Evening star., 1934-09-04
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ton, was screwed into an untidy knot;
she wore an old jersey dress too short
for the present mode, exposing her
massive legs, and even her feet, in
which she took great pride, were in
shapeless bed room slippers.
Stanley" she burst out, without
even greeting him, did you know
the Club Espagnol was raided last
night? I was there, and only escaped
by crawling out a window with
Ramon's help"
Yes, I know" he admitted. "Har-
rington came to my house about 3
this morning He wanted money to
get out of town. I'm awfully sorry
you had to 60 through that unpleas-
antness."
Never mind that. How dare you
get me to invest my money in a
business outside the law? Just
common speakeasy."
Stanley was honestly amazed.
why, told you there was an ele-
ment of risk. You can't expect such
enormous profits from something that
is absolutely safe"
"An element of risk? You didn't
tell me that a van load of police
would shut up the place before it had
started"
We'll, you see, Tootsie, Harring-
ton thought he had fixed that He
used Quite bit of money, I guess, to
guard against that very thing, but
something seemed to go wrong, and
now he says the place is to be pad
locked"
"Padlocked! Then no telling when
1t will begin to pay. want my
money back right away. Do you hear
me?"
Stanley's head still ached with
fever. Her words fell upon his ears
like hailstones The encounter with
Harrington last night and the mount
ing rage Of Tootsie seemed to bewilder
him. He sank into a chair and look
ed at her helplessly, but Tootsie, usu-
ally so quick to coddle him and SYM
do you hear?" she repeated "You
must get my money back right away"
You can't get it back" he said,
irritably. 1.-THE place is going to be
padlocked."
Il understand that I will not get
the profits you promised me-"
You can't get anything at all, at
least not now. Harrington used the
money TO take years lease, and
put in the furniture and decorations,
and guess he laid in a stock of
good stuff from Canada. All those
things cost like the devil. you know"
kax - ..@
and tell me you have cheated me out
of $4,000? I'll hound you through
every court in the land. We will see
what jury thinks about a man who
takes the money widow gives him
to invest for her in restaurant and
throws it away on fancy fittings for
a roadhouse. How do know that
the money was spent for that, any,
way? How do know you two crooks
didn't just take my money and divide
1t between you?"
She was coming nearer and nearer
to him, her fat neck purple, her voice
getting shriller and more vituperative
with every sentence. Stanley sat like
timid hare, frozen in his tracks as
he sees the dogs coming on him. Sud-
denly he found he could move. He
jumped from his chair and advanced
pleadingly.
"Tootsie!" he cried. The sudden
movement, combined with the fever
and the strain of the terror with
which she inspired him, was too much
fo- him. He felt himself begin to
sway, felt the world go black, and
then for moment he lost conscious
ness. Never was fainting SO welcomed
by any man
When he came to he found himself
pillowed on Tootsie's bosom, capacious
in spite Of years of dieting.
Stanley, Stanley, wake up!" she
was calling. MY darling boy, know
it is as much of shock to you as it
Is to me. That Harrington has made
a dupe of you"
Much cheered, Stanley got up.
But I'm not going to let that money
go without word. OF course, il it
were family matter I would say
nothing about it." She waited, ex-
pectantly, but Stanley was too dazed
TO take her meaning. She went on,
with emphasis. IF you were my hus-
band, now, we would just forget about
this mistake of yours"
You mean-marry you?"
well, it wouldn't be such a bad
idea. OF course, I'm little older
than you, but the advantage would
be all on your side, in spite of that.
I'm able to give you everything. Most
men would jump at the chance.
Ramon is always after me, but I don't
know that I want a foreigner"
Good grief! The woman had it all
planned out. Stanley clutched his
head and groaned.