Evening star., 1934-09-02

and ! slid 1t across the counter. Gimme three
OF those Regaias, Bennie.' said in a loud
voice. Anybodys a sap that buys Regalias from
.Bennie at three for half, because he don't
sell one year. But I figured it would make
the boys sit up and take notice.
Bennie never even gave me a tumble and
looked down at the end Of the store and saw
him and the whole gang talking to a big red
headed guy.
So picked up my four bits, and walked
back, and saw this fellow was Happy Kelly,
bird that joined the Navy just before got in
the oil-burner game. He was telling all about
what he did in China and Cuba and don't
know where all.
THIS Kelly was always poison to me. He
J was huskier than anybody In the gang when
we were kids, and every week regular he used
to give me a shelacking. The best news ever
heard In my life was when they told me he'd
enlisted
The danes fall for" he was saying, when
came up, "are these French girls"
It kind OF burnt me up, the way the boys
were standing around with their mouths open,
listening to the truck he was handing them.
I'm not knocking the Navy, understand, but
you take racket like selling and there's more
TO it than hanging around railroad stations
trying to date up dizzy blonds that got no more
sense than to 60 out with sailor.
Hello, Happy" said.
He looked at me like he had q hard time
remembering who I was. Hello, Joe," he
answered. "Still working in the coalyard?"
NO" told him, "I'm in the oil-burner
game. ! got the record this month for most
sales"
"Yeah?" he said looking me over. "Weu
somebody's got to sell oil burners, I guess" :"
With that he laughed, and the gang all laughed,
too. and he started to talk about q doll he
knew in some place called Marsales
"Oh, yeah?" I said, and I started to walk
out. Bennie followed me and asked me did
want anything, so bought three nickel cigars
and I went down to the corner and hoped a
bus for the West Side.
A IL the way out there, this Happy Kelly
was on my mind, because he was in civvies;
so 1t looked like he was out of the Navy, and it
was cinch he'd start hanging around Doris
again, like he did before he went away OF
course, knew Doris was strong for me- but it
had me worried, just the same
So I was kind of glad when the prospect
wasn't home. HE won't be in until H." his
wife told me. "but he wants to see you then"
90 K," said, "I'H be back" I'd already
sold her on the deal. This guy was a news
paper man and worked late, and she claimed
shed shoveled all the coal she ever would
shovel
went back to see Doris
Sure enough, Kelly was right on deck giving
Doris an earful Of what tough life he'd had
in the Navy. Only it wasn't the same kind of
stuff he'd been telling around the cigar store
The way he talked to Doris you'd think all he
did in Cuba was sit around the Y and read old
magazines.
So had to sit there and entertain Anita.
That's Doris younger sister. She's pretty kid.
and I didn't have anything against her, but
A just made me sore because the way it looked
you'd think Doris was Kellys girl instead of
being mine
The first chance had to talk to her alone
was when she went out to the kitchen to make
some sandwiches. Whats the big idea?" I
asked her.
A IL I got was a big blue baby stare 81
don't understand what you mean" she said.
This guy Kelly" told her. "From now on
want it understood he's out. It's either him
or me-"
She spread some mustard on a ham sandwich
and gave me kind of a thoughtful look. "wen," I"
she said I'D be sorry to see you go. bat If a
girl can't entertain her friends In this day and
age why, guess it's just too bad"
Listen" told her, you don't have to get
sore But 1t burns me up to think of that
clown sitting around here while I'm out work
ing my head of making contacts"
Making contacts" she repeated. The way
she said it you might think I'd been running
around with other women.
"An right" I said, "n you can't trust me
we're through" You know how it is I meant
II and didn't mean it. She didn't even answer
me. I'm not fooling," told her
So she picked up another piece Of bread and
started to butter 1t. "Yor hats on the piano, "
she said.
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