The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1938-03-04
SHINING PALACE

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grasping the girls thin shoulders
turned her about SO that the moon
light fell on her bitter, upturned
face.
Look at me, girl" he said. "Are
you on the level? Not kidding me?
No, don't get mad" Gas she shook
his hands off roughly. "I'm going
to help. Honest-to-goodness. I'm go
ing to help you, kid"
For he had read the answer to
his question in those indignant, an
cry, tear-stained eyes, and knew
that the girl had talked so freely
only because she was lonely to the
point of heartbreak. He reached in
a pocket, thankful that his eccen-
trio landlady (who was once the
unfortunate recipient Of forged
cheeky insisted on receiving her
monthly stipend in cold cash. Don
had intended paying her that night.
A roll Of bills met his expectant fin
gers. After all, he was thinking, it
didn't matter whether the tickle Joe
of the girls story was worthy Of
her or not. She loved him, poor
child! She wanted to be beautiful
for him; and-thank God!-he could
make her dream come true. His
hand slid from the pocket, and lift
ing those dye-stained, work-worn
young fingers, he closed them gen.
tly round the roll of greenbacks.
'"That's yours, sister,"
"Mine!" The girl stared down in
stupefaction at the money, her
breath coming in quick gasps. She
said, her voice breaking on shaky
laugh: "Say!-who are you, anyhow
John D., or-or Santa CLAUSE"
Don grinned and answered: "I'm
just friend. You put that where
your old man can't find it, and"
'But-but you've savin' up to get
married, amt your" she protested.
81 can't take your whole roll this
way-honest / can't. I amt got a
right to take any Of it; but-but if
you'd spare me five bucks maybe
I'd get to save somethin' next
week.
She extended the money as II to
give it back to him, and DON, TAX.
ing her hand in both of his, said
gently: mo. It's yours, sister, ev.
cry darn cent of it. My girl would
want you to have it. See? She likes
to look swell too, you know. She'll
understand. Why, you poor kid!
Don't cry. It's nothing-nothing at
all to cry about :" 2r
Don ceased, duclxing his head
against the binding glare Of head
lights as big car moved slowly
across the bridge. Not until later
did he recall the fact that as those
powerful lights picked him out Of
the darkness, the car had wavered
for a moment, almost stopped, be-
fore it went on into the night.
A week dragged by, one Of those
first hot weeks that sap the energy.
Even Nora wilted, and whiting,
thought compassionately Of Don,
sentenced to spend those enervating
days in the correct attire of a BUSH
ness man. How, she asked herself,
could he ever stick it out until Oc-
tober? And if he didn't
She came in early one afternoon
to find her father at home, minus
his collar and seated by an electric
fan. He said, smiling an apology:
"It's so blamed hot down town
couldn't stand it. Don't think I've
ever known it so warm this time of
year. What do you say to getting
into the country earlier than usual,
my dear? You look"
''Don't say how I look!" begged
Nora, slumping down Imply beside
the fan. II was hoping there was
something wrong with the hall mir
ror! Such early heat is downright
wicked, isn't it? I'm not going to
the country, Father"
"What do you mean?"
In his amazement James was OBJ
livious of bead of perspiration
that trickled persistently down his
nose.
(TO BE CONTINUED