Evening star., 1938-10-16

named Wlssmler, he repeated.
He wasn't sure whether Neva smiled then
or not He wasn't sure of anything, except
that she was lovely, even lovelier than she
had been that da' in the schoolyard with
the wind tousling ner dark hair. But he was
becoming increasingly uncomfortable. Il
know where they live," said Neva You go
down this street and turn to your right It's
the big house with gables
There wasn't house with gables in Paris
Mountain; but Larry couldn't say So He re-
peated her instructions, purposely confusing
them, and Mrs. Miller suggested that perhaps
Neva ought to show him. Larry gave her his
profoundest blessing; but Neva said firmly:
I'm quite sure Mr. Clayton can fund it.
Anyone who drives past three filling stations
and stops at the schoolhouse for water should
have no trouble finding house with gables"
How she knew his name never occurred to
him; and since then he had been too busy
pondering some way to prove that he wasn't
as fresh as she seemed to think But that re-
quired some cooperation on her part, and
she wasn't even speaking to him, let alone
cooperating.
Near Paris Mountain the road dipped into
valley and stretched in an undulating white
ribbon across its floor. A plume of smoke over
hung the town, and long black scars on the
green hills marked the mines. Gaining the
valleys rim, he shifted into high and the
cream and maroon bus, relieved of the brak-
ing action of its motor, swooped down the
straight descent at breath-taling clip.
The drop always made his ears feel numb,
but the queer tightness in the region of his
diaphragm couldn't be explained by the
change in altitude. He was alert now, nearing
the red brick schoolhouse. On the gravel
playground students stood in orderly lines.
Arms raised above their heads, they bent at
the waist, Strengthened and bent again; an
imitation of young woman whose dark hair
was to,,sled by the exercises. Larry touched a
button and twin horns emitted a blasting
Shrek
The effect was electric. The children broke
the rhythm of their lines to wave excitedly.
Larry sounded another blast and waved
back They responded with greater hearth
ness. Neva, her back to the road, made no
effort to stop them. But she didn't wave,
didn't even turn to look at him.
This had been going on for three months.
Twice every day, at recess time, he passed
the school, He told himself he kept on waving
because of the kids, but he knew better.
Sooner or later she was going to melt; her
indifference was too studied But what if that
melting didn't occur before the week was up?
Of course he could fatty reject Macs offer,
week or no week; but if he did, it wouldn't
matter much whether she melted or not. He
wasn't making money enough on this run to
do anything about it,
After he got by the schoolhouse he looked
in the rear vision mirror. Girls sometimes
gave you the go-by to hide their own interest.
If you caught them when they thought you
weren't looking - but she gave him not so
much as teeting glance. She was quieting
the children. getting them back in line; when
dip in the road finally hid the school house
they were touching their shoestrings again.
Near Paris Mountain he had to slow down
to pass group of men walking along the road.
They carried guns and led several hounds. 1t
was closed season on all game but he didn't
think about that until he had worked up to
the bus stop on the town square.
There were cars in the parking space which
was reserved for the bus in front of the
Piedmont Hotel, and Clell Parsons the hotel
proprietor and the Lines agent, wasn't wait
ing as usual to get the bundle of Andalia