Evening star., 1936-04-06
II ;
&.%NWao7KATHLEEN NORRIS ~

on q loose short cotton jacket stenciled
in bright designs of chrysanthemums
and maple leaves. She looked younger
and prettier so than she did in her
hat and coat.
"Ill bet it feels good getting home.
Tam" the mother said.
"she hasn't grown good looking, or
anything!" Coral said, studying Ia
mara with half-cloSed eyes. You were
an awful scrawny little thing last time
I saw you"
"You weren't here that Christmas
came down-when mamma was play
ing at the Golden West"
Il was in Hollywood I ought"
Coral said gloomily, ito be there now
no fooling."
"They certainly gave you a dirty
deal down there-I oughtn't to do
this" Mrs. Todhunter murmured.
breaking date from block that was
still half wrapped in paper. I'm 60
ing out with Ray. Poor fellow; he's
trying awfully hard to get job"
"Thatll leave Tamara alone, then"
Coral said. "D'you care? Or are you
tired and would you like to 60 to bed?"
II really am tired" Tamara made
herself finish a bowl of canned soup
and felt better. Her heart trembled
at the thought that they would let her
be alone the first night. but the hot
food had reinforced her courage, and
she could smile OF course. they didn't
love her: they hardly knew her.
"Ill tell you what I'll do" her
mother said suddenly. "I'll skip the
movie and get home early. Honest.
you're good-looking, she added.
"Oh, thanks" Tamara said, busy
with bakery cookies taken from
grease -ringed paper bag.
Don't clean up" Coral presently
yawned Hiss comes in and does it.
I give her all my old clothes. and she
likes to pay it back somehow
But Tamara had to do little
Strengthening; she could not leave her
supper dishes to add to the incredible
disorder of the dirty little kitchen.
She concentrated various odds and
ends of milk in one bottle instead of
five. scrambled paper bags together
and put them in the ash can. scraped
butter and piled dishes in the dish
pan.
When she went into the bed room
Coral was dressing; their mother,
magnificent in smart hat with
whorl of aigret about it. loose beaded
black silk coat and high-heeled shoes
with white kid saddles and toes, was
just leaving. She walked mincingly
in the tight shoes; her rather full. soft
face was carefully made up now, and
She looked quite handsome.
Got any money, Coral?"
Got a five, but it's all have got"
II have money" said Tamara.
There, in my bag Aunt Tee used to
send me an allowance, and I never
used 1t. I've got two hundred in the
Victoria bank"
I'll see you get this back at the end
of the week" Mrs. Todhunter said.
And I wouldn't go out tonight but
that this man-he used to be a good
friend Of your father; he's one OF the
best managers in America today-is
feeling so down and out. Tell Lance.
If he makes coffee, we'll have to have
another pound. Good-by, girls. be
good, now. It's nice to have you home
again, Tam"
After she was gone, Tamara, half
sitting and half lounging on the bed,
asked her sister. simply:
What do We live on. Coral?"
"Oh, everything" Coral answered
vaguely, painting her fingernails care
fully with crimson. I'm probably
going to begin rehearsing on Mon
day
That's fun!" the. younger sister
said, Frightening. Isn't that lots OF
fun?"
ITS no part at all; oughtn't take
it." Coral said absently. But III get
sixty week. and it all helps"
"SiXty a week."
"That isn't so much. When I was
In pictures" Coral unused on. squint-
ing at her punched fingertips. Il got
two-f1fty. And If I hadn't looked so
much like Iita Burnside I'd have got
Is hundred"
Nobody gets that"
Don't you believe that nobody gets
that"
Are We behindhand with the
rent?"
Only about four months. And
there are people in this house that
haven't paid for year" Coral said.
But to hear Finbein talk you'd think
it was a hanging matter! Oh, Lord,