Hyder weekly herald., 1933-11-11
Wishes
By LEETE STONE
o. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
 WNU Service


 one of those forerunners of true springtime that insinuate into offices and winter-weary nerves and blood.
 She looked out of the wide window, down on the red tiled roof of the build ing next door, d pyglny edifice, mus tering but twenty stories. Alice was tired of keeping books, tired of office routine, tired of the scramblne, shov- ing, brutal subway jam morning and evening, tired of returning to d dreary two-room fiat night after night.
 Where would it all end? In bal ance at the bank, perhaps, that would save her, some day, from an Old La dies home where the inmates knitted and crocheted and ate three times q day. Was that life? Alice pondered the question.
 True, there was the handsome, rugged young office manager, Sidney JevOns, courteous to all the girls, and, so 1t sometimes seemed to Alice, espe- cially considerate of her but, then, he wasn't looking for a hard-working of flee girl. Gossip allied Jevons with the treasurer's daughter, whose sable wrapped figure was familiar sight on this. the executive floor.
 No, men today did not wish women to love them. unused Alice, eyeing fleet of wheeling pigeons, animated specks against the sky; they wanted women of independent affluence and ol nd al prestige would aid their business climb. Her mind raced back to doll days and the childish game of Three Wishes.' All three of Alice's wishes were for a real baby to croon to and play with-a baby that cried! Well, that was that!
 Signing, Alice raised slim hand to close the window and saw Tommy on the red-tiled roof below. Tommy was in distress Tommy was bowling. Tommy was d real baby.
 A girl of ten or so was hanging clothes on line stretched from chim- ney to chimney on the roof, and five youngsters of assorted sizes and sexes were being admonished severely by ten-year-old Little Mother not to go near the wet sheets and dirty them. All the while wee Tommy howled.
 Suddenly bulging and capacious female issued from the roof door and deposited a resounding slap on Tom my's round, red cheek.
 Alice wanted to sit right down with Tommy next her heart and cry with him.
 Anyway" Alice whispered, shutting the window. "I'll make that baby for get that slap-somehow.
 One later, warmer day when the window stayed open, Alice heard child ish voices again floating in from the roof below. She listened.
 But didn't I told you don't want a Teddy Bear? wants a dolly-a squeezy dolly-I wants a."
 "Youre boy. ain't you, Tommy? Fought to be 'shamed to want a dolly. l want dolly. I'm a girl! Fought to want Teddy Bear. l ain't goin' to play Wishes with you no more, Tommy" Little Mother went to the other end of the roof.
 Next day Alice watched and listened for the janitor's children on the red tiled roof below her window. At last!
 No, Tommy, they ain't no such thing as fairies. You're silly! Come on let's play! Shut your eyes and make three wishes. I got something in my hand behind my back. Listen. now. Don't go wishin' for no dOllles."
 "Tandy!" Tommy promptly shrieked, and Little Mother poked huge marsh mallow between the rosy lips.
 ''I want dolly--I want dolly-I want dol" the baby insisted as mastication permitted.
 The psychological moment had ar rived for Alice. Leaning far out of her window she took fair aim. Plop. fell something square on Tommy's fat legs. And plop! Another thing fell right in Little Mothers lap.
 Little Mother jumped up and .oa.akod tr,o boouonc b;,b abora and