The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1932-01-22
Tickets, Please!-
to Happy Days
By N. AMEs
x*x*xxx*xx*xxx*xxx***xz \
((0 by Mcclure Newspaper syndicats.)
(WNU Servfce.l

blcI lHIOuSH tuc CIu-AuSO oliCSLo
at fearful rate. Past the store, past
the post office and the Grange hall.
How well she remembered the road,
even after FIVE years.
Nothing has changed, but me-" Two
white teeth bit into rounded lower
lip. "But I'll unchange. I'll get back
to the girl / was five years ago, with
gingham dresses, washings to hang
on Monday, chickens to feed, garden
to tend"
The blue eyes misted. Turn right
here. She swung the light car to the
turn suddenly, too suddenly. The
brakes ground. Crash! Splinters
were flying. Glass shattering.
"Im sorry" said surprisingly IA
miliar voice from the vicinity Of the
gutter, "but you made the turn with
out signalling, you've smashed my mo-
torcycle, and think you've broken my
arm. Would you mind helping me to
hand you 4 ticket? In my upper coat
pocket?"
Out of the car jumped Sylvia. 'T'n
do not such thing" she scolded, stamp
ing her foot. you're not cop. You
haven't ticket, and you don't belong
here. Don't you dare faint!"
Sylvia, tugging at the inert body by
the roadside, struggled, lifted, painted.
Somehow the man was In the car be-
side her, head back among the
cushions.
Down through the avenue Of elms
again, past the bank, the store, the
Grange hall. At last the lights In
Doctor Osgoods Office shone out.
i've brought a patient, Doctor, It's
his arm, think. II can't stop. I'll
be at Granny's, but don't tell him,
don't tell anyone. I'm running away"
Running away indeed, she thought,
as she traversed her path again. Run
ming away from people, then running
into people.
Granny's at last. Here, yes, here
was peace and rest.
The morning sun streaming through
the window caught in the CLINT Of red
brown hair, wayered for moment on
pale eyelids, and fiickered over the
rosy mouth. Slowly Sylvia's eyes
opened.
Il shall think 1t dream" she de-
cided to herself. II couldn't have IL
true, not now"
Slowly she turned and streached her
relaxed body. How nice it was at
Grams. Peace was here. Here was
no money to bother one, no social posi-
tion to maintain, no Mrs. Addington
Sims.
For five long years, Sylvia had been
to her tormenter slave, on call day
and night-her social secretary. Now
that was all over. She would stay at
home forever, hidden from the prying
ambitious eyes Of Mrs. Addington
Sims nephew.
Sylvia stirred restlessly. Randy
was such a darling. Why did he have
to be so dependent on his aunt. He
couldn't have loved her Out Of her
swapping turtle mouth, Mrs. Addington
Sims had said, Randy. It's my last
word. That girl or my money. You
must choose"
And Randy hadn't chosen. He
hadn't said a word. Two tears rolled
down.
The door opened softly. 1t was
Gran.
You're awake, my dear. Good.
Would you like coffee up here or do
you feel up to a good breakfast down
stairs%
"A big breakfast, please. Have
been sleeping long timer"
mo less than three nights and two
days, dear. You must be hungry"
III be right down, honey, and do
leave the door open. can smell the
breakfast, and l swear some ones
been smoking a pipe In the house"
Don't you accuse me, my dear. I've
lived seventy year without tobacco,
and a guess I can finish up with
out It."
Sylvia glanced about the honey
kitchen, lovingly. Suddenly her eyes
grew wide. Her voice wavered.
Whose hat Is that?"
Only one hat like that In all the
world. A dark stain, almost red, was
on the rim.
"Why, that's the boarder's, Sylvia.
You don't mind, took 4 poor young
man In for q week or 80 to rest, do
you"
"Of course not, Gran, it's very nice
OF you, but think maybe I'll 60 back
to bed. I'm still so tired"
Somehow Sylvia lived through the
afternoon.
She heard Gran retire early. Only
the boarder was left downstairs to
prowl about with his pipe.
How Gran trusts her boarder," Syl-
via murmured. "Does she know about
his arm? His poor, poor arm?"
A wave Of pity swept over her.
"What a coward am" she thought
"to hide away from him, the silly
darling, throwing away his chance for
all that money. What a mani"
Slowly Sylvia crept downstairs,
lured by subdued whistle, straight
into the haven of one good arm, and
one black sling.
'Oh. my darling, are you sure?" she
breathsd.
so sure, so sure, my very dear,
that even before came to find you, /
put 1t In the paper that you and were
hOneymooning. Do you mind too
much dear?'
And later, quite long while later,
If you'll look, sweetheart, in my up
per coat pocket, where told you that