The Washington times., 1936-11-02

day. But it didn't matter. There
was nothing to do, really. And
Helen, dear, sympathetic little
Helen, was such comfort.
CHAPTER XIII
Bonnie was a good scout, too. A
little coarse. perhaps, but he didn't
mean any harm, and his stories,
the "parlor" ones that he told Eve
lyn himself, and the "washroom"
ones that he told to Helen, and she
relayed to Evelyn, were really
funny.
It was q little hard on Bonnie,
Evelyn thought, being so tied down
with his little family. He loved a
good time. Loved the movies, Sne
speakeasies, his bottle of beer.
Sometimes they'd get Jan to take
her books downstairs to the Rogers
flat, to be with the sleeping
babies, while Evelyn, Helen and
Bennie would walk down the steep
hill in the evening to buy crabs
and prohibition near-beer at Fish
erman's Wharf.
Sometimes Dorathea went with
them, when she didn't have date.
Bonnie, always the clown, called
her his Second-beSt girl, and STROBE
ahead with. her, while Evelyn and
Helen, deep in their everlasting
condolences, whispered and giggled
together as they walked arm in
arm, bringing up the rear.
There was something so flatter-
ing about Bonnie. The way he
looked at you, admiringly, but not
exactly respectfully, as though
he'd heard what a heartbreaker
you were, and was imagining that
you were even more devastating
than you were willing to admit.
OF course, Evelyn knew that
Helen told him little things about
David and his years of devotion.
And funny, fat Finkus and his
foolish ambition. And the way
the little grocery man always gave
her extra weight.
He joked with Dorathea, too, and
he tried to joke with Jan, but she
was a stiff little thing, nobody
could get very far with her.
It all seemed to be working out
beautifully, when, after the Rogers
had been there three or four
months and Evelyn was fonder
than ever Of Helen, Helen changed.
Began to act Stilted and queer.
Never came up to borrow any
thing, never seemed particularly
pleased when Evelyn ran down
stairs. Took to contradicting her
about all sorts of little things. Dis
agreeing, refusing to enthuse over
things they'd always enjoyed to-
gether, saying she was too tired
to walk down to the wharf in the
evening, and wasn't in the mood
for show.
"Well. if that's the way she feels
about it," Evelyn said to herself.
If that's the way she feels about
it-See If I care!"
So when Bonnie ran upstairs to
get her to come for a walk or a
movie she refused and would have
told Dorathea to refuse, too, ex-
cept that Helen probably would
get over her streak soon, and there
was no use making trouble.
One night, going down to the
mallbox to post letter, she saw
Bonnie and Dorathea coming LID
the hill together.
Bonnie was such a big. over.
grown boy, and Dorathea was such
a child-it was quite all right, of
course. Still, Helen might not like
1t, and it's the sort of thing people
misunderstood.
After this, don't go with Bonnie
unless Helen goes, too," she told
Dorathea carelessly, as they were
getting ready for bed.
Dorathea, brushing the soft,
dark meSheS of her hair, said
nothing.
II mean that, Dorathea!"
so Helen's spoken to you. She
would. Instead of coming to me or
CNCA NC IL oCLl11Ac Sic WAS
jealous. Oh, it's cheap of her!
So cheap"
Helen! Why, she hasn't said a
word. Don't be absurd. It's just
that I want to avoid any unpleas-
antnesS that I-Dorathea! Dora
thea, look at me! You're not inter
ested in BENNIE! I mean-he's
not-not-"
Ito Be Continued
Copyright. 1886, King Features
SyqndiCate)