The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-06-06


Terry went as she was ordered,
walking off down the block and
not looking back.
Joe looked at Withres, who
tried to be jaunty and calm.
what did | tell you?" Joe
asked him.
81 didn't do nothing, joe" said
Withers. II was here, and she
stopped to talk to me-"
al told you not to talk to her
again, didn't /? You want to get
worked over again 2" !.
81 didn't do nothing, Joe. |
can't stop her from speaking to
me. | don't want to fight about
it again.. | amt beating any
body's time"
Joe grunted, spinning whiplike,
and there was a smack of bone
on flesh as Joe's left clipped the
others jow, and Withers reeled
backward against the drug store
door and the door ratified sharply
in it's frame. Fight transfixed
Withers' face, unmasked fight.
and he snatched open the door
and lodged inside, to scramble
through the shop for the side
door.
Joe stood there watching him
20, breathing deeply, rubbing his
knuckles. He rocked u little
thoughtfully, one foot to the other
rubbing his knucklse. Then ne
set off down the block after
Terry. I'D.
Withers himself had not been
so surprised as Joe at that blow,
II happened smack. like that-the
instant WitherS : talked about
beating anybody's time. There
was no-time 10 think that over; 1t
was a brand new. thought. Why
he asked himself, .w;rs it the kind
of thought that made you chp a
GUY? Ii was a foolish thought; II
didn't mean anything. Yet 1t was
like sticking a pin in you; 1t Stung
and things happened instantly.
Ek& =
When he caught up with Terry
he was calm; the steam hau
blown off. He pretended 10 De
very angry. Irene told you what
said about that punk dioli
She?"
Terry nodded, not looking up
walking beside him.
"Well?" S.,,
Terry looked at him under her
long dark lashes. 81 only stopped
For \ minute. We just said hello"
"Just hello? That's still one
word too many for that guy
she walked along few steps,
She looked very pathetic, and yet
not ready to- cry or anything 0l
the sort. She was not, ordinarily
the CRYING kind. Surprise makes
neonIe cry, not pain. Nothing sur
p p,.;sed her Il don't know any
bovs" she said. '.You won't let
me talk to Tommy. Who am 60
/ ing, to talk to-? a..
. Joe had no answer Tor that.
How could you answer it? He
took out eigaret and lighted it,
which was something to do with
ON air of deliberation and assur-
ance. .urommy'd be all right-if
somebody else was right there
,vatching him. Why hang around
the corners? Why don't you have
them come to the ~house?o
"They can't"
"Why not?" He knew, but he
wanted her slant.
81 tried that" she said "Twice.
The boys never came again.
Scared away 1t ,las5.
ayes. My grandfather insufed
them" 81
"How did he insult them %. 49,
"He--he came and talked fb
them. He asked questions. He
practically told them | was NO
good and he had to ask dues.
tons -,
Joe shook his, head to himself
You put it like that, and it sound.
ed crazy. Yet it must be trna.
He said, Kind of ,weak.knesdej
boy friends you got. amt thew
Couldn't they tell him go take q
dive OF fthe sidewalk"
"Qh, no" She was earnestly.
shocked: You can't talk back to
them' Then 1t would be worse
Il don't think so. That's what
they need. Somebody with nerve
enough to par them a littla Snae
them out of it. They d5n,f.tm n H,,,
cce et got back from Manila vet.
get somebody with some bach.
pone and let him talk them down
,4eu think so?"
Joe made short sound ind;