Evening star., 1934-04-07
CHAPTER XXvI.
JUDITH'S ALLY,

CHAPTER XVI.
JUDITHS ALLY.
JUDITH laughed. Thanks, ella,
but I don't move In with you
until we can afford cook.
- Now, have you everything you
want on the will ccntest?"
Eyes say, Jude, don't see how
you can lose"
I'VE can't II Lampere hasn't some
underhanded tricks up his sleeve"
How long will it take you to get
| down there?"
'Ill be in San Antonio in the morn
! ing. change for Laredo, and should
be in early In the afternoon, then I'll
wait for the work train leaving for
the dam We rebuilt the spur, you
know. Had to have it to carry sup
plies In"
Think I'll come down and spend
my vacation with you . there's
Lige signaling you and there's
your train you better go to the
train and I'll handle Lge."
| They started toward the train. and
on the inner platform, found a hilari-
GUS crowd gathered about the colored
peoples waiting room.
Cunard looked over their heads and
smiled. "Some old mammy's bag hat
burst its straps and she's as mad as
hops" he explained.
Judith and her party started to push
through the confusion of milling last
moment crowds, then above the med
ley of putting engines, rattling cars
train calls and clatter, heard some
thing which brought her to stop.
BLACK boy" warned a familiar
voice, If you alls much as lay a
| finger to that can a chocolate. I'll
skin your hide often you with this
here busted strap"
Judith deserted the others and
darted back through the crowd. Her
suspicious were justified, for there,
guarding huge telescope" which had
spilled its contents onto the pavement
hovered a perspiring, bewildered Del
phinium, resplendent in black taffeta
gown and towering purple hat.
| "Delphy!" cried Judith.
The old woman looked up. II tole
Lige that strap wouldn't hold" she
complained.
"Delphy, what are you doing here?"
lie gwine long with you, Miz Dale
Think I'm lettin' you go-long down
there 'mongst lot of Mexicans with
nothin' to eat but mantillaS an holy
beans?"
"Tortillas and friioles," corrected
Judith automatically. and then she
laughed. for alongside of the can OF
1 Inh 70 60 hvin
| With the help of a redcap. Delphy
repacked her bang and roped 1t, then
made for her car. "I'll be long back
to see you is settled" she promised as
she was hoisted up the steps.
The train pulled out. Judith leaned
a hot cheek against the cool pane.
They left the train yards and began
moving slowly through a maze of little
| houses.
Twilight eased down, children
| played in and out Of the blue circle
of street lamps, then there were fields
with just an occasional farm house,
yellow windowed against their black
background.
| Judith turned from the window.
Everywhere she looked she found evil
dence Of home life. She turned to
an ultra modern magazine ella had
contributed At least here she'd find
no saccharine ending, she could de-
pend upon something astringently
truthful, something wholesomely Bit
! ter. She SKINNED through and tossed
| it aside in distaste. The stories in
that might be true to the exception.
but not to the lives of those people
| in the little homes
Delphy waddled down the aisle, held
laughing conference with the car
porter and waddled away again.
When the porter made Judith's
berth she was surprised to find one
of her own fluffy blue-checked
blankets on top. She had no more
than settled under it when Delphy
| appeared with her inevitable cup Of
chocolate.
Spilled the first one" she wheezed,
sitting down on the edge Of the berth
carefully, $50 got that nice lookin'
dinin' car captin t. carry this long
down fo' me-"
Judith slipped the hot chocolate and
thought of the nights she had gone
through this little ceremony since her
marriage. The night table with its
circle Of shell pink light and just
outside the circle, Delphy standing
waiting for the cup to be emptied.
No question but the love and care
! the old woman had given her had
brought her renewed health and
strength. Could it be that Norman
realized this and had sent her on to
care for her?"
Colored servants rarely saved money,
| they were too eager to live each day to
its fullness and Delphy, Judith knew,
| belonged to a number of lodges and
burial associations" which drained
| her purse with their fees and sociables.
"Delphy." questioned Judith. as she
replaced the emptied cup In the sau-
Ger, where did you get the money for
your ticket?"
IT got it honest" she said at length,
and then she began to chuckle, "Yas,
nam, shu' got it honest"
Judith laughed with her. II wasn't
questioning your honesty, Delphy, !
was just wondering"
'Well, suh," she confessed, II got 1t
shootin' crap with Lige. beat him. "
Judith continued to laugh, but there
| was heartache in her laugh. Norman
hadn't sent Delphy along.
what do you think Mr.. Dale will
say when he hears you've left him?"
she inquired.
Delphy sobered. "I amt carin',"
she said belligerently. "I brung him
up good, now he kin git along. Lge'n
take care of him, yous my sponsre-
bility."
Judith found her purse and re-
funded the money. IF you are going