Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-04-14

VIII pay her rent With songs that Will
rival those Of the most expensive
canary.
minute. Then suddenly his eyes lit
up.
BY the way, Hicky," he said cas-
ually, didn't you stay in town We'd
nesday EVENING""
Yes"
IT thought So" Ronnie paused for
second. Had a date with Emily
Mills. didn't you?"
We'll, what If did?" fared Hicky.
why. nothing" said Ronnie inno-
Gently. "Emily's a swell girl. You
know I think So"
"Oh, Is she?" said Hicky bitterly.
r ONNIE walked on. His mind was
working 'yusily. He remembered
how Hicky had first entered Hamilton
High from hN country home the pre-
ceding Fall, and how he had beaten
Jack Graves out for the fullback posi-
ton on the foot ball team. Jack
Graves had been going with Emily
then. but Hicky had shown plainly
that he liked her from the start. And
recently he had been seeing her quite
often.
Listen, Hicky." said Ronnie ear
nestly. Il don't want to butt into
something that's not my business. But
you and are pretty good buddies. If
there's something wrong, and Emily
Mills is at the bottom of it, why don't
you say SOP"
Hicky's gloomy face softened a lit
tie. "Oh, WELL" he said Grossly. II
guess it's sort of silly. Only-aw, rats!
It's just that Emily and I had a big
row Wednesday night, and she hasn't
spoken to me since. She doesn't even
look at me when : meet her in
classes"
so that's it." Ronnie had a very
strong desire to laugh, but he knew
this matter was important to Hicky
He couldn't believe that anything
really serious was the matter, because
he knew what swell girl Emily was.
But Hicky wasn't used to girls. It
would be just like him to make a
mountain out of a molehill.
"WHAT was the row about?' he
w asked finally.
Hicky hesitated. About ghosts he
admitted sheepishly.
WHAT" Ronnie had to fight to
control his mirth. How in the world
could you have fight about ghosts?"
Jaw. I don't know" said Hicky.
You see. on the road out to our
farm there's a house that's supposed
to be haunted. The old man that
lived there was murdered a long time
ago. and nobody has lived there very
long since.
Wed been to a movie, and 1t was
q mystery picture. Emily got pretty
excited, and squealed once or twice.
So then We got to talking about this
haunted house out toward our place,
and then We started to fight"
Ronnie shook his head. II still
don't get it, he insisted.
We'll, I guess maybe 1t was my
fault" Hicky admitted. IT said
something about all girls being scared
OF ghosts. Emily said she wasn't. I
said she sure was. Then she said
that just because was a big. clumsy
brute thought was brave, but that
really girl had just as much cour-
age as any fellow had"
And what did you say to that?"
Ronnie demanded.
II told her she was crazy, of
course" said Hicky.
Ronnie grinned. "You would" he
admitted. But maybe she's right,
Hicky. Lots of girls are brave"
"Oh, sure" said Hicky. But not
in the same way fellows are"
ID oNNIE looked doubtful. But
~ finally he said. well. it's a ques-
ton with q lot to be said on both
sides. It's certainly nothing to get
mad about. Why don't you tell Emily
you admit she may be right?"
Because I don't believe it," said
Hicky emphatically. And I'm not
going to back down for any girl"
20. K, If you feel that way" said
Ronnie. But for cats sake. don't
let it worry you. Forget it, and put
your mind on base ball. If you play
like you did today Gregg Academy
will smother us next week"
Ronnie and Hicky parted a few
minutes later and Ronnie went home
hoping that from now on Hicky would
be all right. But Hicky wasn't. Dur
ing the next week, Emily Mills ig-
nored him so pointedly that he could
not help noticing 1t. And on the
base ball field he continued to per-
form with only fraction Of his usual
ability.
Ronnie was half amused and halt
disguised. He felt sure that Hicky
would snap out Of 1t sooner or later,
and he tried to talk to him at every
opportunity. But that Friday after
noon Hamilton played Gregg Acad-
envy, and Hicky made three errors.
At the bat he managed to get one
scratch single. Coach Williams had
already shifted the batting order.
dropping Hicky from the cleanup
position to seventh place, and after
Gregg had walked of with the game,
8-4, he threatened to bench him.
That decided Ronnie. Something's
got to be done about this" he said
grimly. "I'm going over tonight and
have . talk with Herb and Emily
Mills"
CTo Re Continued Next Sunday