The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-01-04
CHAPTER TWO
THE scrappy bit Of paper meant
Il a job, and Sheila's heart leapt.

THE scrappy bit Of paper meant
L job, and Sheila's heart leapt.
A job and pay check
It wasn't much, Of course. Fill
ing in for Daisy Gleason was rather
blow to sheila's pride. The truth
was that Daisy couldn't dance. Nc
one except Roscoe, Daisy's hus-
band, ever had thought she could.
Roscoe, hopelessly in love with
her, had given Daisy a place with
his act-a JAZZ band rather good,
with a few speciality numbers. Then
Roscoe had married Daisy. Now she
was out with q sprained ankle.
You won't have the job long, "
Myrt said, needlessly Roscoe
won't take anybody in Daisy's
place, no matter how good you
are"
IT'S a job, anyhow. It'll last a
few weeks
away, sheila," Ma Lowell urged
Here's a nickel
u have a dime" Sheila said, pro-
ducing it, Now if you have two
nickels-ah, thanks"
That was Ma. A nickel here, a
nickel there. No wonder the room
ing house didn't seem to pay.
Maybe it's the road" Sheila
thought as she raced up the outside
steps and entered the dark, odorous
hall, where, at the rear, the tele-
phone stood amidst a regiment Of
broOms and mops.
The road! Little homes tWinkling
near the tracks as the sleeper jerked
along. Friendly, coy!
She slid the nickel into the ma
chine, gave JOe's number and then
asked for Bill Brady
Bill confirmed Ma statement.
yeah. GIeason's out. ROscOe's
jazz band had the act, see? Daisy
and a couple others did specialties.
It's an easy routine, Sheila. You
can learn it in no time" Bill finish
ed grandly.
oh" Sheila breathed through the
phone SO Bill thought she could
pick up new steps quickly! That
was good news.
Hustle over now, baby" Bill fin
ished. III be waiting"
Where do we open?" SheiIa ask
ed, unperturbed
Jackson Heights" He paused to
shift his cigar. You can make it
on the subway or if you start early
enough on the bus. Stops right in
front of the theater. Hustle now"
NTYRT heard the news and her
Iva comment was, The routine
must be a snap or Gleason never
could have learned it."
"Sssh," said Ma, uneasily, behind
Myrt, you girls haven't any call to
knock Daisy. It's bread and butter
for Sheila."
I'll say" responded Myrt quickly.
1T isn't that Daisy is so bad, Ma, -
said Sheila, grinning. Its that I'm
so good"
Go on with youl"
THAT girl doesn't care thing
about the stage, really" Myrt said,
as Sheila skipped down the front
steps and the two stood watching
her And with all that Talent"
Blind Jimmy says she is a
conner Ma agreed. You say she
don't care about the stage?"
Ma raised her eyebrows. Such
talk was heresy, indeed, for one as
gifted as Sheila. For all the hard
times, Sheila should love the stage
Wasn't she born to the life? Ma
recalled Daisy Desmond, SheiIa' S
mother, we'll.
mo. She's been talking all morn
ing about having a home in the
country"
Let her get a good part and g
salary like some of the others and
buy herself that home!7 Ma sale
quickly.
She means get married, Ma. She
talked about clothes on the line ano
fire engines"
Lord save us, what next?" Ma
gaSped. Fire engines! What was
the child saying?'
Like I told you. Fire engines
For the kids, you know. She wants
to get married."
They all talk that Way in the
spring" Ma said comfortably. The
air gets warm, the parks in bloom
Flower sellers start hollering theiI
heads off. There's one now"
They were standing on the step
loath to leave the first spring day
behind them, loath to exchange it
for Mas comfortable, dark untidy
/ Cavernous kitchen
An look at herr Ma gasped
again and grabbed NIyrt'S arm
Mind you! There they are waitin
/ for her at Paris and her buying
/ geraniumS from a pedlar!'
I TINE two women stood in out
/ 4 ragged dignity while Sheila. un-
aware of the CONSERVATION in their
souls, flew with nimble feet and
laughing face back to the house.
Put this in my room for me, will
you, Myrt?' she begged, thruSting
forward a red pot with a tiny I'M
steady red bloom stuck s.antWiSe in
the soft earth.
She grinned suddenly. That's
the kind I'm going to have in my
own kitchen window some day! And
oh, Myrt it needs Watering!"
III water it." The cynicism had
drained from Myrt'S face. Sheila'
happiness was too apparent, toe
touching.
The girl was gone, flying down the
street toward Broadway.