The Washington times., 1936-05-28
CHAPTER XIV

Nk1Ae 66C AV
One Wednesday morning when
Nell planned to spend the night
with Ricky and wanted to avoid
her mothers questions, Nom said,
picking nervously at her thumb.
nail: Nellie, dear, can you spare
me STOP"
Ten dollars! Where in the
world will I get SO? 1 can't give
you my carfare."
Nom shut the door and leaned
against it. 1--WE got to have it!
I'm not extravagant. I had to
buy these calicos. When you
drive so miles in an automobile,
it takes money for gasoline"
I'm not blaming you, Nom.
just haven't any extra money"
She thought of her stepfather'S
jaunty outfit, and added with
heat: ''Why doesn't Esther pay
for the gas? She's getting plenty
of work done"
But she went to the bureau
drawer where her meager funds
were hidden. She had saved for a
summer dress, stockings and
shoes. Not an extra penny. She
took the SO bill; handed it to
her mother.
All morning she kept barking
back to the incident with a little
sick fear. EN- never went behind.
Even if they ate spaghetti and
meat balls for three days toward
the end Of the month.
Her foot kicked a package under
her desk. Oh, yeS-something
she'd bought yesterday. For that
home Of theirs. In extravagant
moods, they surprised each other
with these secret purchases; peas.
ant linen Nell got for a bargain;
lovely colored bowls Ricky saw for
a song. Nell showed the package.
Her heart went heavy.
But it was a glorious June eve.
ming, all tawny sunlight as Nell
hurried down Fifth Avenue. Gar.
denS in Rockefeller Center a splash
Of color.
Nell carried her package. Gaudy
red dishes. Glad she bought them.
She stopped in First Avenue to
buy the supper they would share.
Once inside the old house, she
slipped her wedding ring with bold
joy to her finger. This was a thing
Ricky decided on his own. He in.
troduced her as his wife. you're
not going to be kicked out for dis.
orderly conduct on my account,
baby! No one ever heard of Nell
Doran here. They'll not couple you
with the lady I've married; nor
hunt up your family tree. That's
one privilege of the poor-we have
privacy"
At the top of the third flight of
steps Nell met the landlady-a
mountain of flesh who said in
piping voice: "Well, dear, and how
is your mother? AS I was saying
to Mr.. Emmons, it must be hard
holding a job and keeping house
for two families"
eyes, indeed! Let's both decide,
Mrs. Emmons. to be rich in our
next life instead of beautiful"
Nell closed her door, glancing
happily at a pair of shoes set
primly under the couch. No matter
what irritation came in the days
griSt, she felt peace and uplift
when she stepped into this aloof,
secret abode of theirs. Ricky was
the neatest, cleanest fellow. He
never left Soiled shirts and socks
in corners as Henry Mason did.
Nell liked the masculine aus
terity Of this room; the burnt,
smoky odor emanating from the
closet as she entered it, dropped
off her street clothes and donned
frilly green apron that Ricky
thought coy and domestic.
She laid out the supper things:
set the gay new dishes on the table.
Ricky entered, his face alight.
Gee it's sweet to open this door
and find you here. Other nights
the room is so empty" He spotted
the dishes, clicked a cup with his
thump and forefinger. Hot and
barbaric! Gave up a good many
lunches to pay for these, didn't
you, baby?"
"A gardenia for my soul, dear!
I'll do without the prune in my
stomach"
(TO Be COntinued)
(Convri1ht 1874 hv Y'n~ Uao.vr~.