Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1932-10-28
Times Are Picking
Up
g by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
(WNU Servicel
By MARJORIE HAINEs

eneCLe Tor the very good reason CnaC
there were no longer any chairs to
sit upon. They had been packed,
along with the other furniture Of
Daphne's apartment and stored in
the basement in hopes that the oblig-
ing janitor might later on be able to
sell them to some incoming, tenant.
Daphnes big brother, Robert, leaned
nonchalantly against the gas stove
from which the gas had been turned
off, and their friend, Malcolm
Hughes, rested with what comfort he
could on the radiator by the window.
They were all eating delicatessen
potato salad with pastebOard forks
and pasteboard plates. Daphne got
down from the tubs to pass bag Of
rolls.
II bought nine of Them" she said.
IF we each have one now, we can
have two each for lunch on the way
up. Maybe we can buy some milk
and fruit cheap from a farmer"
"Oh, Fred will stake us to dinner
before we get there" Malcolm told
Daphne. "And he says we are well
come to the provisions he left when
he was up in June-coffee and -four
and sugar and things like that, and
probably we can catch some fish in
the river tomorrow"
Nothing like that fresh country
air." agreed Robert. "And Fred says
there are still plenty of blueberries.
It's practically certain that either
Malcolm or / will have work later
on, helping the farmers pick apples
or pitch hay or something of the
sort"
"We'll manage to get through the
winter all right-and maybe it's just
as well not to have any regular work
because well have time to read up
on farming before it's time to begin
planting in the spring" said NAL
colin.
OF the three, the young architect,
Malcolm Hughes, had been the first
to feel the effects of depression. For
over a year now he had had no work.
His optimism about getting employ
ment had diminished along with his
savings. At first Robert Stone had
taken his dose of depression in a
series of salary cuts. Six months
ago he found himself walking away
from his office with his last pay en-
velope in his pocket-thirty dollars
plus a little slip that told him his
services were no longer needed. Hav-
ing gone through his own meager
bank account he was formed to ac-
cept his sisters bounty and now for
three months he had shared her small
apartment and simple meals with her.
Two weeks ago Daphne had been one
of the last interior decorators to be
laid off at Bradley and Fields.
And then just as even Daphne
was beginning to lose courage Nal
colin dropped in with a letter from
his Cousin Fred who had heard of
Malcolm's plight and had offered him
a small upstate farm rent free as
long as he wanted it.
Robert and Daphne had needed no
urging and the venture became a real
possibility when the accommodating
Cousin Fred, on his way to Canada,
agreed to take the three to their
destination.
1t was nearing one when they fin
ished their meager lunch. At half
past one Fred would come to pick
them up. Daphne gathered up the
paper plates and spoons and was
taking one last look from the living
room window when the bell boy came
to tell Robert that he was wanted on
the house phone. Three minutes later
he came back, Rugged his sister,
clapped Malcolm on the back and ex-
planned, at was from Garner and
Jones' They want me to come back
next Monday. Forty a week to start.
Times have been picking up and"
Daphne's arms about his neck
made 1t impossible for him to go on,
then as she gave him his freedom he
turned to Malcolm and said: 1.-The
first thing l shall do will be to pay
you back the $3.50 | owe you"
Malcolm looked QuestiOningly at
Daphne. II don't suppose 1t would
be just the thing for Daphne and me
to go alone to the farm unless she
consents to be married on the way"
"We won't talk about that now"
said Daphne with a significant en-
phasls on the last word. But with
Bob paying you back what he owes
we won't have to go up. Times sure
ly must be getting BETTER
Il can get a berth somewhere for
four dollars a week and something is
likely to turn up next autumn. You
know this living on a farm is all
right If you're used to it"
"There are sure to be snakes and
SPIDERS" interrupted Daphne, "and If
can't get back as a decorator at
Bradley and Fields they'll at least
give me job as an errand girl"
"As far as that goes" Robert as
sured them, with forty dollars a week
can look after both of you. That
idea of living on a farm didn't seem
so hot, with none Of us knowing the
first thing about farming"
And then COuSin Erad ran0 tho