The Washington times., 1936-11-17

u III 4V'
early, and all the time-au the
time"
Come" Jan begged. please
come!"
Jan got her downstairs finally,
but it didn't do much good for in
about half hour Dorathea got
home, and Helen must have been
watching for her, for she came
right upstairs again, came right in
the back way without even knock
ing. And right on her heels came
Bennie.
"The woman's crazy!" Evelyn
told Dorathea. Your wife'S lost
her wits!" she told Bennie. She
tried to stand between Dorathea
and Helen, all the maternal in her,
coming to her child'S defense.
Bennie tried to take Helen'S
arm. but she pushed him aside.
She turned to Dorathea. Il want
you to tell me-iS it true?" she
painted. "Is it true? Bennie denies
it-everybody denies it-but ]
know better. Dorathea-you and
Bennie-you and Bennie-"
Jaw, Helen," Bennie said. He
took her arm again, and again she
shook herself free.
"You keep QUIET! Don't touch
me! Dorathea-I'm asking you-lS
it true?"
"No, it isn't true and I wish
you'd both get out of here" Eve.
iyn clustered. IF you don't. I'll
call the police!"
Dorathea walked right past her
mother, walked close to Helen.
She was deadly serious. Her dark,
purple-blue eyes were immense in
her colorlesS face.
Eyes, it's true, Helen. Bennie
didn't want to hurt you. That's
why he denied it. But we can't
go on that way any longer. We've
suffered, too. It's hurt us to have
to sneak and hide. We love each
other. I'm sorry, Helen. I'm ter
ribly sorry. But whatever was be-
tween you and Bennie is over, and
don't you see that you can't bring
it back after it's dead? Don't you
see that we can't help loving each
other-and that we belong to each
other now? Bennie, tell her! Tell
her, for my sake!"
She crossed the cluttered little
kitchen proudly, took his arm.
His mouth opened, soundleSsly.
A muscle in his cheek tWitched,
but he didn't say anything. 1t
was a terrible moment.
"Bennie," Helen said. "Bennie,
come away. Come home with
Junior and Baby and me"
cts no use, Helen. He's mine
now. I'm sorry-I'm sorrier than
I ever was in my whole life. We
fought against it terribly. Didn't
we, Bennie?"
Surprisingly, in muffled. un-
natural voice Bennie said, Eyes,
we did, Helen. We really did.
Sure. I thought" But the
words choked in Bennie's throat.
Nobody knew what he thought.
Helen made a queer little sound.
Then she covered her face with
her hands and groped her way out
of the back door.
Bennie made a move to go after
her. Then he stopped and looked
at Dorathea.
Her eyes were wet. She had
Evelyn's trick of being able to cry
without looking ugly as other peo.
pie did. "Go after her, dear. And
I'll come if you need me-"
Bennie looked at her gratefully,
scuttled out of the door.
"Poor Helen" Dorathea said
briskly, when the door had shut
behind them. IT feel terribly
sorry for her, but it can't be
helped. She isn't the woman for
Bennie. She couldn't hope to
keep a man like him. But we're
going to take care of her. and
send her money for the children.
With both of us working we'll be
able to do it easily. Oh, don't
look so tragic, the two of you!
Can't you see it had to Gomez"
y X X
They were closeted in Dora
thea's room. They'd been there
for what seemed hours.
Jan was alone in the kitchen.
Twice she went to the door and
called, but they didn't answer, and
she could hear Dorathea crying,
and mother talking, but she
couldn't make out what she was
saying except that Jan was to go
away and not bother them. and
they didn't want any dinner.
Ito Be COntinued)
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