Nogales international., 1932-08-20
"Becka ! Becka !"
eyes, Pa"

"Vot you deli me, Becka? Id don'd
run? l heared id. Do vot told you;
will you?" Channon Lipvitch hobbled
back through the basement, to the rear
room. He shufled, his feet atoan angle,
his bearded face assuming an air OF
comical severity. 1t was an occasion
and Channon Lipvitch, certain OF his
ground, determined to correct his
daughter. Conversation, in the rear
living sleeping room, came to a stop;
the loud voices quieting while the
splash of running water sounded from
without. $50, you told it lies to f1le OH
Shabbas?" He bristled, but Becka,
more voluble than her father, instantly
replied.
cts in back, Pa. Don't be so sud
dent with calling me liar. It's in the
house in back. 1 hear it splashing, like
YOU"
But Channon Lipvitch was right.
Water 1vas splashing, if not in their
apartment, then near by. Ha, he was
right; his ears were not stuffed up.
Water taxes were ever in his mind
when faucets flowed. "Vcll," he said,
''shud id off, Wy don'd you? Dell me,
who iss making sooch splasch on
Shabbas?" He was a strict man with
his family-in the presence OF visitors.
, The girl, big for her age, and plump,
with an almost premature develop
ment, laughing and giggling, climbed
through a rear window of the Lip
witch home, the living, sleeping, eat
ing-room in back of the Clothing En-
porElnl--7ew and Jecond Hand. She
had to make high step, very high
step, for they were on the basement
floor, and the sills were high. Her
skirt was tight and long, in fact, as
she stretched one leg through the win
dow, the other was uncovered far
above the knee; a plump shapely leg.
Becka, standing on tiptoes, her
skirts lifted unnecessarily high, peered
across the narrow area between the
buildings. Through a broken window
pane she saw a boy splashing over
rusty sink, under a tap of running
water. He held a piece of hard yellow
laundry soap and was working up a
1ather; his hair and face were stream
ing wet. The boy caught a glimpse of
her, his eyes were wide with fear
blue eyes. She smiled at him. Then
she turned hurriedly, her skirts up
over her knees-her stockings were
new and she made the most of the
occasion. Breathlessly she jumped
down into the Lipvitch living
Its a boigler," she declared, almost
'fainting. Tremendous excitement pre-
vailed in the*Lipvitch home.
Quick. Papa, quick" Mrs. Lipvitch
and Mrs. Yartin were urging and
helping the reluctant Lipvitch at the
window Suddenly the water stopped.
Lipvitch, in the area, caught glimpse
of boys face at the broken window.
The little man, he was a head shorter
than his wife, struggled to command
his voice. He did not look formidable
in his black silk skull cap. His features
worked convulsively.
| "Vot iss Vot issl" He exclaimed
excitedly The boy looked harmless,
frightened "Vill you come oudt?" Lip
witch screamed, "Or if you don'd, IT
I-call polizep,
Papa, It's only a boy" Becka was
again climbing through the; window
@'sHefe, boy, come out to US" She
! raped and ratified the weathered sash.
IDS only a poy. Only a poy," Mr..
/ iLipvitch announced, as if terribly dis
7 appointed. He greeted Johnny with a
smile, and held out a scrawny hand to
4 the strong fist of the boy who leaped
up without effort, ragged, desperate
waif with wet hair and shining eyes.
But Channon Lipvitch was triumphant.
He had proven himself, with the help
! of circumstances. Before ones family
and friends, bravery is a virtue.
The Lipvitch Clothing Emporium
New and Second Hand" not
unlike the barge Cavalier, in shape, at
least. ,si:
It was a nice little business, buying
. and selling III The back, branching
from a#;darlk, ma arrow hal aliway with "a
I pine floor, were the work
n looms fit tiaked yellow gas jets and
b i crowded during ten hours :of' the day
with operators ION pants and vests.
ESpvitch took iii piece work on the
less difficult parts of$tnanuf act1re, flir-
Fl ing his help from the terefnenfs of
the street: HIS stock did not spoil, he
4 I. = - AZ sN rta. = . o.