The Washington times., 1936-11-19

want to stay there alone.
Evelyn sputtered: "Oh. Bennie's
leaving. Leaving his wife, eh?
Going to get divorce and marry
you, suppose! Well, I won't get
excited about that, because I've
heard THAT story before!"
The next day was Sunday.
It would be, Evelyn thought,
bitterly. Just her luck to have
Jan and Dorathea home when
she wanted to deal with the
Rogers alone.
The street awoke late, as it
always did on Sunday. Paper
boys first. Sunday morning
papers" The Melons dog bark
ing it's head off. The Grauman's
Peke yapping to get out. The
italian woman down the street
shouting last minute warnings
and instructions to her three
pretty brown-eyed, befrilled and
beribboned little girls on their
way to mass. Church bells from
down the hill. Church bells from
North Beach. Chauffeurs bring
ing cars up to the tall apart
ment building.
No sound from downstairs.
'Well, I might as we'll get up
and get breakfast" Evelyn said,
for it was plain that the girls
would stay in bed the rest OF
the day if she didn't start things
going.
She thought she looked old
and tired this morning. There
were dark circles under her eyes
and her whole face was drawn
and haggard. That came from
taking things so hard. Letting
Peter and Edith and the girls
get her all upset. And what for?
For nothing! For there they
were-Dorathea and Jan-the
two of them, fresh as daisies,
looking as if nothing unpleasant
had ever happened to them in
all their lives.
Dorathea had put on the bro
cade lounging robe again. On,
well, what did it matter, what
did anything matter? JAMS
chance of brilliant match
Lowell Kramer-on the high seas
by now, and heaven only knew
if he'd ever come back. Dora
thea raving about marrying Ben
ME Rogers who was certainly
well married at the present mo-
ment. Peter letting the Lyons
have the downstairs apartment
oh, what was the use?
breakfasts ready" she called.
They ate grapefruit in silence.
They were all jumpy-au listen
ing.
"shh! What's that"
It sounded like the Rogers
front door.
with one accord they got up,
tiptoed into the front room.
On the steep hill below the
house taxi waited, its motor
chugging noisily.
Evelyn had the best place at
the side window. She motioned
the others back. Helen" she
said in a stage whisper. Helen
and the kids"
"She's going" Dorathea said.
"Shh! Don't look. She's look
ing up don't think she can
see me through the curtains.
She's taking that bassinet that's
too small for the baby anyway
and FOUR suitcases! Wouldn't
you think she'd have more sense
than to-SHH! there's Bennie.
They'll never get in that cab
Oh! He isn't going. He
iSn't-going-"
They stood, looking at each
other, the three of them, feeling
sick and guilty.
The taxi backed down the in
cline, turned, drove rapidly down
the hill.
All were frantically staring out
the window now.
Bennie stood on the pavement,
bareheaded, hands in his pockets,
looking after the car. He had on
his new brown suit, and his curly
brown hair looked almost red in
the sun. Looking down on it Evelyn
could see that it was thin on top,
and she said to herself, he'll be
bald before he's 30-and was some
how comforted by the thought.
AS if attracted by her thought,
Bennie turned, looked at the win
dow, where the three women were
crowded.
He made a motion with his
handsome of those gestures that
never failed to irritate Jan. Then
he came up to the door which
Evelyn had forgotten to latch,
opened it, walked upstairs to
them.
Evelyn opened her mouth to-
speak. but 20 words CANA