The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-05-12

| NH0 WIHus AAC NOttGC thC 8t y was overcast and the chill under his feet didn't matter. To him 1t was a fine day. A great day. He'd just landed job.
 The heart-breaking round of l factory employment offices, the month of anxiety and black dis couragement, of living in q dirty, depressing hole of a room on one | meal a day-soup and rolls--were over. The sun had returned to his sky, song to his heart and he felt as if he'd been born all over again into the best possible of worlds
 His Lips puckered in q chereful whistle as he swung down the ] crooked little street toward Char 1 lies lunch wagon. No soup and rolls for him to-day! No. sir! A good. man-sized order of ham and | eggs, gallon or so of steaming , coffee and a big, juicy slab of Charlic's famous apple pie--may- be with icecream on 1t. Yowsah. He became aware of girl hur- rying up the street toward him. He recognized her, although ne didn't know her name He had seen her in the foundry office ear- Her that morning. when he'd filled out the personnel data blank she'd handed him after the foreman had told him the job was his. She was pretty little thing. But thin. Peaked. almost. She had a pleas- ant smile, but her gray eyes held worried look. Hawley'd noticed it that morning and with the benevo lent feeling engendered by his acquisition of job, had wished he could help her with whatever 1t was that bothered her.
 He slowed up in front of the lunch wagon. The girl looked up as she passed. recognized him nodded and smiled; wan. dis traught little smile.
 He touched his cap and watched her as she continued on up the street. There was self-reliant perky little something in her walk. despite the trouble in her eyes.
 "Spunky kid" was Hawley's admiring mental verdict. The ''spunky kid" stepped on the treacherous edge of a frozen pud- dle on the sidewalk. She slipped. Her slender arms shot out and she gyrated wildly as she sought to retain her balance. Hawley rushed to her side and caught her as she fell.
 SHE LAUGHED
 A BIT SHAkILY
 She laughed bit shakily. Thanks Thanks a lott" she mur- mured. 1t was the first time he'd heard her voice. It was low and pleasant. He liked 1t.
 You're all right now?' He was reluctant to let her go.
 "Yes. MT Hawley."
 Pat grinned. "I didn't think you'd remember my name"
 q couldn't very well help it. You're are only man we've taken on in a long time. I'm so glad you got the job. guess you needed it pretty badly. didn't you?"
 "Ill say did."
 Well, good luck, And thanks again" She smiled once more and left him. His eyes followed her and when she turned the corner, he entered the lunch wagon, and slid up on one of the battered stools lining the counter.
 You had orter chop the ice off that sidewalk of yours, Charlie he told the cadaverous proprietor. "Some day someDody'll bust leg or somethin' and sue you for all you're worth"
 A grin deepened the creases in Charlie's old face. You ain't got no squawk comin'. Pat" he. countered Tt give you q chance t hug a swell girl, didn't it?"
 HawIey's face got a trifle pink. CT didn't hug her!"
 "Sez you But I was watchin' tn hull performance through the winder an if that wasn't no hug you give her, don't know one when 1 see it." He wiped the counter with a wet towel Invite