences that lasted long
while.
Display of irritability were less
frequent. Marks lips were hard
ening into a firm line. Sometimes
Norma almost felt the man across
the table was a stranger.
A dozen times she regretted the
money spent for her pretty crepe
frock. In spite of its cheapness, the
dress was a luxury. She could
have done as well without it.
Norma wasted not a penny these
days. She walked blocks to save a
few cents on fruit or vegetables.
She boarded the household money.
Such things were not hardships.
Economizing was something the
girl had done all her life. What
terrified her, turned days and
nights into -shattering ordeals,
was the fear of what should come
when the last of their money was
gone.
Only little remained. What
would they do when that had van
iShed?
THERE was less than IS in
Il Norma's purse as she stood at
the meat counter of her favorite
store on Thursday afternoon. Rent
would be due in another week.
It had been paid in advance for
the first month. Payment of the
coming rent bill had been on the
girls mind all day.
Bother! She couldn't possibly get
$15-one weeks installment-ou of
that SIS in her purse. If they were
to be put out of the apartment, they
would be put out. That was all
there was to it!
With unaccustomed recklessness
Norma selected a choice cut of steak.
She told herself she and Mark were
so near the brink now that nothing
mattered.
Regret overwhelmed her as soon
as she had paid the bill and started
home. AS she opened the door of
the apartment ten minutes later
something made her glance about
quickly.
Mark" she cried, chow you
startled me! I didn't think you'd
come so soonw
The young man was standing
across the room. Sorry" he said.
Didn't expect to be here myself,
but had piece of luck"
"You mean-is it a job?"
Mark nodded. He was somber, I'M
smiling. "Wait until you hear the
rest of it," he said, before you be-
gin cheering. It's a job all right.
"Floor walker at Blossomdale's!
Yes, Madanl-infantS' wear on the
third floor! Indigestible chocolate
drops, two aisles to the right. Gar
den hose? Yes, ma'am, you'll find
it in the hosiery department. Step
right this way!'"
NORMA tried to laugh. She knew
L ' Mark didn't think it funny in
the least. She knew he was bitter
ly resentful and the burlesque was
venomous. 1t was her duty to win
him from this mood.
So she said with forced gaiety.
"You won't sell ME- garden hose or
indigestible chocolate drops Well,
darling, no one can deny there's a
lot of standing that goes with the
job Of floor walker. Hail the new
merchant prince!"
Mark said grim1y, 'There's one
thing about it-Blossomdale'S may
be the biggest store in the state
but nobody I've ever known shops
there!
Anyhow, I'm to check in at 8:45
tomorrow morning. And for my
services I receive the princely salary
of 35 bucks week."
"Therell be raises! Isn't it funny,
Mark? Something must have told
me you'd had good day. Look
I bought beefsteak!"
They celebrated that evening
not at the motion picture theater,
but with a dinner party just for
two, Norma sent Mark to the store
for mushrooms and whipping
cream. She made his favorite sal
ad and topped off the meal with
coffee that was ambrosial.
The scent of that coffee did as
much as anything to put young
TraverS in a cheerful frame of
mind. He even joked about their
poverty as Norma poured the Sec
ond cup.
TO Be Continued