The Coolidge examiner., 1937-10-21
Always Helpful
By G. D. COOKE
8 Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
WNU Service.

down the long flight Of stairs to the
irive. He was fuming
To heck with her!" he muttered
iarkly TO himself.
He climbed into his coupe and
damned the door, drove out into
he street and headed across town
oward Joe Benet's soda fountain.
zoe was always helpful.
Bob had good reason to be angry.
\ week before Alene Newton had
quietly informed him that hereafter
re could fly his kite alone. That
lad been because he had refused to
axe her to hear Cab Galloway at
he Main Street the night seats were
wo fifty a piece And she had fur
hcrmore informed him that his
presence was. to her, about as well
,ome as leprosy and would he
please stay away. He had stayed
away for week, and now that
Alene had shown no signs of chang
ng her mind, Bob was taking things
nto his own hands.
He crossed the inter-city viaduct,
hen zigzagged across town to Twen-
:y-second street Bob had a vague
.dea that Joe could help him out.
he parked opposite the mo Park
ing' sign across the street from
Ioe's place.
Cline a chocolate matted, Joe.
Double the cream and put in lots
If malt"
Il heard your little romance went
Eat last week." Joe said curiously.
Bob's eyes narrowed. Yeah! And
who told you that?"
Joe slipped the container under
the mixer Il dunno. A little bird,
| guess"
Bob put the coins back in his
oocket Frog Crawford"
Maybe" Joe said vaguely. He
stood tapping his foot idly and look
ing out into the street. There was
bad blood between Bob and Frog.
Bob emptied his glass. then he
leaned across the bar so the couples
in the booths along the wall couldn't
hear him. Listen, joe" he said
quietly after a quick glance around,
you don't know a swell looking
brunette. do you? You know the
type I mean, a real bonfire. l want
to take her around to some parties
and show that blonde Alene that
she's not the only potato in the
sack"
Joe looked at his customer
solemnly. Wasn't it the week be-
fore last that you were in here
talking about the little white cot
tage you were going to have-the
one with the roses on the porch?"
he chided, ignoring Bob's last ques-
:ion. Then he doubled with laughter.
Bob turned red. AS Joe started
to turn away he reached out and
caught his arm. How about that
brunette. Joe?"
Joe shook his head. Il have
enough trouble with you without in
Producing you to a bonfire like that"
"Aw. now. Joe. gotta have some
help"
And that's not all" Joe went on.
Some morning you're going to
wake up and find that you don't even
have Alene. .
Bob wrinkled his nose in surprise.
Have her! l amt got her, have 1?
And anyway, who'd want her?"
Frog Crawford
Huh" Bob banged the metal
container down on the bar.
'Surel He was in here tonight
after a box of chocolates and he
said he'd heard you two had broken
up" Joe took Bob's quarter. He
was driving his old mans Packard"
he added.
Say. you don't think he was 60
ing to Alene's?"
Joe pulled the lobe of one ear
reaectively. Wouldn't be sur
prised," he stated.
Bob slid off the stool. IN murder
that guy!"
Joe reached out and caught his
hand. Hey. wait a minute! What
will you do if Frogs not there?
You'd better take along peace
offering, hadn't you?" Then: I'VE
have some nice boxes of caramels, "
he suggested. Five pounds.
Bob stared at him for a moment;
then he grinned. You old pirate.
Well, all right. gi'me one" And
he was across the street and into
his coupe in a jiffy.
Joe watched him go; then he
turned to one of his soda dispensers
Have to make call, Bill. III be
back in a minute"
He went into the telephone booth
and dialed number.
Hello, Alene? This is Joe
Yeah. he was here all righ'
No, I didn't tell him vol
called I just mentioned FroG
Crawford a couple of times anC
told him what a sap he was t.
be quarrelng with nice girl like
you. He ran right out to his ca
and started out. Ought to be ther'
any time III. ess he gets pinched TO
speeding What else dld