The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-09-14

wanted nor needed.
BY the time he was through col
lege. he was so spoiled and Selfisl
that nobody dotted on him. TIT
tragic loss of his mother ant
father in an automobile acciden
in his senior year brought hin
sympathy, but no warmth OF al
lection.
However. Eldridge never both
cred about affection. All he asked
was admiration and applause. HI
came in for a good deal of both
His 6 foot 3 of manly health anc
vigor, striking blonde hair, blue
eyes and clean cut features sci
many feminine hearts aflutter.
Eldridge was practically certain
to reach the inals in any athletic
contest he might enter, so, the ap
plause wasn't lacking, either.
SETTLE ESTATE
He came back after graduation
to settle his estate, determined tc
sever all connections with the
sturdy little manufacturing town
where his father had made his
money.
Reynoldsville hadn't seen him
since he'd gone off to preparatory
school, eight years ago. He'd al,
ways insisted on his parents spend
ing the vacations with him in the
East or in Europe.
Mildred Howe was the first one
to know that he was coming. Shed
taken job as secretary in Deane
Russell's law office, so naturally,
she opened the letter.
She read it twice, color creep
ing into the soft tan of her cheeks,
brown eyes swapping.
"Eldridge is coming back" She
went to the inner office, holding
out the letter to Deane Russell.
He's going to sell out everything
and wipe the dust of Reynoldsville
from mis- royal feet"
With a quick look at Mildred,
Russell took the letter. Mildred
felt her spine stiffen at that look.
A man old enough to be her
father had no business to look at
her that way, but she just had to
stand it-She and her mother had
to eat.
SPOILED BRAT
Some spoiled brat for all his
expensive education, Russell OBJ
served.
PerverSity drove Mildred to Ell
bridges defense. To her surprise
she found herself saying, 1T isn't
his fault, really. His father and
mother ruined him"
Mildred was remembering an
incident of long ago. She'd been
in the fifth grade, Eldridge in the
eighth.
One summer day she'd been
walking along the mill dam with
q precious kitten that had just
been given her. The kitten had
squirmed out of her arms and
fallen in.
Shed jumped after it, realizing
all too late that she couldn't swim
and hang on to the kitten, too.
Just then, Eldridge had come
along. He'd pulled them both out.
Mildred always found herself
remembering that when people
called Eldridge names.
And he ruined them" Russell
commented. Don't mention it
outside yet, but the estate he's
coming to settle is principally
made up of debts"
Dan Colton's income dwindled
badly in the depression and he
drew on his principal to give FL
bridge everything he was accuS-
toned to. There was no market
for his poor securities, so he sold
his good ones"
I'm waiting for the final report
now, but my guess is it's badly in
the red I doubt if the house will
bring enough to cover the first
mortgage.
WELCOMING PARTY
1T isn't always so lucky to be
born with a silver spoon, is it?"
Mildred murmured
Lucy Howe, Mildred's cousin,
gave a big welcoming party for
Eldridge the night he arrived.
Lucy was three years older than
Mildred.
She was as blonde as Mildred
was dark, and she had way with
men. There weren't many men in
Reynoldsville to have a way with,
so Lucy was making the most Of
Eldridge's return.
Mildred watched her dimpling
up at him. watched Eldridge's con.
descending smile. 1t made her
mad.
Eldridge's rowing eye caught her
near one of the honeysuckle COW
cred pillars of the porch.
The light from a Chinese Ian.
tern overhead shone on her gleam-
ing black hair and intensified the
color of her yellow organdie.
With a flash of recognition,
Eldridge detached himself from
Lucy and came over to her.
Hello! You're the kid who
dropped the kitten in the mill
DAM"
And you're Little Tommy
Stout, who pulled her out" Mil
dred smiled. TITS nice to see you
back"
PATRONIZING AIR
Funny little burg. isn't it?'
Eldridge glanced with an amused
patronizing air over the assembled
company.
Il won't be here long; just tt
settle up the estate But think
VolI're the one TIL choose tn helr