Evening star., 1934-09-10

H. A sleep of exhaustion. When
she awoke Bert was In the
room.
How do you feel?" said Bert.
sThat was q swell melodrama you
pulled Off"
"I'I never forget the way she
looked when she tried to drive those
: scissors into my eyes"
Bert gripped her hand. Il don't
driyel Connell-but if she had got
to you-well, she didn't. so that's
that. But I'm sure thankful"
What happened to her?' asked
Mazda.
"Oh, they had time. She was
strong as an OK. The doctor still
insists it's only temporary. but they
had to take her out of the hospital.
Can't afford to have any one like
that here"
"she didn't get to the babies, at
any rate"
Thanks to. you She didn't carve
YOU up. much. Nothing serious, you
know. and your face wasn't touched.
I guess the Office phoned your
mother"
Good grief! I don't feel up to
soothing mother just now. l sup
pose she will be here any time"
"I know how you feel. AS mat
ter of fact, they didn't let her know
until they got you all fixed up and
found out you were not going into
shock"
II suppose it wouldn't do to stave
her off awhile?"
"I'll see If I can get permission to
phone her that you are resting and
would rather see her little later"
Bert went briskly out, with fiut-
ter of her full skirts, and returned
shortly, to say with reassuring nod,
20. K. She is out; the maid said
she had not received the first mes:
sage, So was very reaSsuring about
your condition and left it at that.
Isn't 1t lucky I'm on this floor? Ill
show you what expert nursing is"
Good old Bert. She was such q
comfort. Probably it was heartless
to shrink from seeing her mother,
but she simply could not go through,
for her mothers benefit, that har-
rowing experience with Mrs. Ring.
She was not up to the effort Of tell
ing her mother the gruesome de-
tails, and then calming her fiutters
after they had been told. Better lie
quietly for a little while, get grip
on herself, and enjoy the novel SEN
sation of being waited upon. The
meals on pavilion were delicious, and
with McCann in the diet kitchen,
Mazda knew that she would have
every available delicacy on her tray.
She smiled contentedly at Naismith,
who came in with tall glass OF iced
drink.
Afternoon nourishment, you bum.
How does 1t feel to be living the life
of Reilly? I wouldn't mind having
a few scissors holes myself. You are
quite the little heroine, only Fox
says she thinks If you had had her
Judgment and experience the dis
turbance would have been unneces-
sary."
"Well, wish she had had my ex-
perience-" began MAZDA, indig-
nantly.
"oh, you know Fox, always be-
littlin'," said Naismith, and both
girls laughed.
Bert brought in two letters when
she returned from her hours of. Il
never see Groman's name on the
outside of letter without expecting
the bubble to burst. Open it while
I'm here and put me out of my
misery" begged Bert.
Mazda ran through the letter
hastily.
TITS all right. Everything is all
set, and he will be glad to continue
to take charge of things for me. He
is going to fix it up about the bed
I'm endowing for old Wantupp. I
think he would have liked that, don't
you, Bert? Gosh, am so happy and
grateful to have this money. I wish
I could tell him. know this, at any
rate; lot of poor, discouraged old
men are going to be given lift in
Wantupp's name. I have all sorts of
plans in my mind. Well, let's see the
other letter. A special from Stanley?
That is quick work, but. wonder
why he didn't come out to see me?"
Dear Mazda" she read, after Bert
had left. after your generous and
charitable offer, I think I ought to
let you know right away that you
will not be called upon to give up any
of your hard-earned dollars to a
mere brother. You can keep your
dirty money.
II am marrying Tootsie at the
City Hall this morning and we are
going to the Mediterranean for our
honeymoon. We may decide to live
abroad. where people are not so
nosey. This town is no good, any,
how, and believe me, know it.
II don't suppose you will object
to taking care Of mother. At first
thought we might all live together,
but she has turned against me lately
= and said things about Tootsie that
neither of us can forgive. Mother
was all right as long as she had me
under her thumb, but since I have
begun to live my own life she shows
her narrow-mindedness more and
more.
Il suppose you and she and that
big stuffed shirt, Gerald Pryde, will
get a big kick out of knocking my
marriage. He found out about this
little money trouble I was in and
had the crust to offer to lend me
$4,000. He said you didn't know
about it, but didn't swallow that.
We'll will say good-by, as Tootsie
and the gang are waiting. This time
next month will be in Monte Carlo
Oh. Boy! Stanley"
So this was the end of Stanley!
The hard, resentful letter was like a
blow in the face. He had been such
a loving little fellow, in spite of his
self-will. Even year ago he had
seemed so fond of his sister and so
proud of her. What had happened
to him? The little spot of dry rot
had spread until it had spoiled the
whole. He had been like little mud
doll, standing up bravely in the sun
shine, but lacking in backbone, so
that bad weather had made him wilt
into groteSqueneSS. As she sadly folded
the letter to replace it in the en-
velope, she noticed penciled Scrawl,
written after the letter had been
folded
I'VE had good times together once.
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