The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1934-03-30

or the counter. She was staring crit
ically at the object which the person
addressing her had just laid there.
She looked up at the man standing In
front of her.
Yesterday was the first time that
Millie had ever seen Don Frazer. He
had made breezy entrance into the
small restaurant at noon and came
directly to her counter.
Hello. Cutiel" had been his first
words.
1t must be admitted that Millie had
often been addressed thus.
Beautiful mornin', amt itr'
"Oh-it's all right" she drawled.
yeah. You're pretty cheerful,
afncha? Gimme a deck of humps If
you amt too busy looking in that
mirror" he said.
"Oh, | guess got time for you." she
drawled sarcastically.
yeah? Thanks"
She watched him with a smile on
her lips as he moved away. She liked
this man.
Don Frazer smiled. He knew that
he was making hit, and Millie APP
pealed to him. Hash-house cashiers
weren't beneath him. He thought that
he could use Millie.
On his way out of the restaurant,
Don stopped again at the girls cOun-
ter Paying for his lunch, he started
talking to her again: II hope you
didn't think | was too fresh" he said.
Nav, / get used to that kind of
talk in here
Il betcha do. Say" he continued
with fresh enthusiasm, "do you know
that you got darn pretty hair?"
Are you going to hand me that
liner" she asked, drawing back with
feigned coldness.
SAW no-no," he protested, "you
really have got pretty hair. and you're
pretty, too"
"Say, you're not so slow. are you,
big-boy?"
Being slow wouldn't get me any
place with you, would it?''
swell, now, young man, just what
do you mean?" she asked innocently.
Don had to wait for a while until
Mile waited upon another custom
er. He watched her sharply. She
was pretty and little more intelli-
gent looking than most girls Of her
type. He had to admire the freshness
Of her implanted face and the SIMPLE
ity of her dress. He began to have
faint misgivings; perhaps she wouldn't
be as easy as he thought. Lighting a
cigarette. he pulled rapidly at it un-
til she turned to him again: snow,
what was it that you meant?"
Il mean that l want to see lot
more of you," he answered.
THAT ought to be easy; I'm here
six hours every day."
"Do you want me to come aroundP
81 didn't say that
II know you didn't, but-say, what
are you doing tonight?"
81 can tell you better-tonight."
Watching him go through the door,
she sighed. She was wondering If
she would see him again, and, if she
did, whether he would make a date
with her. Mile wasn't in the habit
of making dates with the restaurants
customers. Mike had warned her
against it, and Mike knew; hadn't he
run this little beanery for twenty
three years? But this Don was diff
ferent: he had to be different; some
body had to take her out of this
place. Millie didn't want to be a
hash-house cashier all her life, and
she had little chance of meeting men
outside the restaurant.
During the evening she began to
grow weary of watching for him.
Customers came, ate, and went; yet
there was no Don. She sighed and
decided to forget about him when she
heard his voice at her elbow. "Hi
Miller
"Oh, hello, Dom" she said, startled.
"Pm almost starved" he said.
"Guess I'll grab bite to eat now ;
see you right after"
Watching him as he ate his sup
per, Millie wondered about his nerv-
business; she wondered about other
things, too. where he worked, and
where he lived. She compared him
with the few men she had known
well; there weren't many Of them
her brothers; her cousins; Mike, and
two others, almost forgotten now. with
whom she had gone to the movies and
a few dances. Her father had told
her that all men were devils; Mike
had warned her about accepting dates
with his customers; her brothers had
told her that they would lick any man
they saw her with before she married.
Millie wondered how she was going to
marry when she knew so few men.
Don finished his meal and walked
over to Miles counter. She noticed
a harried expression on his face and
it puzzled her.
"Millie," he said, looking about him
nervously. I'm sorry about tonight.
wanted to take you to a dance. but
can't make it now"
"Oh, that's all right, Dom" But II
wasn't all right. She had set her
heart on spending the evening with
him.
Il got CALL" he said, passing her
his meal check and a ten-dollar bill
from a well-filled bill-fold, land I've
got to take train to Pittsburgh to-
night. / suppose that sounds funny
to you but"
"No," she interrupted, her lips curl
ing disdainfully, 1T does not sound
funny-it sounds phoney. And" look.
ing up at him with hot moist eyes
filled with pain, "this bills phoney,
| too Hey Mikep"