The Washington times., 1936-05-12


"Yes-I will. It's an invest
ment. No matter whatever hap
pens in the future, we're going to
have one week of fun to remember
always. I'm going to take you to
shows and buy you presents and
blow in every last penny on giving
you Joy. Just as long as this job
lasts, that's what I'm going to do
with the money. I'll. put by for a
rainy day later. Well enjoy the
sunny ones. In a crashing world
it's the only sane thing to do"
She entered blithely into his
mood. Then let's! But we won't
be too extravagant. -"
In the end she won. They went
to an automat for their dinner.
They read the card of specials
printed in the window-"Corned
beef, red cabbage, bread, butter,
apple pie, coffee, 80 cents"
Lamb stew, potatoes, spinach,
IS cents"
They changed a dollar into
nickels at the counter and then
walked jauntily to the glassed.in
shelves where, behind little doors,
food was displayed. All manner
of hot breads, cakes, pies were be-
hind these little doors. You
dropped a nickel in the adjoining
slot, the door popped open and
there was Steaming corn-bread or
pop-overs as you choose.
Nell stopped before the chicken
pies. Four nickels in the slot, the
little door slid open and the pie
trundled out-and an aStonish-
ingly good pie at that. She rec
commended it to Ricky. But no
he took the corned beef, with a
regretful: Wish I could buy you
turkey and champagne"
II don't need liquor, I'm ex-
cited enough" She whispered
gaily. tits the best day we've
had in so very long"
We'll have many Of them. no
more filters or pessimism for me
-. 1t buys nothing"
AS they ate he returned to a
subject that was forever in both
their minds.
"Nell, I had a letter today
from Lee Edwards about that Job
in his old mans automobile
plant. Lee thinks he's got to
have something fancy to offer
me, but I wrote smack back and
told him I'd take anything, even
if it was only tending a forge.
If I once get into a big factory,
I'll make good. I know I will.
Some day, Nell. I'm going to de-
sign the niftiest engine that's
ever been on the market"
She gave a bubbling spon-
taneous laugh, and reaching over
laid her small hand on his.
Don't I know it, Rick? If only
your chance would hurry UP and
arrived"
But here's what I want to
know, Nell. suppose I get a lit
tie job out there but enough
to feed and house us, are you
coming with me?"
She kept her eyes averted. She
made little nervous pleats in the
tablecloth. ..
His glance bored at her. His
mouth was young, demanding,
hard.
"You wouldn't, would you?"
II can't leave my mother and
all of them to StarVe,
isn't it your Step-father's bust
ness to support your mother and
Jimmy? Surely EN- can get some
kind of a job-at least she
wouldn't be any more of a SER
want than she is at home.
tits dads business to support
mother, of course. But he's not
doing it. hes willing to work
-"
"Oh, yeah-but he turned down
500 month last year because
he was too good to be a JAM
tor"
II know all that, Rick-but
just couldn't walk out on my
mother and Jimmy. EN- could
manage. She's a marvellous cook
:. She reads the want ads every
day and is always threatening to
ditch US. But mother and Jimmy
would be just stranded. Dad
can only count on $40 a month
that's what his sister sends
him. Sometimes the odd jobs of
carpentering he gets amounts to
$40 more; often there's nothing.
I just couldn't throw over a job
that brings in $110. Besides,
Rick, my motors sick. She won't
admit it, but sometimes she looks
awful. She gets thinner and
thinner"
He didn't move his eyes from
her face. They were full Of pas
sion and accusation. What are
We to do, Nell? Even If I get a
job, you wouldn't come with me-"
If you could only get work
here"
Ito be cOntinued)
copyright. 1885. by King Features
Syndicate. Inc.)