Evening star., 1934-06-21
CHAPTER XVI.
)TTTE had chosen the day
after Thanksgiving for her an
nual shopping trip to the city.
"I don't really expect to buy

- II don't really expect TO buy
much" she confded complac-
emily, but got to go through the
motions. Besides, it's a good Idea to
let the boys see that pulled through
another Summerl" Her explosive,
contagious laughter rang out, filling
the dim aisles Of the little store.
Something pathetic and rather
hopeless about the place in the dim
mllrk Of an early Winters afternoon.
Something vaguely depressing, now
that the sun no longer shone on the
brisht-hued calicoes and f1owered,
filmsy hats. Rose, surveying the
mounds Of flannel wrappers, the thick
mittens and coarse sweaters which
comprised the Winter stock, felt the
depression weighing on herself. Felt
that she would be doubly glad when
this trip OF Lottie's was Overland
her noisy, CHEEKY presence was back
in the store.
Larry was out Of town on an as
sisnment. He had come In early In
the day to say good-by. Bertha Har-
ris, engroSsed in Ellie CozZins' new
baby, born but the morning before
would not be likely TO drop In for
a chat and a cup Of tea. A long,
lonely evening loomed ahead for
Rose. And, on impulse, after supper,
she decided that this was as good
a time as any to retrim the windows
of the store. Ipttie had some red
crepe paper somewhere-perhaps II
she frightened those windows up With
q spot Of color. 49,.
kitten, excited at the unwonted
adventure OF being put to bed on the
low. bulging couch In Lottie's little
back room, dropped of at last into
the complete. dreamless sleep OF
childhood. Lighting the swinging
lamp that illumined the shadowy
counters, Rose set TO work with scls-
sors and paste. carefully running the
crepe paper into strips. Scarfs, neaVy
wool socks. unromantic piles OF
yorsted union suits, in drab, dlspirit-
ing shade Of brown and gray. For
ladies and for gents. This lot, your
choice. A red paper bell over each
window pane. -.
A sound behind her startled Rose
into dropping the pot OF paste with
q crash.
"Yours. In shame and glory!" said
a familiar voice from the gloom. The
tall figure of Larry Morgan came
slowly down the aisle.
"'oh, were you expecting me, dear
she said. 10,
And there was April back again. "
He was very drunk-and, the girl
saw at the nrst glance, very conscious
of it, and quite unashamed-
will some kind frien' in the audi
ence kindly introduce me" he said, as
Rose continued to stare wordlessly al
his face. "Frien's of radioland-Larry
Morgan! The scribe of Catherwood. d.
Prints all the news ats fit to print.
Exactly" He squinted his eyes to ex-
press humorous nonchalance, adding
sweetly, "One never knows, does one
Rose?"
But, Larry" Rose came for
ward, taking him auxiously by the
arm. "I thought you were out on
that assignment-I thought Luke
Hewitt sent you-" -,
She knew at once that she had SAID
the wrong thing. His mood changed
and darkened with the barometric
audiences of the intoxicated.
"st. Luke?" he repeated politely
"Ah, yes. st. Luke Well, II he's dead
it's all right with me. But he isn't
That's the worst Of it, Rose, he isn't.
He stumbled against the rockers OF
Iotties easy chair. Excuse my triple
AS" he finished with mock courtesy
He subsidized heavily into the depths OF
the rocker. And smiled his engaging
smile.
Sent me out on . story bout a
man who washed his teeth in the
goldfish bowl. Now you know your
self that's ridic-diculous, Rose. He
counldn't. No one could, could they?"
Pathetically he appealed to her, q
CLINT in his blue gaze.
larry" Roses sincere gray eyes
regarded him worriedly. What hap
pened? You were all right this after
noon"
"Oh. that was just the stage I went
through to get where l am now" he
explained lightly. You jus thought
was Alright. That was your mis-
take!"
He lapsed into a meditative silence;
broken suddenly by his laugh. Prob
| ably get the sack for this all right!
he said, as though to himself. But
what Of it, ask you, what-of-it?
A man tries. And tries and then
one day he feels sort of Turkish, and
sail over" Fumbling he reached fol
tumbler from the shelf above his
head, holding it under the faucet OF
the drinking water that Lottie kept
for making tea.
an I shall be brave. II they fire
me. No bandage. No stone wall. Jus
! take my medicine-snd maybe get q
good shampoo. And a lemon rinse
and then sleep sleep. :" He
reached behind him for the chair. his
voice trailing away. "Tired"-he said
softly, "Larry's tired, Rose"
Before the girl could reach him the
tumbler had slipped from his nerve
less hand, crashing against the edge OF
the counter. With the deliberate
movements Of the very drunk, he
pushed her gently aside, and picked
up the glass. Instantly tell-tale red
stain, spreading onto his palm, testi-
fed to the inaccuracy Of his cropping
hand. He had cut his finger; quite