Evening star., 1932-01-29
CHAPTER XXXIII.

"A lunch room down IN IIle GULL
"A mercial district. Peter Con
stantine, proprietor believed In
having a pretty girl behind the cash
register. A man wasn't so likely to
count his change if pretty girl was
kidding him a bit.
Judy had nearly lost it to a buXom
blonde-Mr. Constantine had a world
old admiration for light-haired women:
But the blonde couldn't typewr1te ana
Judy could So she was installed pc
hind the cigarets and the gum ana tne
toothpickS, queen Of the cash register
at the lowest possible salary Mr. Con-
stantine could pay.
Between making change she typed
menus and folded paper napkins. There
were times when Mr. Constantine asked
himself if he hadn't made mistake.
A nice lookin' girl, sure she WaS-sort
of a high-brow, though it didn't hurt a
girl none to have ClaSS-but she dian
kid the cash customers enough. just
gave 'em their change-gaVe 1t TO EN-
right too, an kept to herself. Sort OF
had way of easin' guys of when they
tried to make up to her a bit. Maybe
he'd better We taken the blonde .
Standing in the back of the place, seat
ing patrons his heavy broWs met over
his black beads of eyes.
And Judy, perched on the cashier S
stool, noticed that scowl with a SICK
little sinking Of her heart. If she
should lose this job
She had been two weeks in the
shabby housekeeping rooms out on
OFarrell street. The place was more
dismal than ever as the cold weather
began. Her rent did not include heat.
She had to buy sack of coal and keep
it under the sink in the mtlnlteSlmal
closet which had been fitted up for a
kitchenette. She fed it to the hungry
little iron CRATE bit by bit, grudglng
each lump, for the $50 was sadly
shrunk by now.
1t meant a long walk to work. She
could have taken a room in cheap
hotel and saved carfare. But the dreary
old house was respectable, at least:
And a girl alone in the sort OF hotel
she could afford Not so good!
She got her meals at the restaurant
that was an item! She had Sundays
off. There was no restaurant trade on
Sundays in that district.
Those Sundays Days of Slanting
rain Waking to the grey chilliness
of her room. The smell-alwayS a
muSty smell Of rotting wood and long
ago boiled dinners with a dash of es-
Gaping gas
Her neighbor was cough. At least
that was all Judy ever learned OF the
ghost who had the room next door. A
pitiful, hacking, beaten cough. Who
ever owned the cough never seemed TO
sleep. If Judy woke in the night and
lay with heavy heart and wide eyes
she could hear the persistent cough.
muf1ed through the plaster walls.
An unbelievable existence! The self
respecting economy of Summerfeld had
not prepared her for the actual want OF
a large city. Aunt Hetty had counted
the penniee, it was true, but 1t had
simply meant that one made her
clothes instead of driving over to
Laceyville to the larger stores. There
was always fruit for the preserve
cherries from the Watson'S yard
There were pleasant, airy rooms and
cool, clean old linen sheets -.
But this chill grey room-where she
had to spread her fur coat over the
bed to keep warm surely this was
not herself leading this life!
Stan-the thought Of him could still
make her heart ache; but 1t was q
smothered resentful ache. A hopeless
ache Well, it was over-what was the
use of thinking about it? Far down
within her was something despair1ng
and angry, something hurt-tha,
would never be the same again. But
what was the use? You don't lie awake
at night with sorrow when all Of youl
body is one big ache of fatigue. Nearer
more terrible-mOre deSperate-Was
the fear of losing her job. Winter 4.
and where could she get another?
She had written to her aunt-Wrltten
to Rosamond, back in Summerheld
Gay, inconsequential letters, giving hel
change of address. She wasn't at
Lockwood any more.
You know, I've always wanted 9
place away from STAINS family. We're
up here-for the Winter at least. Ad.
dress me at the OFarren street
address"
Not a word about leaving Stan. Let
them think she was living in grandeur
here in the city. They were not IA
miliar with San Francisco. The street
address would mean nothing.
On cold day she wore her fur coat
to work. A mistake Minnie-the red
headed one of the two flatfOoted wait
resSes, went back in the kitchen, pop
eyed.
My gawd, go out an take slant
at the coat the new cashiers sportin'l
If she amt stole it she sure has got
heavy sugar!"
"A heavy sugar-then what's she
doin' time in this greaSe-hole for?'
Ella, the black-haired one, wanted tc
know. But she came back in gaSp1ne
bewilderment. She's either knocked
some millionaire on the head-ol
knocked him for a goal! Gosh
an her workin' for Pete Constantine !
Oddly enough, Peter Constantine
manner took on an edge of respect
Any girl who wore a coat like that
must be pretty good. Maybe she was
better than the blonde, after all .
"Some coat you got there, baby" he
admired And his pudgy hands brushed
hers as he took the days cash receipt
from her
Judy fought back her loathing anc
forced a smile. "My-my aunt sent II
to me for "a birthday present"
"Oh, yeah?" The mans beady eyes
Travelled over her face-doWn her body
and Judy knew she had made
mistake.
And then, one grey Sunday, drinking
a cup of grey tea while she watched
the drops roll down the narrow win,
dow pane she found herself remem-
bering counting back, with &
frightened leap of her heart.
In the city over month oVel
o month, she'd been here.
She found she was suddenly shaking
That she had upset the tea.
She rose and went TO the kitchenettt
to get a cloth. Mopped it off the faded
carpet. Carried the cup to the sink
Rinsed it. Filled it. Bore it carefully
back again All of this automatically
her mind flashing back over the weeks
feVeriShly.
It wasn't over a month! 1t couldn't
be! She remembered a calendar which
had been hanging on the walls Wher
she took the room. She'd thrown il
away just the other day because she
couldn't stand the simpering face Of
the girl on it, Now she ran to the
back porch where the big ash car
stood. Searching, frantically, while the
wind lashed her skirts and whipped the
rain against her Grey wooden house
backs, ugly and black with wet Sod
&