Evening star., 1933-09-08
INSTALLMENT XXN.

"A STUNNED Mrs. Binney appeared
n At the side veranda. Things
II were happening SO fast Curt
Little's housekeeper coulont
quite keep up with them. Wnen
she saw Tommy she drew back mo-
mint fearfully. But the three VSltorS
were too excited themselves TO hotNe
Ia run from the yellow-haired giant
whom she thought had tried TO XIII
her beloved employer.
1t was incredible to Mrs. Binney that
Mr. Little should write a note saying
DR. SAWYER, Miss Sawyer and Mr.. Smith
vrre to be taken care OF and given
tire best of care and attention during
hts stay in the bospltal-after all that
had happened. She gave up trying 10
reason it out.
sDr. SAWYER was q bit overwhelmed
With the grandeur OF Curt Itties
million dollar home. 1t was hard 70
believe any man. could run away ano
plunge himself into the Oklahoma OIL
fields and come out with that much
money. Sorrow-and hate-had cata-
quilted Tom Smith, sr. known to the
world as Curt Little, into the lap OF
success-success and riches that had
never been able to give him moment
of contentment or happiness.
Mrs. Binney showed the trio to
large suite on the south side OF the
house. .
"I thought, Miss she turned to
Mary, you'd be happier II you were
al together The rooms are adjoining.
"That's very kind" Mary smiled
shakily
I'll send maid at once to take care
of you." the housekeeper turned at the
door. II hope you will be quite COM
Portable. II there's anything you need
don't hesitate to send word to me. Din
ner will be served in half an hour. l
presume you'll want it here"
Mary thanked her again and DR..
Sawyer nodded When the door was
closed behind Mrs. Binney, Tommy SAID
unhappily:
"Well, this seems all upside down to
Mary put her arms around his neck:
Nothing Is ever upside down, oariin' >
when Daddy is around"
She saw there was a telephone on
q little table beside her. She picked
1t up: ..,,.
Bryan is" she asked the girl who
answered the switchboard at Jannings
In q moment she gasped happily:
"Why-Freckle-it's you'll"
"Oh-Mary!" Freckle said with .
wild sob of joy. Where are you?"
"I-Im all right" Mary knew she
didn't dare tell her whereabouts.
"Ive been reading the papers
Freckle began to cry. "and they said
you were in jail-oh, Mary, honey
Mary hastened to reassure her.
'Im not in jail any more--Daddy
and Tommy are with me and every
thing Is just lovely. You mustn't
worry. Maybe can get out to see you
tomorrow; I'll try. Are you AL right,
Freckle?"
Freckle sounded more like her old
self when she answered. There was the
same facetiousness in her laugh:
I've been carved from stem to stern.
But they knew I'd bust If they didn't
let me use the phone beside my bed.
So they let me talk when anybody calls
up. Sa-ay. I have to get appendicitis
been in all the papers. got lot OF
posies-n'everything."
When Mary hung up Tommy asked
anxiously:
us Freckle all right, Nary"
II guess so. She's always so silly you
wouldn't know If she were dying"
Maybe you'd like to have me drop
in and take little look at her, Mary"
DR.. Sawyer said to relieve Marys
anxiety. Would you feel >better?"
Mary threw her arms around him
gratefully.
you're the dearest. sweetest dad .
girl ever had"
In q few moments q servant brought
dinner. But none Of them ate much
of the delicious food. When they sat
over their coffee, DR.. Sawyer squared
his shoulders and said with q great
effort:
well, children, I've a long story to
tell you. And want you to hear
me through before you pass judgment"
No lawyer fighting to save . client
from death ever pleaded more dra-
maticaIly than did DR.. Sawyer for Curt
Little. Nor with more sincere feeling.
Mary and Tommy sat spellbound-un-
able to believe their ears as the story
unfolded.
In the end Tommy said unbeliev-
1ngly-to himself:
aMy-father-Curt Little is my own
father"
Il wonder" Mary asked then softly,
I'll. your mother still loves him,
Tommy"
Tommy answered almost in a whis-
per
I'm sure she does. Last year when
she told me my father hadn't died be-
fore was born, as I'd believed, she said
rs long az there was breath in her body
she'd love him-and pray that he'd
come back to her"
Suddenly Tommy dropped his head on
his arms. DR.. Sawyer motioned to Mary
to leave the room. He put hand on
Tommy's head in a fatherly gesture.
"You better fight this out alone, son.
Mary and I will go to bed"
They walked out softly. When they
had gone Tommy gave way to his grief.
He thought of the shock it would be to
her mother when she learned her hus-
band was Curt Little, the millionaire
movie promoter, and of how his mother
had deprived herself all her life to feea