Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-14

show him that bit of petrified wood Mrs. Lang
ley brought back from California. How long is
he going to stay Stacia?"
Stacia's deep blue eyes clouded with worry.
81 don't know, Ma, and this is the night of
Jmmy's sisters party, too. He's going to call
for me at O'Clock"
well you're going. amt you. Mr.. Kingman
or no Mr.. Kingman? My lands Stacia, you
paid fourteen ninety eight for q dress to wear
tonight, four dollars for shoes and heaven
alone knows how much for stockings. Besides"
Ma added sagely Jimmy amt calling on you
because some other girls given him the air.
He's steady, Jimmy is. You're wearing his dia-
mond, amt you?"
Stacia looked down at the infiniteSimal dia-
mond that glittered in its own small way on
the third finger of her left hand.
YES" she admitted, but what win do with
Mr.. Kingman? just can't leave him alone in
his misery
We'll" said Ma, consolingly tits been my
experience that amt so miserable after
they've been fed. Well give Mr.. Kingman q
good dinner and then you sneak away and get
dressed for the party. I'll entertain him If
necessary. I know how to tune the radio. My
guess is though, that after eating he'll go
home happy"
CTACIA wasn't sure that things were going
- to be that easy. She returned to the front
room to see how her guest was getting on He
was still staring moodiy out at the clotheslines
and had dropped circle of ashes around the
chair he sat in.
She got him an ash tray and turned on the
radio set. Mr.. Kingman glared Indignantly
at the loud speaker, so Stacia turned the set
off, She didn't think he'd really be interested
in the petrifed wood, so she tried making con-
versation.
Its very warm, isn't it?" she ventured.
well, the heat won't bother me much
longer" Mr.. Kingman said, ominously. "In
fool the heat and Francesca and all the other
things that make life rotten"
"Oh, don't talk that way"
Mr.. Kingman lapsed into silence then.
Sonny came back with the butter, the lamb
chop and the chocolate layer cake. Stacia
went to the kitchen to see what she could do
Ma was in frenzy because the extra potatoes
which she had added hadn't caught up with the
old settlers
Supper will be terribly late" she said.
"Oh, don't worry, Ma-au the sweils are
used to eating late"
For the next half hour Stacia committed be-
tween the kitchen and the front room, assur-
ing Ma that cream wasn't necessary and point
ing out to Mr.. Kingman that life was really
very sweet. She wished that Mr.. Kingman
wouldn't throw his cigarette ashes on the floor
and that he'd buck up little
At last Ma had dinner ready. Stacia came
to tell Mr. Kingman that dinner was ready and
found him walking shout the front room.
Come on" he said as she entered Lets.
get out of here. I'm going crazy"
why, dinners ready" Stacia protested.
st couldn't eat bite" he said. I'm going
crazy indoors. IN have to get out and ride.
Come with me, win you There's no telling
what I'll do If I'm left alone"
"Stacia!" Ma called from the dining room.
"Everything's getting cold"
"Just minute, Ma. Come on Mr. Kingman,
have something It viii do you good"
"It would make me SICK" he said. ct can't
eat when I'm nervous"
Stacia bit her lin to keep from telling him
of Mas extra trouble and her disappointment
If he didn't eat. There streak of pride
somewhere in Stacia that forebade her begging
him to dine there.