The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-12-25


selling peanuts at a prayer meeting.
We'll anyways, we was in Denver
when we started, and this other
guy-name was Clarence Buttinger
newell, he got sick-see? He
had TO go to the hospital-see?
He figured he'd be there about
sixty days. So he says for me to
light out with the car (Butt, he'd
made a kind of deal for it with an
other guy and come on out to the
Pacific coast like we'd been kind of
figuring on doing-see?
We'll, the damn - pardon me -
desks wouldn't go any better out here
than they did in Denver. No more
culture nor anything-bum steer. I
hung around for while, and then
l got chance to hook up with
these lousy hams, and took it.
Il didn't have to-see? 1 wasn't
stoney. I amt yet. I got a piece
of change put away in the bank, but
l am going to keep it there-seeI 1
got use for it.
80 I'm sticking with this gang,
and maybe I'm lucky at that, until
things open up. Soon as they do,
got an idea for swell act. That's
what I'm saving my dough for. :"
kTARY-FRANCES' feet were
4VA two burning lur1ps of fortune.
The backdrop was to be made of
wide stripes of gold cloth and black
velvet, and the partner Geminine)
who was to feed Earl in front of it
was to be dressed in stripes of gold
and black.
Finding the partner for his act
was going to be most difficult. Some
times he feared that it was going to
be impossible. He stayed awake at
night, often, worrying about it.
He knew what he wanted: He
would have nothing else. He wanted
an awn-jew-nay type-very much
Mary-Frances' own type; precisely
her type, come to think of it, who
Wouldn't hog the act if she got
chance.
Look at Dolly and Dicky Dia-
monds. Dicky had the goods-he
had everything. What did Dolly
have? Nothing Nothing but a
shape and a swelled head
Earl" Mary Frances interrupted
desperately, sit is perfectly fascinat-
ing to listen to your professional
conversation and everything, but
I've just got to go in.
my sisters out with her boy
friend, and she's sure to be coming
home now, and if she should find
me out here, well, I just can't
bear to think of what might hap
pen"
Say, hon." he demanded, "your
folks are all right to you, amt they?
They amt mean to you or anything
are they?"
ooh, we'll" said Mary Frances
resignedly, bravely. 1t had just
come to her, with a shock, that she
had forgotten all during the eve
ming to use any term of endear-
ment while addressing Earl.
1t was regrettable oversight, but
not an irremediable one. They
mean all right, think. Don't worry
about it, dearest"
"Cripes!" he said. you're a sweet
an awful sweet little grille"
The instant he left she'd pull her
slippers off and not take one step
in them. Good night, hearts be-
loved" she suggested.
won't you give me a teeny- bitty
kiss for good night?" he asked.
She should, she supposed. People
always did. She lifted her lips to
his and WINGED as she went up on
her suffering toes.
"Goodby, hon." he said And
don't forget the little promise about
dates, will you?"
Il won't, dearest" agonized Mary
Frances. That last tiptoeing had
turned the final intolerable screw.
But please go now, dearest! Dear
est, please go%
LIE turned and walked quickly
L 4 away. Mary-Frances stood
stock still. One does not Willingly
step out on red-hot knives. She
would wait until he was on the side
walk, and then she'd take off those
slippers, and she didn't care if she
ruined her best stockings and-but
why didn't he go on? Couldn't he
hurry even a little?
He had glanced over his shout
der, had stopped. He came back to
her. You'd ought to go in, baby"
he said almost tenderly.
A small, strained, Eyes, DEAR"
was the best she could do.
Listen, sweetness" he asked