Evening star., 1932-09-18

I sure hate to see you out all alone on the
streets so late at night"
As he finished he lifted his eyes and stared
at her, and she read plainly the question in
his face. Duly, she shook her head.
God only knows what would have happened
to me, Rocky" she told him slowly. IF you
hadn't come along when you did. I was just
walking around"
She dropped her face in her hands. Rocky
saw that the cuffs of her sleeves were badly
frayed; and they had not been raised quickly
enough to hide the tears he had already seen
in her eyes. Poor lid, she must have meant
to spend the night On her feet unless-vell.
food and warmth, even from a stranger, are
still food and warmth.
you mean-you were going with that guy
I smacked?"
Il don't know-oh, Rocky, it didn't seem that
things could be any worse, and then I looked
up and saw your bus just in time"
Listen. grille" he told her gently, I'm an
old-timer round here myself. I've seen 'em
come and I've seen 'em co. even tried to buck
this picture racket myself and for most Of us
it just amt In the cards.
"Itn break your heart, that's what it'll do,
and throw you in the gutter with the rest. You
ought to know what it'n do, by now
Yes. I guess do know, Rocky" She spoke
without raising her head, but there was q
world of tragedy in her voice.
1ue game WOIJQ the CdIlClc, Suuc-
why don't you just quit it cold? Why don't
you just forget this movie headache, and marry
some guy who'd be good to you?"
He leaned q little closer.
"Ier-anybody would be glad to take care
of you if you'd only give him chance. You'd
have reglar meals and a place to sleep-and
anyway, it's worth thinkin' over
1T was months later when Rocky got his
] answer, and he got it in most unexpected
way He was passing Franklin avenue one
afternoon when suddenly shiny little sport
coupe shot out of the intersection, skidded try
ing to avoid him, and adeswiped the heavy
steel bumper behind.
He stopped and got out to see that, although
the bus was unharmed, the coupe had smashed
a wheel. The girl who had been driving it
came to survey the damage with him.
why, Rocky!" she said. Then, with WY
little smile: I've ridden in that bus of yours
a lot, but I never thought I'd into it
did you?"
She stood there In the rain, smiling, shaking
hands. Rocky could that she was s1nartly
dressed, and he noticed q brand-new little
feather in . brand-new little hat. She seemed
to be her old self; poised, seh-confident, eager,
Just when she had first come to Hollywood.
Guess I'd better 60 on to the boulevard
with you In the bus" she said, and phone
the insurance people to come and get the car"
She took . coin from her purse and dropped
it into the box. Then she paused
"Oh, yes" she rec0llected Il haven't had
q chance TO see you since then, have II" She
dipped into the purse again. took out a bill and
handed 1t to Rocky. Thanks again." she smiled
at him, moving closer and lowering her voice;
"it brought me luck-the best kind of luck
You see, Slim got a job as a riding instruc-
tor over at the park, and I'm a waitress at
Henry's now; we're not looking for movie con-
tracts any more. It was your advice that did
it all, too-the advice you gave me that night.
Slim and I have both signed up for life with
each other"