The Washington times., 1937-04-27

Mr.. Wilson moved uneaSlIy.
couldn't let you have it right
now"
"You see," Bee explained, pa
tiently, II need it just now. Maybe
you'd rather sell me, and then
put your money into another car
later?"
81 could easily pick up some
thing for $150-something good"
Ed said.
Either way you like" Mr.. Will
son said. He kept his face averted.
Bee write the check.
Next day she was gone till late
at night. All day Sunday she
spent in her room, packing. On
Monday morning they were all
up before daylight to see her of.
All but Mr.. Wilson. He pre-
ferred to pretend to the last that
she wasn't going.
Beatrice was gone. Beatrice,
who had paid her board and lived
her secret life. and nobody thought
would ever leave.
For a few days Mrs. Wilson
went around with red eyes, and
Mr.. Wilson was silent an d
shrunken and older.
For a few days it was strange
to set the table without her place,
to see her eat, empty room, to
know that she wouldn't be COM
ing in late.
But soon life went on, quite nat
urally, without her. Her $3.50 dis
solved in mysterious ways, known
to Mrs. Wilson alone. The la st
board money went to pay the old
grocery bill. Some of the more
pressing debts were paid, and then
the Wilson's we're broke again.
Got any money!" Edward
asked Marie.
She hadn't. For days she had
bought postage stamps for her let
tiers to Julie, one at time, using
pennies that Edward left on top
of the dresser. He said he hated
pennies, never used the darn
things. But in the last week he
had been using them himself.
Now that the auto was gone, car
fare was problem.
Marie's hair needed cutting
badly. It had grown so long that
she could no longer wear it curled,
as she had been accustomed to.
She had to roll it into a little
knot, and it was not nearly so be-
coming. Half of her charm, she
realized now, was due to jules
hairdressing.
"You look like Olive Oil in the
comic strip" Edward said. What's
the matter, is the honeymoon
over? Where are those pretty
curls I married."
Julie wrote exuberantly OF
spring clothes, of a half-formed in
tention to shut up the beauty shop
for month, and take a vacation
at the beach.
Everyone will be away, any
way" she wrote, land Charlie is
all set to take a cottage at La
Jolla. You know he doesn't like
to be cramped, so thereW be
plenty of room for you, too. A
month at the beach will do you
good. 1 don't trust that northern
California climate myself, espe-
cially for one that iS used to sun
shine"
Marie looked out the open win.
dow at the warm May day. At
,, the Werner tom-cat rolling on the
lawn in the dappled shade under
the apricot tree. Why did her
mother and Charlie keep writing
things about Oakland and San
Francisco. and the wilson's put in
,, dirty digs about the south? They
were both all right. Oakland
would be wonderful if Edward just
, had job, and they had place
! of their own!
. She turned back to the letter:
II know you will enjoy La Jolla
again, and if Edward wants to
come, bring him for a week or so.
But I'll expect you for the entire
month. You'll be needing some
summer dresses, and if you send
! me pattern and some material
!, that you like, I'll make up a
, couple for you"
Tears stung her eyes.
A pattern, and some material!
> That was good. When the heels
OF her white pumps needed
, Strengthening, and every pair of
silk stockings had a carefully
mended run?
+ If only Edward could get work !
! If only they could pull out of the
: hole and leave!
But the sunny days passed, and
$ they continued to have T-bone
Z steaks and early cucumbers and
corn, to live exactly as If they
didn't owe a dollar in the world.
2 Yet Mrs. Wilson talked continu.
ally about a tooth that would
have to come out when she could
I afford it" and Mr.. Wilson pa.
tiently polished shoes that should
/ have been replaced long ago.
! The worst of it was that Edward
D slept late mornings, started out so
, late on his daily search for work
Whats the use of starting be.
? fore noon?" he demanded an.
: grily. 1.-The class of people ]
t want to see don't get to their of.
fices before 10, anyway, I know