Evening star., 1933-12-10


lent that any of the others 1t must
have been the umpty-umpth-or more
likely the thousand and umpty -umpth.
Mr. Montcalm Whitmarsh let the
biting words and phrases spatter over
him if they had been verbal shower bath.
He knew it was futile to argue with his wife.
And yet he could feel the heat mounting along
the bones behind the ears.
That's what call a manly pursuit. scolded
Gladys his wife. "Stickin' stamps in a book.
What good are they? What earthly good are
they, I say? What earthly good are you
you-"
BE quiet" shushed Montcalm. please. The
neighborsu think"
1.-The neighbors think the same as do" she
went on. THAT you're useless no-good, big
lout. Spending your money-my money. really
on those stamps! Postage stamps. Old used
postage stamps. Plah!"
She sputtered out like a spent skyrocket.
But Montcalm knew she'd go up again with
swish-and burst into more starry invective.
"I gotta do something he muttered. Il
don't drink or gamble. Gee, a mans got to
have some hobby"
Yeah! You and your hobbies. How about
me. Here I am cooped up in this fiat all day.
No place I can go-and you spending your
money on those"
why don't you go out and take a walk?"
urged Montcalm, hopefully
Gladys lmmedlateiy blew up In SVEN olS-
play of pyrotechnics.
why don't go out for walk?" she snapped.
TN what? I haven't got a thing to wear and
you know it. If I had some of the money
you've spent on that old stamp book-that-
I'm not going to stand it another day. IN
through! You see if I'll put up with you
With"
CHE turned green in the eyes and red in the
- face and blue in language. His very mild
ness made her angrier. Words were no good
now. With one wild sweep of her hand she
knocked the stamp album off the table and
scattered hundreds of precious stamps all over
the room. Then she kicked the book into far
corner. Whush! Blam!
Montcalm sat frozen IN his chair. This
too much. He'd been saving his beloved stamps
for 20 years; it was the passion of his life.
That kick hurt him physically.
With a gulp he tried to stifle his feelings.
stopped to pick up the poor little stamps
He heard q door slam. Gladys had gone. He
sighed Perhaps it was best 1t had been hard
to control himself.
It looked funny in way. Montcalm was big
and imposing OF figure, really statuesque. And
it did look funny to see such a big fellow take
much hot roast from woman half his size.
That statuesque figure was Montcalm's sole
stock in trade. He was head doorman at the
great Odeon Theater, as ornate during business
hours that most ornate of movie palaces.
The Odeon the epitome of splendor; Mont
calm was no less splendid Six feet five of
azure blue, scarlet and gold.
The next morning Montcalm got his own
breakfast as he had always done. 1t was the
same routine-without the CHEEKY whistle,
however. Gladys was probably asleep. Shed
come in late the night before
Montcalm's face was just as grim as it had
been 10 hours before CThere had been a
United States revenue carmine scent issue
of 1880 torn beyond repair. And a 5o-cent
Abyssinia of 1900 perforated by French heel!
Ye godsD
Speaking of stamps, the album was there on
the kitchen table, wrapped in brown paper.
Montcalm finished his silent breakfast He
got up, glanced around the fat Then with a
burst of derision, he clapped on his hat, took
the bundle and left
He took the elevated train downtown for the
thousand and umpty-umpth time. But this day
was different. Because he felt felt rather than
knew. that it was the last time he would sway
back and forth on it clinging to a strap. He
always felt things. being not overly intelligent
From time to time he caught glimpses over
the tops of the roofs of something that thrilled
him strangely. The masts Of ships! Spires of
romance, mystery!
But once in the uniform of the Odeon, habit
took charge of him. Other things faded out to
pastel obscurity. The metamorphosis that al
ways came when he climbed into that gorgeous
azure blue. scarlet and gold affair was infallible
He was no longer Montcalm Whitmarsh, anna
teur collector of stamps. He was Olympian.
An ornamental Jove who said to the tough taxi
drivers. Come" and they came; 60" and
they scrammed.
QUT somehow he felt different today. There
y was an indefinable something just behind
the fourth double gold button Of his coat that
burned with a slowly mounting flame. Vague
bdt compelling
At IL o'clock he took his interval for lunch.
And with him went the stanan hook After