Evening star., 1934-06-06

BARBARA and UrsulaD and eldest son jeff :
refuse to bo her Money!
which they had sent her she had spent
unknown to them to redeem forged check
of Haryey.s in SHANGHAI Penriiess; 1 sne
rolds run the town. Bertha Harris.
waitress introduces her to Larry Moran.
newspapsr man VINO secures her aa 'oG boddV %I5V
clothing store: Rose rents small cot
tage by the river. Here she is visited by
II She will leave town Rose Indignantly
refuses. The ensuing tense situation adds
to her discomfort.
~ VENINGS were the happiest
times for Rose. Watering the
bushes in the tangled back
IL garden. Pungent, heady smell
of the pink geranium, delicate
scent of mignonette. With Kitten fol-
lowing close beside her, crushing a
lemon -verbena leaf against her soft
little mouth in the immemorial fash
ion of childhood; talking to herself In
her high, baby voice.
Sunset of amethyst and mother-of-
pearl-and a small crescent moon rls-
ing over the river, with one star above
it in the sky.
Sometimes, after the dining room at
the National House had closed Tor the
night, Bertha Harris would drop In
for a chat. HDmely, wise, philosophl-
cal Bertha, with her serene grip on
things as they were. And, usually
Lottie would appear after supper, her
face freshly creamed and massaged,
to sit rocking or the veranda IN the
warm night air, talking in a comfort
able monologue that left Rose to her
own thoughts.
Other evenings Lottie went riding
with Mr.. Mertz. A stocky. genial soul,
who travelled for the misses ready
to wear" and who was addicted 70
peppermint drops, mild oaths and
pale brown derby which he wore at an
angle above the childlike smile that
so belied his air OF having seen all the
trickery and wickedness In the WorIo'
The brass headlights on Mr.. Mertzs S
model-T fiivver shone with the glitter
of many faithful polishings; and ne
drove it with a dash which Rose sus-
pected had considerable to do with
the state of Lottie's affections.
There had been, Lottie conhded, a
predecessor to Mr.. Mertz; one Elmer
whose crayon portrait hung just ms 'oe
the curtained alcove in the rear OF ner
store. Lottie had gone with" Elmer
for all of eight years, while she was
on the road. The experience had fur-
nished her with sufficient philosophl-
cal observations to last any ordinary
lifetime. Toward the end, however
Elmer appeared to have developed
rather definite views as TO woman
place in the home.
An after chasing after him for a
couple of Winters 1 figured that tne
chase wasn't hardly worth tne
candle" was the way in which Lottle
summed him up.
Iottie the Huntress. with the cray
oned Elmer as the startled quarry. De-
came one Of the irresistible jokes Hosf
shared with Larry Morgan.
Unless his work took him into th'
surrounding countryside. Larry's dis
reputable fiivver would rattle up to tn
cottage in the early eventngs-anf
I,arry,s battered Panama and 1nfec
tious grin would fill the doorway; FOL
lowed inevitably by the languid t
Bone. with his Oh-pardon-me-expres
sion and his air Of determined goo'
hunlor.
II really ought to make him wear
headlight and ring a gong" the mai
said ruefully. 'If you knew how n
keeps coming up out Of the bowels o
the earth all day to confront me
"Whyn't you try painting him viii
spots and making him run under tina
car o. yourn like coach dog? Iottl'
INQUIRED snobbishly from the corne
of the kitchen where she hung Cas-
sandra-like above the tea leaves Il
| her cup. Since the advent OF MI
| Merits immaculate model-T. Lottl'
took a vicarious satisfaction in com
pairing all others to it adversely.
Don't you make fun Of my car
| Lottie," Larry admonshed severly
If you didn't have any more paint o.
than this car, you'd not look any bet
ter either!"
Paint onl Me-" Her expression
was that of a vestal virgin, witness
| ing the sacking of her altar.
There was not. Larry admitted
much local news of late to be gathers
/ in Catherwood. Just nice, juicy mur
der now and then among the mil
| workers; grand, primitive souls VIII
believed in hitting man first AM
laughing it of afterward. There wa
always the social chit-chat Of tn
Thursday Bridge Club. to be sure
and the Civic League" Larr
added with virtuous gratity. Com
| prising our most prominent .natrons
all hot on the trail of culture-a heas
which must never be hunted slngly
| but always in packs
ct should think" Rose spoke SUD
denly, with a wry, twisted smile. tina
there had been plenty Of local GOSSIP
! in Catherwood this week"
He regarded her oddly for 6 mo
ment. "You don't suppose that an.
one-even Luke Hewitt, proprietor o
the estimable Bugle-would dare men
ton a Therrold in this town withou
permission. do you?"
His voice faltered before the ex
preston in her eyes.
I'm sorry, Rose" he said contritely
| Almost from the IHSt tneSe Two hd'
fallen into the intimacy Of first names
Kitten took matters in hand. Sh
extended her empty saucer, which hat
held applesauce, and exclaimed dra
matically: Look! All gone!"
so I see. I may then quote yo'
madam, as saying you don't believe II
diet?" Larry responded attentively
Kitten crinkled her eyes at him in de
light. Long since she had accepte'
this blue-eyed man as a persona
friend-falling on his long legs eacl
| evening with small squeals Of rap
ture which brought tired smile T.
| her mothers eyes.
It was good having Larry for
friend. His mild. pleasant voice, hi
imperturbable calm. and his deft com
petence with the child were somehow
pathetic in one SO awkward and so big
| And his enthusiasm for his work wa
to Rose q never-failing source o
wonder.
"Td rather be a newspaper man
even in a dump like Catherwood-
than anything else on Gods greer
foot stool!" he had said to her on on
occasion. "It scrt Of gets into you
$4,000 ,x,6ak To l<u III