The Coolidge examiner., 1937-03-11
CHAPTER H-Continued
>

Sues spirits lifted. She moved
along beside Jim in series of skip
ping steps. They fell into a COM
panionable silence which was pres
emily disturbed by dismal
whistling.
Music" Jim observed, his at
tention engaged in a closer survey
of the house at the end of the drive.
That's Tommy" she said.
Tommy" Jim glanced inquir-
ingly at his companion.
My brother" Susan explained,
and then added serenely. ''Tommy's
in love-
That's interesting" Jim re-
marked.
You can always tell," the child
continued. Tommy whistles like
that all day long when he's in love-"
Jim smiled. He was conscious
of a lively interest in Tommy. Or
curiosity, perhaps. Was the girl
in the drugstore the temporary OBJ
ject of Tommy's affections?
He was spared prolonged period
of speculation.
That's him." Susan said when
they had turned the last bend in
the drive.
Jim's eyes followed the direction
of her pointing finger. He saw, re-
clining against the trunk of a cop
per-beach, not the dashing Don Juan
Of his imagination, but lanky
boy, eighteen, perhaps, with an en-
viable complexion. His costume ad-
vertised the fact that he suffered
from growing pains. The soiled duck
trousers were too short and very
much too tight. The sleeveless jer-
sey which once had been, presum-
ably, delicate robins egg blue,
stretched tightly over his chest and
strained at the under-arm seams.
Last summers clothes. Tommy, at
the moment, Jim surmised, was not
on parade.
The boy appeared to be uncon-
SSlOOo VI lilS Olll lllS
titude suggested reveries, dreamy
contemplation, a secret communion
with spirits invisible to other eyes
than his own. A lock of taffy-col-
tran Susan's, hung Imply over his
forehead. Tommy on parade, Jim
decided, was, doubtlessly, a nice
looking kid in tie last painful stages
of adolescence.
Hes supposed to be working" 4"
Susan observed. He's supposed to
be moving the lawn"
Jim presumed that to be the situ-
alton. A hand mower lay beside
the reclining figure under the cop
per beach.
So this was Tommy! Jim under
stood, nov, the secret amusement
glinting in Dolly's eyes when she
had mentioned him. He felt throb
of sympathy for the boy. Puppy
love could be devastating. He hadn't
been much older than Tommy was
now when he'd fallen in love with
Lenore. He felt that It would be
an unpardonable act of intrusion to
break in upon Tommy's dreams.
There was an intrusion, however.
AT that moment a voice called,
Tommy"
Jim glanced in the direction of the
H.
across the f1agstone terrace and
down flight of steps to the lawn.
Tommy" she called again.
Tommy was far beyond the linn
tied reach of human voices. He
wandered, no doubt, in some far
Elysium picking roses for his love.
The woman walked down across
the lawn. She was slender and not
unattractive in an indefinite fashion.
She was scarcely the mistress of the
estate. Her manner lacked authori-
ty. She seemed uncertain, i'll at
ease.
Thomas" she called in tones in
tended to be severe. You aren't
moving the lawn. What will your
father Think"
Tommy stopped whistling but did
not turn his head.
Jaw, go fry a fShl" he said.
At the same moment, Susan
pulled Jim'S arm.
That's only Miss Parker" she
said in q ScOrnful Whisper. "We