The Washington times., 1936-02-06


ing his hopeless rounds from
house to house. Not even expect.
ing to sell his own wares. Just
making his set speech, smiling
pitifully at vague promises, going
on, up one street, down the other.
ringing doorbells.
Gene! Couldn't I-Genel
Would you like to come in and
rest for a few moments, and let
me make you q cup Of coffee?"
The words were out Of her
mouth before she knew it.
It was she who asked him to
come in. She couldn't ever forget
that afterward, He had come to
her door, a pitiful, wandering
ghost, and she couldn't let him
depart again in peace. She had
to call him back, to haunt her.
"Come In" she said cordially.
He leaned the vacuum cleaner
against the porch chair, came into
the living room, the strong light
from the windows cruelty reveal
ing the shiny seams Of his shabby
blue suit, the dusty cracks on his
cheap dark shoes.
well, this Is something like!"
He relaxed in the big blue arm
chair, lit a cigarette. He looked
up at her, with a CLINT Of the old
inSolent assurance.
Already she regretted her i'm
pulsive sympathy. Now that he
was in the house she couldn't get
him out soon enough.
"HoW'S your mother?" she
called from the kitchen, where
she was making the coffee, and
bringing out the coffee ring she
had meant to have for Donald's
breakfast. "How'S your little
sister, Adrienne? What do you
hear Of the Platts? Is Gladys
married?"
She kept up a constant stream
Of questions, Gathering around
the kitchen, putting cups and
saucerS and spoons and cream
and sugar on the tray.
He answered, but though she
made polite little calculations Of
wonder or surprise or regret, she
wasn't really listening. She was
listening for the baby, who'd be
waking I'D any time now, for the
4 o'clock feeding. And Gene
mustn't know about the baby. He
mustn't know.
Nothing about Donald, either.
He mustn't know anything about
her new life. He must be given
his coffee and sent on his way
--Soon-soon-before little Donny
walked or big Donald came home!
Her hands shook with chill ner-
vouSnesS as she poured the cof-
fee. A spoon leaped from her
fingers, clattered to the floor.
What are you so nervous
about?"
She forced a smile.
"Just clumsy. Do you remem-
ber how used to fall out Of
trees and off horses and skin
my knees and my nose all the
time when I was a child?"
II haven't forgotten-a n y
thing"
She passed him more cake. 'T
really should tell you that I
made this one, so that you would
be impressed, but I suppose you'd
suspect the truth, so I may as
well admit I didn't. It's good
though, isn't it?"
He looked at the crumbled bits
on her plate. "You were al
ways a poor liar, Christie"
She laughed.
"Yes, you were always more
talented than I. Come on, tell
me some more about yourself
You gave up the drug store bus
tnesS and went into vacuum
cleaners and"
He set down the coffee cup.
That's one way to put it.
Did you ever hear Of the depreS-
sion? But you wouldn't. Not
you and your kind. I'm the kind
that hears about it. I could tell
you-but what's the use? Things
have been tough, though. The
wife'S not able to work any.
where, and the kids had one
darn thing after another ever
since"
"Oh! You didn't tell me you
had a babyl"
For. an instant she forgot her