Evening star., 1933-09-03
PUPPY LOVE
bAlmn Sioux Soabery

step on anything.
Freckle by that time was almost
fainting with pain. She didn't know
where she hurt the worst-in her side
or her ankle. She gr1tted her teeth
and tried to smile.
"G-go to that little drawer In the
kitchenette, Tommy, and get white
cloth. Well have to bandage it-and
wait for DR.. Toomey. He'll be in his
Office soon"
Tommy ran into the kitchen. When
he came back Freckle had taken of
her shoe and peeled off her stocking.
He sat down on the floor and bound
the ankle tenderly Freckle clinched
her fists to keep from crying. She had
never been so miserable in her life.
Tommy looked up at her with such
sweet sympathy in his young face that
her heart ached almost as badly as
her ankle and side. Tommy! And she
had betrayed him. Right that moment
Mary was on her way out to Curt
Little's estate to elope.
Tommy stood up anxiously. And just
then his eye caught sight OF little
white box open on the table beside
him. He picked it up as if he could
hand to her throat. Tears were choking
Tommy's face blanched with pain.
"M-Mary left these things-here.
Suddenly Freckle broke into wild Sob
bing Freckle crying! Tommy stared
at her incredulously
"Freckle-Why what's the matter?"
He almost forgot his own shock at
the sight of such burst of emotion.
He bent down and put his hand on
her head to see if she were feverish.
"Freckle-honey, you-you're sick.
Can't we get a doctor right away?
IL didn't know your ankle hurt you
so much"
Freckle sobbed for several minutes
while Tommy sat by wildly, wondering
what in the world a man did when
woman acted like that. After a
while she sat up and wiped her eyes
Fresh sobs threatened to shake her
but she called on all her will power
and determined to get control Of her
self
Tommy" she began brokenly,
"-I must tell you s-something"
He nodded dumbly.
Freckle wiped her eyes again-the
fresh tears kept pouring into them.
"T-Tommy. I've done something ter
rible. IL lied to you"
'You-what?"
live been a mean. bad, designing
woman. II lied to you-and to Mary
Oh. Tommy"
She broke out into sobs again. Tommy
took her by the shoulders and shook
her
Calm yourself. Freckle. What are
you talking about?"
"L-last night when that black cal
came in the window. IL knew I'd
never have any luck Then 1 got q
pain in my side-and turned my ankle
I-I'll have to go to the hospital for ar
operation-and I know I-I'u never get
we'll"
She was almost in Mysteries Tommy
had premonition that what she had
to tell him was dreadfully important
He shook her again.
What has all this got to do with
your lying to me-and to Mary?"
Then Freckle told the whole story
She began at the beginning told
him all. How she had been SO angry
with him for his threatening phone
call to Curt Little-and how just al
that time Curt had offered her $4,000
and feature part in picture if she
! would keep him away from Mary
She even told him how she haC
tricked him the night he phoned anc
Mary was sitting right in the room
Freckle did not spare herself 1t wa:
| full confession. Tommy could see
the suffering in her face. She was sc
| conscience-strick that he couldn,
even be angry with her.
| When she had finished he sat with
his head in his hands
lin glad you told me I'm goine
down to Nine. Dumas right this min
ute and wait for Mary when she comes
out. If that bird is with her I'll break
his neck. Nothing can keep me from
seeing her now"
Freckle thought she must die with
the pain that went through her heart
then. She began to sob again But ir
moment she looked up The words
came slowly, painfully from her lips:
"B-but, Tommy. Tits too late
M-Mary went out to Curt Little's just
few minutes ago. They're flying tc
Mexico this afternoon to be married.
Tommy leaped to his feet
You're crazy"
Freckle picked up the check and the
letter.
"Look-here is the s5 OOO.'
Tommy stared at it dumbly. Their
he grabbed the letter and read it. Wher
ne mad hnlshed 1t he crushed it in his
hands.
"The-the mean, sneaking cur! L
Ill kill him if he hurts Mary"
Suddenly Freckle took the check and
tore it into little bits. 1t broke hel
heart But she felt like an honest WON.
an for the first time in weeks.
"And-1u help you. Tommy. Oh
Tommy. what shall We do How car
we stop them?"
Tommy grabbed his hat and ran from
the room without word. Freckle
dropped her head on her arms anc
prayed wildly:
"Please-please. God-make Tommy
be in time, Don't let Mary marry Curt
Little"
(To Be Continued)