The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1937-07-30
By AMOR
AFTER BUR K
She Knew How
to Walk Home
If She Had TO.
Even Under
Adverse
'Circumsta tances

-I'l take those clothes, he said evenly,
~and : promise from you that none o.
this gets talked about"
Gregg shrugged big talk from small
boy
Tom stepped back little. But u
packs wallop, he said and ella could
hear the sharp crack as his fist ANAL
gamated with Greggs chin.
TT ONLY lasted minute. Then Gregg
went down In q hurch and Tom had
to pull him to his feet. "NoW--the
clothes. Tom gave him shove toward
the black roadster. "And then beat It"
In another moment the black and sill
yer car roared out Of the yard and down
the road.
Cilla watched Tom heap the bedrag-
gled blue formal and the little wad Of
underwear into the Ford and drag out
his own. rusty black bathing suit, He
always kept 1t there wrapped around his
tennis racket, lust in case
He strobe as close to where she shiv-
cred as he could Put this on" he said,
and flung the suit at her.
Cilla managed. by nearly drowning
herself, to wrigge into it,
Come on" he urged as she swan
slowly toward him. He was pulling of
his coat.
She tried not to let her teeth rattle.
'Oh. Tom. it'll spoil your coat"
put it on"
she obeyed mutely and followed him
to the car. He didn't say anything. Just
got in beside her and started the engine.
Her feet were freezing and she felt the
tears coming She tried to snif1e st-
lently.
Here" Tom thrust big handkerchief
at her.
Thank" Then suddenly she was sob
bing great. big noisy. blubbering sohs
Well. what are you bawling about7"
Tow growled after couple Of miles.
..Im--T'm sorry.
Guess that won't help matters much.
he said and kept his eyes on the road.
She tried again. Il don't know what
I'd have done II you hadn't happened
along
Didn't happen along Been hunting
you eyex since you left Gibson's.@
Then the silence just went on-cold
and clamny like the wet bathing suit.
Gregg was horrid." She couldns see
Toms eyes. but she knew they were cold
and steely.
Never mind the CORY Details Tom
advised her shortly. ITS none OF my
business"
There 1t was.
Tom. Let me out of this car
What for2s
"Well, I've started TO walk home once
tonight. guess I might as well finish
the job" She opened the door.
Tom slowed down little. shut that
door. Walk home from Where?"
That was what ! was doing when
Gregg found me at the Fischer place"
She dangled one foot on the running
board.
yeah, looked like It,"
"Of course wouldn't expect you to be-
heve me. so won't bother you any
longer" She pushed the door open wide
and jumped.
@Don'tl cillal" Tom grabbed at her
and missed.
TsHE car wasn't moving very fast and
= the dust had looked soft enough. but
she landed IN a heap and stabbing pain
tore wildly UP and down her leg. She
was still trying to assemble herself when
Tom reached her
ella. honey, are you hurt?' He
rubbed her ankle with clumsy tender
ness. Gee. old lady, does 1t hurtp"
Yes. Sort OF" she smiled up at him
weakly. It was worth it, though. His
eyes weren't hard now.
Il didn't think you'd do that" he said
and iped of tear that was wandering
past the freckle on her nose.
oh, Tommie, she sobhed into his col
lar. Tim so sorry"
20. K, kid" He looked ait her hard
for minute. ~Sure you didn't mean
what you said about the shutters and red
ants?"
u adore green shutters, Tom, and even
ants are sort of--well, dependable.
Tom fumbled In his pocket. Guess
maybe you'll be wanting this again,
shen.' he said and offered her big sig
net ring wound with gri1ny adhesive.
@Oh. Tom she said around a sob and
cuddled the big gold ring in her hand
for a minute
We'll, pu it on.''
E1s ff,rt,cf y,,,4<. t,-., <a,.-...
Nov Civ me kiss
Docilely she put up her face. Tom
adored the dimple In her chin and the
way It quivered when she was mad or
sorry. SO he Rugged her. right out there
10 the middle Of the highway.