Evening star., 1934-05-19


loan.
mo need, darling" Sandra lied nom
chalantly. "I'll make out" Her
lightneSs disarmed the Queen COM
pletely.
"'Scuse." the Queen laughed. II
forget you come from one o. them gold
spoon families. should be offering
you pot luck!"
No, she would not go to the Queen.
Why should she? The Queen was an
Garner like herself-probably needed
the money. The Queen had no Uncle
Raoul waiting to make life over into
a downy couch for her.
Here Sandra admitted was the solu-
ton. She would go to Uncle Raoul.
Penitently. Confess to him her fail
ure. Tell him she was ready to quit
the fight. to return to the red brick
house, chastened and obedient. The
vision of a chocolate soda, cool and
frothy, tantalized her. If she had
one of the plates of chicken salad she
had pushed away from her in distaSte
after a dizzy night in the Sandharbor
dunes she would wolf it. Yes, she
would surrender to Uncle Raoul.
Refreshed by the last bit of tea she
had shaken from tin, Sandra walked
toward Murray Hill as briskly as her
remaining strength allowed. Opposite
the red brick house she paused. All
she needed to do was to cross the
street. mount the stone steps, walk
through the doors that were open al
ways to receive her and tell Simms
to bring her a plate of sandwiches
she was famished. When she'd eaten
her fill she would see Uncle Raoul, the
dear Owl, and spend the next full
hour crying on his shoulder.
Funny, how wide a street could be.
Wide as the world. almost. If she
crossed it-she couldnti She would
not surrender. Shed go down fight
ing. She was young and strong. Then
she thought: I've failed, Owl. I'm a
panderer like Corinne, like Val. !
can't earn my own salt" Tears
dimmed her eyes, trickled down her
cheeks. She dashed away. She would
manage somehow to get back to
Twelfth street. Once there-time to
think about that later. She turned
resolutely and started downtown.
Turning in at the snug-bug. San
dra saw the Queen waiting in the
vestibule. She almost stumbled down
the stairs from weakness and from
joy.
Where you hiding. angel?" the
Queen demanded noisily. Il been
buzzing your bell of and on for days
and all draw is blank"
I'm out mostly" Sandy said,
hoping the Queen would not notice
the hollowness in her voice. Paging
the elusive job"
"Al HartI" The Queen tilted her
nose upward with the tip of finger.
THAT egg. He oughta be shot for
taking you off the pay roll just be-
cause you won't stand for Segal's
GRUMPY parties. How does he know
you don't need cash?"
Sandy laughed. She must not be
hysterical. Yes. For all he knows,
I might be hungry as a hound"
THAT reminds me. Now don't say
you got date. On account I'm
taking night off. Milt and thought
you might 60 up the line with us for
air. We could stop of somewhere
and do bizness with walters"
Sandra considered. Dared she risk
It? Suppose she passed out. Any
doctor might discover why. Shed
try aonther way.
"I'm feeling pretty low" she said.
Headache and whatnot. II Milt and
you would come here we'd stir up
bowl of this or that and make merry.
But thai would be asking you to
give up your evening and I shouldn't
be so greedy.
Greedy nothing" The Queen was
solicitous at once. why didn't you
tell me you were off your feed? I'd
a been here fetchin' and carryin' for
you"
Of her feed. If the Queen knew
how apropos her slang could be!
Its just guess it's the heat. II
could stretch out fiat for a while
'scuse, I think I'd better get inside"
She had to grope alone the wall.
There" The Queen slipped a pill
low under Sandra's head. ANY
brandy in the cupboard?"
Not q drop. A long glass OF water
will do"
"Water!" scornfully. what you
need is q good sti1 snort O. brandy
and . bowl o. broth. ! bet you been
nibhlin' cream puts and caviar. III