Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1935-08-01
WATCH THE CURVES

i
the back of the room with apparent in
tent to have a meal. Hal stayed at
the counter, moodily regarding the fly
specked thermometer that stood at
eighty-nine. He heard Mrs. Pulsipher
saying confidentially, 60. and lots OF
onions over it, crisp. I'll tell you about
my dessert later" Bring some ham
neggs," Miller said, as If life were too
short and weary a thing to permit ex-
ercise of Imagination. Hal ordered
oatmeal cookies at three for a nickel
from under a glass bell, and bottle
Of oversharp but icy ginger ale. :.
Then Crack came to the counter
from nowhere in particular, and in his
unsurely pitched voice told the girl,
"I'll have the same as him."
| Hal looked at him and found him
smiling reticently, his eyes bemused
and family speculative.
He wondered how much Barry had
ordered.
"She's the only one isn't eating
enough for a hired hand" said Crack.
"Her and that frog sister,"
Hal looked at him quickly, but there
was nothing definable in the indolent
amiability Of Cracks light-blue eyes.
"Who d'you mean by 'her'?" said Hal
inhospitably adding to himself, If
this guy goes on reading my mind, I'll
give it to him as a present; I won't
live with it.
1.-THE babe they thought was with me
-Trafford," said Crack.
Hal finished his ginger ale in a
sting-y, refreshing gulp and put dime
on the counter. Then he turned for a
look of frank curiosity at the family
rosy, unaged face beside him. Even
IL the fella's standards were totally
| different from his own, what did it
! matter If Hal was rude to him? The
lazy, mischievous curiosity of his eyes
seemed to be partly ready for rebuffs
Hal nodded briefly and went out into
the hazed, dust-smelling sunlight that
was just as hot and caged-in as the
screened room.
He went around the corner into what
was technically shade and leaned
against the wall to light cigarette.
The terrier, unleashed, trotted around
the corner eager for smells, and then
the Trafford girl came, watching him
with thoughtful smile, the conscious
defense Of her large eyes gratefully
relaxed. The hi with being a stick,
Hal said to himself; one honest try,
and If she turns it back at me, can
jolly-well be rude with comfort.
He watched her take couple of her
sure, deliberate steps. Her smile took
away the traces Of toughness Hal
thought he'd noticed before
smooth delicacy in the slight in-draw-
ing Of her cheeks under the high cheek
bones. The faint pink there wasn't
makeup either; and her frank lips
wore no lipstick. They were frank lips,
generous, full without being sensual,
under their two simple peaks. There
was an air about her Of reticent vital
ity, sure and artless as the angle which
gave her plain blue hat its chic.
Hal pushed his back from the wall
and spoke quiet Hello"
Her look at him was startled, almost
alarmed, but he met her eyes agrees
sively, smiling. It was an instant be-
fore her smile began, the parting Of
her lips delayed; her look was relieved,
but without demonstration. "Hello,"
she said, as If to pleasant little boy,
and looked off to see where the dog
was.
'How're you?" he said.
"Fine," she said, her smooth voice
just off huskiness. She appraised his
smiling eyes thoughtfully another mo-
ment before she added, "Your clothes
are English"
"They're my brothers," he said at
once, wondering why the devil he'd
said that when it was his own old
suit and he had no brother anyway.
You like England" she said, not as
if he would deny it but as if he
wouldn't volunteer it. "You probably
went to college there once.'' S
"Yes," said Hal. "Why not?".-.f
''You like it better than this coun-
try"
I'm not sure I'd say that"
you're not sure you wouldn't, either
are you? Are you f1attered when peo-
pie take you for an Englishman?"
used to be, when was younger
Why?"
SLOW old are. you now?"
'"Twenty-six." Halls eyes were laugh.
ing as he said to himself, Holy mack
erel, what is this? Look to your bal
ance here, Ireland "How old are your
"About twenty-three," she said, as II
it were quite unimportant
"You mean about twenty-three by
count, but far older in-in experience
He kept the brightness in his eyes, his
smile widening.
That seemed to please her; she gave
single laugh and looked down al
his mouth, then back at his eyes ant
off to see where the dog was. But sht
said nothing.
whats the pups name?" he said.
doctor Caligari," she said, and tn,
dog looked around from an abandoned
oil drum in bright inquiry.
(which part do you call him?"