Evening star., 1932-05-01
JUST FRIENDS


and absolutely refused to think of the morrow.
In the beginning Peggy had worried about
being financial drag. Prayed collars and
cuffs made her suspicious but Teddy was al
ways firm.
"Oh, chuck it, Peg. You'll get job, and
when you do you can square me If you want
to-"
One afternoon, coming home dirty and tired,
her hat aSkew and a smudge on one cheek,
she hoped that Teddy was in She needed the
sight of him and the sound of his CHEEKY laugh
to make her forget a particularly odious day.
She slammed the door and dropped her stuff
on the table, and she did so she heard him
behind her and turned.
"Oh, Teddy, /"
She stopped short. the words sticking in
her throat. Standing in front of her
perfectly strange young man who was draped
in nothing but small bath towel.
Sorry to disappoint you" he laughed, not
in the least dismayed, but I'm not Teddy"
She stood as though nailed to the floor and
stared at him. He clutched his towel more
closely around him
What are you doing here?" she demanded.
Being at home"
That was Teddy's cue to arrive on the scene,
and by the mercy of heaven he did. And he
sized matters up with lightning intelligence.
Didn't expect you so soon, Don" And then
pressing some money into Peggy'S hands with
a reassuring smile Go out will you, and see
if you find something for us to eat I'll
see that this gentleman is dressed by the time
you get back"
She went, wondering why Teddy had never
told her that he had friend rooming with
him. When she came back she found the
strange young man named Don fussing with
the coffee pot in the kitchen while Teddy was
throwing odds and ends on the table.
I'm awfully sorry" said Don, appearing
from the kitchen, Il didn't know Ted had
guests and it never occurred to me to an
nounce my arrival"
CHORTLY afterward the three of them sat
- down to eat. Peggy was a little disap-
pointed in not having Teddy to herself and
she noticed that he, too was unusually silent
but Don made up for any lack of gayety on
their part. He was fairly bursting with the
Joy of living
From time to time she could feel his eyes
on her in sort of appraising way, and Cnce
she caught him deliberately staring at her
over his coffee cup. She thought that he was
rather rude. And then it occurred to her with
sickening suddenness that to an outsider her
relations with Teddy might appear quite other
than they were.
When the meal was over she decided that
it didn't matter 2 cents what others thought
But when they had both gone, Don with a
backward smile and a promise of future
friendship, and Teddy with a grunted good
night she sat down and st rted to think things
out.
She must get a job, any sort of job. She
could not go on sponging on Teddy. 1t wasn't
fair to him, and besides there this Don
who seemed to consider the place home. She
must get a job.
Unconsciously she stuck out her chin in fierce
determination and, spreading the evening news
paper out in front of her on the table she be-
gan to scan the want ads: Chambermaids, wait
NH
word Haunted her from every line. but un-
daunted she tore out the addresses that might
be worth trying. and as she did she heard
a key turn in the lock and looked up to
Teddy.
without word he sat down at the table
beside her and pushed the mutilated paper
away.
Look here. Peggy, what about marrying
me?"
Your friends have been saying things? It
doesn't matter, Teddy We're not living in the
middle ages. You don't have to save my good
name There's nobody who cares a hang about
it, least of all myself
Il do" growled Teddy. Il love you Peg
Honest do. Well be poor, but that wouldn't
matter, would it? We've managed so far
haven't we?"
Yes we've managed Peggy aSSented in
a very small voice, and she was finding it very
difficulty to speak. But you're only kidding
yourself Teddy"
I'm not" he protested vehemently, Il love
you"
Her heart gave a sickening quiver, but she
did not believe him She sighed
I'm sorry. Teddy, but it can't be, that's
all"
He hoisted himself from the chair and picked
up his hat.
We'll, good night then. I'm staying with
Don at the hotel"
When the door had closed behind him, Peggy
blew her nose vigorously Teddy was too de-
cent. And now he had gone and spoiled every
thing.
She crawled into bed miserably and lay
awake for hours staring up at the ceiling
Marry Teddy? Why, Teddy was friend She