The Washington times., 1932-07-28
CHAPTER w


dow ledge, looking with unsee-
ing eyes at the hectic activity
IN the street below, she was
almost in tears. Suddenly she
got hold of herself. She
Strengthened UP abruptly. Her
head went up, her chin in the
air. She took a deep breath,
and forced herself not to make
1t a sigh. Then her native
humor began to assert itself.
She laughed softly at first,
and then louder, until it was
honest rippling Irish laughter,
and Blonde helped it along by
initiating Lottie. She started
to put on airs, just as Lottie
did in initiating her customers.
Suddenly her little show was
interrupted by footsteps clatter-
ing down the fire escape. Mrs.
Callahan, hearing Blonde on
the landing below. was hurry
ing down to see her.
Good evening, Blonde"
greeted Lottie'S mother, sitting
beside her.
Good evening. Mrs. Gala
han" grinned Blonde. Me
and Lottie had a scrap"
"Silly girls, I know all about
It," Then Mrs. Callahan thrust
her worn, wrinkled face close
to Blondes, and her eyes had
a haunted look in them.
Blonde" she whispered,
"you're with Lottie all the
time. What's the matter with
her?"
How do you mean?" and
Blonde sensed something
wrong.
"Well, you two girls are such
friends, thought you might
know. She's not herself at
all. Have you any idea of
what might be worryin' her?"
The. pathetically tired woman
looked at Blonde anxiously.
quite All Right
"No-Lottie's all right. She's
up one minute and down the
next. Don't worry about her,
Mrs. Callahan-she's all right"
When Mrs. Callahan rubbed
her thin hands together they
made a grating sound. But
she's been actin so queer lately
she hates comm home, she
hates. the flat-the kids"
brokenly, "even me sometimes!
It's as if we wasn't good
enough for her. Last night
she says to me: I'm gonna get
out of this hole, ma, and be a
lady if I have to commit
murder!' she says, and I"
Mrs. Callahan was interrupted
by a cry from above.
"Oh, Nav! Maw!"
Giving Blonde a little pat,
Mrs. Callahan arose quickly.
Eyes, Lottie; I'm comin'!"
the mother called, and hurried
up the iron steps.
Blondes world was dark
again. Now she was more wor'
ried than ever about Lottie.
Why, even Lottie's mother had
noticed the change in the girl.
What was the matter with her?
Well, tomorrow, when they
were at lunch, Blonde would
find out. She would pin
Lottie down and make her tell
what had brought about this
change.
Like a youngster looking for
something to do, Blonde idly
began to pull the dead leaves
off three Scrawny geranlum
plants, each single stem in an
Individual battered pot, perched
on the fire escape landing.
When she noticed the great
number of withered leaves, she
poked a finger into the earth
surrounding each frail stem,
only to find it dry and hard.
She jumped up dramatically
and started for the McClune
living room
AS she entered the door, she
cried out despairingly.
Can you beat that-'lose
plants have had no 'IaIer
again" She made the an
nouncement as though it was
the most important thing in
the world at the moment. Her
listeners paid not a bit of at
tention.
Blonde hurried across the
living room into the kitchen,
picked up a milk bottle and
filled it with water at the sink.
Leaving the kitchen, she heard
Pete:
Much Too Sure
EFT serves them right-they've
been cocky too long,"
"Who?" questioned Blonde
as she passed her brother-in-law
stretched out on the couch.
"All of them"
"All of what?" Blonde paused
for the answer.
THE rich-gettin' all the
luxuries-and people like us
haven't health enough to
work."
Blonde silenced him with a