Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1933-03-23
Brick Buys a
Kimono
By KATHLEEN MALLORY
9. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicatsl
WNI1 Service


night, and Brick had tiptoed to the
Kitchen for drink of water.
Drinking the water, he had over
heard Mr.. Bonner talking to Mumsy.
He liked Mr. Bonner. He never forgot
to bring him something. 1t was al
ways there on the breakfast table next
morning. The most wonderful things.
He was listening: Jerry, you angel
=. ITS too sweet of you for words,
but | can't let. you. You're darling
=. the best friend a woman ever had
But It's impossible. III shut my
eyes and pretend -. forever after
that It's mine, when I'm wearing that
ragged shabby old thing In therel
Bricks breath expelled on long
breath that was almost sob. lie
| peeked through the crack of the swing
ing door to the living room. His
kmother stood facing him, holding the
gorgeous blue "kimono" up to her
shoulders Regretfully. she began
folding II carefully back into Its It's
sue wrappings-
Don't be absurd, Sylvia" Jer-
some Bonner was speaking. gruffly.
That's my birthday gift to you. |
shall be away next month, and want
I'D you to have II In time. Don't spoil
my fun, please, old girl. get such
\ kick out of doing 1t for you"
Please, Jerry" Bricks mother said
hickly. don't. Bring me some little
rinket that's inexpensive"
Sylvia -. let me take care OF
YOU =. alwaysI Please, dear. /
love you so"
Now. JerryI You know how
things are. I'm going to bring Brick
Up. first My first duty is to him.
and why Jerry. I've fine
Young man to take care of me. want
nothing In this world. beyond my home,
mere. and Brick f's
Brick had crept off to bed, SILVER
ing. Gosh. She had said he. was
enough
Then he saw 1t again. Three days
tater. 1t was In shop window, and
there was nothing else there Only
the blue kimono. Some way. somehow.
ne must get that blue kimono for
mumsy.
He went In and priced It. He nearly
fell over when the lady said twenty
live dollars. She might as we'll have
said twenty-five hundred. Gosh That
was the same price as the bicycle.
But now the bike was forgotten.
| Each night. when be was through
peddling his papers. he went to stare.
fascinated, at the blue kimono Mum
sy's birthday was next week. too.
He used to worry about Il, as he
peddled papers. II someone else
bought 1t, first Seven bucks saved.
Gosh, how could he make it7 Three
more days. He couldn't make It.
Then several things happened. Mum
sy was working In store part time,
and he was alone one night In the
closet, looking for book stored away
| he came across the picture. 1t was his
father. he knew that. Mumsy had
told him. Her eyes had looked all
serunchy when she told him. He never
| asked her any more about him. But
| he knew he was alive.
Then one day Bricks father bought
paper from him. Brick knew him
instantly. The same face, only the
hair was gray now. Expensive fur
coat. Costly clothes. "A Post, sonny.
Keep the change'-two dimes.
The day before mumsy's birthday,
the man stopped again. 1t was cold.
Bricks fingers were numb with cold.
He dropped his papers. and his hat
fell off. The man bit Off an exclama-
ton. MY God" he sald. "the same
hair event." Then hoarsely, "Here.
Sonny get yourself something. A
bike II. shoesl" Brick stared at
the fifty dollar bill, as the man jumped
Into taxi and drove off. Only that
noon he had seen the mans smiling
| face In the tabloIds he had sold along
State street. Noted actor celebrates
new hit by marrying leading lady"
He began to shiver. but not with
cold. Frantically. he searched his
paper bag and found the tabloid the
last remaining one There 1t was,
"State Street Theater." Brick started
toward State street He borrowed an en-
velope from the cashier. On 1t. he
wrote his own name. II was also his
fathers. He knew that. now, from
the tabloids Rick Chandler. Star OF
New Moon. Inside. he tucked the ffty-
dollar bill 1t was his defeated hope
of ever owning the blue klmono or the
new bike. But he did not falter,
mumsy would want him to.
On the way he saw the sign. 1--WE
buy old bikes.n Brick went In. He
came out, minus his dlapidated old
like. but richer by ten dollars. He'd
get another, some day. Now he'd get
mumsy birthday present A blue
kimono.
Brick raced to the shop. He nearly
suffocated with JOY. Marked down to
nineteen fifty
He stole into the house. In the hall,
gllttering object arrested him. 1t
was new bike. 1t was the New Bike
IL 81. dI1lr,tt CO.