The Coolidge examiner., 1934-08-17
The Hunch
By PHYLLIS M. GALLAGHER
e. % Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
WSN Service.


the corner from Engine House No.
20, not C.ose enough TO see the men
in the shadows OF the ponderous en-
gines but close enough to hear the
bell announcing fires.
Donald had said Listen. honey !!
I've been looking for a job ever
since graduated two years ago
Who knows when this depression Is
going 10 end7 I'm fed up with be-
Ing the loaaug son OF rich parents.
This Is a job; I'm going to take 1t;
be proud of It
But Don! Father offered l..
His sensitive, stubborn mouth
had hardened. lie wouldn't. he had
Informed her. spend his lie relying
on her father. pretending that his
position as law clerk paid the
freight.
Marjorie. your father patronizes
me-" Don had once said.
IL wasn't true! Her father. sizing
him -, had seemed cold and Inn
penetrable behind the set lines OF
his face. But he wanted Don In
his Office because he believed In his
ability.
suddenly the hush OF the leth-
a.gic dag was broken by a clamor
OF bells. The long red engines
swinging from No. 20 into the boule.
ward, siren clearing their path,
were lot difficult to follow. when
they turned into Lafayette square,
Marjorie observed a group OF peo-
pie at the curb waving frantIcally.
Donald, his expression studledly
Indifferent. for he had seen Marjorie
slide from her roadster, was haul.
Ing the massive hose from the en-.
gine, several blue-coated hremen
helping. The crowd was thlcken.
Ing. squirting their eyes against the
sun. lnquIring: where's the fire?
A false alarm
Marjorie dug her arms deep In
the pockets OF her tweed swagger
coat as Donald's glance swept over
her lgnorlngly. But his face. deep
ening TO a crimson paint job OF
the engines snortIng at the curb,
betrayed him. She knew that he
was suffering beneath her tongue,
In-the~cheek attitude. For. indeed.
that was how she felt She was
waiting for Don to do his stuff, as
be had phrased II; to perform some
Of the feats that had inspired him,
the nlgat before, to say why. Mar
jorle Firemen are heroes. ac-
tually r.
She had brIstled with anger IN
der his SNUG content ''Donl I'm
not belittling the FIRE department
I am critIcizlng you You're taking
this Job from some man who really
needs IL :"
"who needs a Job worse than IT.
"But you have a chance In dads
Office. 10 follow your own profes-
sion. You'd be hot II fireman took
a law partnership you wanted" !"
Donald was threading the hose
through the thick shrubbery OF the
park now. other hremen following
close behind. When they reached
the scene OF the trouble, they all
stood back. startled, mouths agape.
A crowd had gathered around a
man who was obviously too terror
lied 10 scream. His eyes dllated
above a luxuriously bearded face,
his hands clutched wildly at the air.
"A iunaticl' some one screamed.
Then a youth rushed TO Donald
and began excitedly: THAT guy was
asleep on the bench, mister, n a
swarm OF bees got In bis beard
Give him the works."
with that the crowd fell back and
Donald. manning the hose, aimed
at the victim. But Donald wasn't a
fireman, really, and the powerful
stream OF water sent the man
sprawl.ng into a blossoming bed OF
tulips. Donald, excited, accidentally
Increased the flow and the hose,
ike an alive reptile, writhed out OF
his hands. The crowd scrambled
futllely for safety behind trees. wa
ter streaming over them. soaking
them TO their skins: and Marjorie
was drenched with the rest.
"Splendidi" she said brightly.
IT'S a good thing 1t was bees in
tis bedrd!"
She came close, slight against
his sturdIness, and tiny, for her
dripping thatch scarcely reached
his shoulder.
"Godl What an ass l made OF
myself"
Like a fireman trying a case al
courtp she agreed lightly. Then,
"Oh. Dont' and there was a sob In
her voice. IF you persist In this
IL / won't wait!"
SO swiftly that it seemed all in
one motion, he crushed her hands
In his own and leaned his dark face
to hers. "You winl" he said. "Tell
your father It's not a permanent
arrangement, though. When ! can
get something else :"
And presently only Marjorie and
the bearded man remained.
"Wasn't this worth more 10 you