Evening star., 1935-01-13
By |
EDWARD l.. McKENNA
and PAUL JONES
Illustrated By PAUL KROESEN

friends? Well maybe that's where you're wrong.
at that
Now this antiseptic young Henry H. Norris
grew up in Bronxville. and the Jennings family
lived across the way in a hovel covering half an
acre. So Martha and Henry always knew each
other. He was four years older, and WELL
behaved little boy and clever in school, and gave
his parents no uneasiness whatever and Martha
hated him.
However if you happen to be tall, lanky IA
year-old girl, your first beau is not to be dis
regarded though he may secretly be deSpiSed.
So Martha went here and there with him,
yearning. meanwhile, no doubt, for fullbacks
and hammer throwerS and Olympic champions.
Still, she grew rather fond of Henry. at that.
He wasn't the least bit exciting, or mysterious,
surprising, but he was as companionable as
a big dog as easy as an old shoe. And he made
it quite clear from the beginning that he thought
her lovely
He didn't like to drive fast, but he'd let
Martha drive and he paid couple Of fines. in
consequence. It was a relief when he learned
she really didn't care for dances However, she
dragged him to foot ball and hockey games, to
golf matches to tennis championships, and
made him learn to sail catboat, though he
was as awkward as a valedictorian. Did he
get a lot of good fresh air!
But after he was graduated, Martha had her
afternoons at least, to herself. Henry was
working in the bank, and getting good rest
He looked better too; more plump; his nose
was not always peeling.
One day Martha's father dropped in and
took him out to lunch. The old man was 46
Henry" he said, over the soup, Henry, can't
you do anything with Martha? She's been TAX
ing lessons from some tramp of an aviator"
"What?" said Henry.
"Yes And now she wants me to buy her a
plane. It's criminal that's what it is. Well,
toll horco i,,ln -
Henry had not known that he could give any
body hollow laugh He could. He did.
"Yeah?" he said, not at all like banker.
"Say, listen, Mr.. Jennings. I asked Martha to
marry me when was 20 years old. I've asked
her. every now and then, since that time. She
respects my judgment. HUH"
well, you don't want to get marred-at 25."
"Im crazy about Martha, Mr. Jennings. I've
been that way, for long time. Most regular
girl ever saw"
"Shes the worst spoiled brat in Westchester
County. Don't tell me. tell you what. Henry.
You talk her out of this flying business. You're
coming around. tonght?"
'You bet your life am"
Il won't buy her a planet That's fiat. If
had the raising of that kid to do over again,
I Your first kid, don't know, your first
kid Is always a sort of miracle anyhow. I've
let that kid get away with murder all her life.
I'll buy her no plane, that's one thing sure"
TWO months after this, Mr.. Jennings bought
his daughter a plane. She had it almost
three weeks before she cracked it up She had
two or three fractured ribs and q broken arm
and a few scratches that left no scars. Henry
and her family suffered most.
Martha was going to be 81 in few days, and
some doting great t-aunt had had the idiocy to
leave her a little money. So she bought new
plane, and was pretty lucky with it. Soon her
picture was adorning the rotogravure sections.
Henry still saw Martha pretty regularly. They
didn't discuss flying often. Every time they did,
they quarreled. Ordinarily, Henry wouldn't lose
his temper once In six months.
He lest, In great shape, the day he heard