Evening star., 1934-12-30


hearing Larry say, "Frankie-take care
of him. He won't be any trouble but you
may have to steer him a little" He re-
membered hearing frankie say, It'll take
such good care of him.
TWELVE o'clock came and the lights
went out at the club where they were
sitting, and everybody kissed everybody
else. He was sitting next to frankie and
was holding her hand and in the dark
ness he leaned toward her but she had
leaned forward first. AS he kissed her
he felt her hand in his. His head was
whirling but he slipped his arm around
the back of her chair and over her
shoulders and his fingers closed on her
arm She drew her head back trifle
to talk. Then the lights went up and
Larry was laughing at him and Natalie
was laughing at frankie.
"I don't care," frankie said, II like
him"
II like Frankie" Geoff said, knowing
he was talking thickly, and not caring,
and not thinking about Joan at all. He
didn't see Larry lean over and talk to
Natalie and look at him. AS matter Of
fact, from that point, he never remem-
bered seeing anything.
AS he woke up he realized he felt
lot worse than he had ever felt before,
and a great deal worse than he thought
was possible. Through his eyelids he
could tell it was light and he thought,
IF open my eyes I'll go blind. I'll have
to stand on a street corner with pencils
and will look very silly. will neve1
be able to earn enough money to eat
and" At the idea of earning money
he thought of Joan, and that this morn
ing, for the first time in a year, she
would not be up ahead of him and get
ting breakfast.
81 have been FOOL" he said. He was
talking aloud to see what his voice would
sound like. 1t had pleasant hangover
huskiness, and he continued. Il, Geof-
frey Chaplin, have been fool. must
reform. I hate like blazes to give in to
Joanie, but I must reform. shall take
my place on the wagon-if live through
the torture of being pounded on the
back of my head by whoever is doing it.
shall work like blazes, and I shall re-
cover little of my lost dignity in the
eyes of my wife. I love my wife" That
sentence had ring that pleased him
and made him smile. So he repeated it.
"I love my wife. A great deal. Fnor-
mously. If I could pull my aching self
together I would rise, bathe and 60 over
to Helen's and make her have break
fast and tell her that I, Geoffrey Chap
lin, will be good boy. Yesterday was
lapse. I should certainly never have
let her 60 out of the apartment. will
never be that foolish again. 1t is New
Year-and that, my friends and my
country men, is solemn resolution"
There was giggle inches from his
head-and no giggle belonged there. He
drew in his breath sharply, and in spite
of his splitting head he had feeling of
terror. Still he did not open his eyes.
1t came back to him. Larry and Natalie
and frankie. frankie obviously max
ing play for him, frankie taking care
of him through the evening.
They had evidently gotten home, and
the thought filled him with fear. He
could not go back to Joan, now. Now,
or ever.
He tried to say something and couldn't.
He had to get up, now, Immediately, get
dressed and 60 home. He took a deep
breath and opened his eyes.
1t was Helen's apartment.
IT TOOK minute for him to realize
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