Evening star., 1933-01-25

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great many scheming mammas'
i plans had been frustrated by his
modest density. His general
tolerance and good nature had made 1t
easy to lead lambs to the slaughter, but
the leading was all that happened, more
than Michaers saying that people gen.
orally were so very kind about asking
you to dine and all that, and keeping
on asking you even when you had to
refuse.
He never confused his happy f1nan-
cial Solvency with peoples being kind,
and that makes a better chart of his
manner Of growth than words could
make.
The rumor of his having been deeply
in love with Marcia Terrill had grown,
naturally, as it made convenient, one
1ife-one-love hook on which those who
hushed version of this saga reached
Michael, as it sometimes did, he always
smiled
He knew entirely well. now, that he
had never loved any one that way"
and thinking this. he invariably
brooded upon the fact that he had not
seen Carroll for three of those years
that are long, when saplings twist to
take something of final shape. And
why his musings about a that way"
lovelesS life and not having seen Car
roll, grown, were connected, Michael did
not know or question. He gave mental
energy instead to conjectureS about the
changes that might be in her.
He had seen her, at months past
II, make start for the French school,
and now, at months past 20, she was
coming back. He presumed, often, that
she would be quite young lady and
he wondered, with concern, whether
her golden hair had darkened. Some
times yellow hair was Subdued by years;
Michael hoped Carroll's was not.
The fact that Carroll would return
quite a young lady made him seek out
Jersey, with whom he had commune
Gated only by letter and when neces-
sary. for some time.
In the world of Jersey O'Grady and
Big Bill Killroy, their names had been
closely linked for some time. This was,
in MichaePs eyes, Jerseys matter, and
he felt that she had excuse; her world
had been a harsh world and she had
seen things of which happier women
never dream, and she had been cruelty
lonely. But Michael wanted Jersey to
keep her affairs from reaching Carroll
plans about what he would say-none
of which worked out-he made way to
Jerseys apartment, which was still
Graded in the Lansingham Arms.
Theresa admitted him and her well
come charted the duration of his alb
sence. Well" she sung out, IF it
amt Mr. Wister! Well, come in and
park yourself. Say, this is grand! And.
honest, I amt lyin', JUS this mornin',
Jersey, she says to me, I bet old Mike'l
be around to cackle over the kid, pretty
soon,' she says. Honest, Mr. Wister,
she's missed yuh and dunno why you
didn't come round. Why didn't yuh
come anyways?"
Michael said he had been frightfully
busy, which has been said before. and
as he spoke he laid new hat and new
gloves on an old resting place and he
parked the same cane in the same cor
ner. And this done, he settled to take
q cigarette from case and light 1t. He
was a little nervous.
I'll call Jersey; she's layin' down."
said Theresa. 1.-THE place didn't close
till las night and she was wore out"
Perhaps I shouldn't let you disturb
her." said Michael, with that tender
Thought of others which comes with
heartfelt wish to locate an exit and put
it to its use.
Say, Mr.. Wister don't get funny
said Theresa, warmly. why, Jerseyd
set up in her coffin with the chanct to
chew the ole rag with you. Shes al
ways sayin' to me like that, Mikes a
gent and he's good to my kid and she
knows some of the boys amt always so
good to kids like Carroll"
Then Theresa disappeared and MI
ef1ael waited.
yersey's salon. True, there was now
modern chair that looked as II cut 70
at a robot, and the trend OF literature
had changed. "Ex-Wife," bad Girl"
and volumes dealing with Broadway's
lure were supported by chaste book
ends on which utterly guileless dryads
held garlands of Spring flowers. but In
other detail times fingers had not
meddled gently. The cope was little
dustier, the artificial flowers had turned
gray; there were on the tabletop more
white discs made by passing glasses.
and there were more stains upon the
Chinese rug. An increase of Shabbiness,
which is most brutally apparent when
connected with the tawdry, told Mi
chael that he had not availed himself
of Jerseys warm hospitality for quite
two years.
Theresa returned.
"She's gettin into her close" she
announced. "an' she's tickled sick"
Its frightfully kind of her, really, to
receive me-" said Michael.
Jaw, lay off the molasses." Theresa
advised, which comment left Michael
somewhat at a loss. She settled then
on the edge of the modern chair. I'VE
was real sorry" she said. ito hear OF
your sisters divorce; we read all about
It in the papers"
Michael WINGED.
Her husband certainly done her
dirty" Theresa admitted. "You kinda
expect a man to have his secretary
settin' around on his lap In his place
of business. but you don't expect none
Of that kind of dirt to creep into the
home The pictures of your sister was
real purity"
TT was, altogether, very unfortunate"
Michael murmured.
"You said it," Theresa granted, and
Jersey appeared.
Time had dealt with Jersey exactly
as it had dealt with the room; the
whole looked untouched, but the stains
were more obvious.
"Mike!" said Jersey in trifle thickly
III