Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1939-03-07
ssbbing gasps like that Of a child
who has cried itself to sleep.

who has cried itself to sleep.
It was almost nine o'clock when
she awoke again to the shrill, in
sistant ringing Of her room phone.
Trembling suddenly, she picked up
the receiver and breathed a hesi-
tant "Hello!"
"Hello, girl" It was Jim's drawl
that came back to her.
For a moment she couldn't an
swer. ooh, jim! Jim!" she cried,
then.
"Why, girl, what's the matter?"
The tears in her voice must have
carried over the wire. care you
I'D ?" he demanded. "Can ! see
you?" en =.
"Ill be right down." she told
him. "Wait in the lobby"
It was the quickest dressing she
had ever done in her life. Discard
ing her rumpled suit, she slipped
into a summer dress and tidied up
her disordered hair. Her eyes in the
mirror were circled, and she looked
small and very tired. In spite of
the dizziness that reminded her she
had been twenty-four hours with
out food, she almost ran down the
corridor to the. clicking elevator.
He was standing, hatless, in the
hotel lobby, his tall figure erect,
his sturdy legs spread slightly
apart, bracing him, giving him that
indescribable outdoor air that
seemed so much a part Of him. At
sight Of her, the brown eyes Grim
killed. into the little half smile she
had recalled so often with longing
in the past week.
| She had thought she could be
calm when she met him, but the
sight Of him standing there brought
the tears back to her eyes. Instant
ly he was at her side, and had gath
cred her into his big arms.
"Why, grill" He looked down at
her reproachfuIly. you're crying.
What's wrong? What have they
done to you?"
ooh, Jimw She sobbed in earn
est, then, unmindful Of the clerks
interested eyes. IT waited for you
!, to call. All night I waited. ]
thought you were-like the rest.
; couldn't bear it, Jim"
easy, girl! Easy :" His arms
, held her close. "You didn't think
I'd let you down, did you?" He
sounded hurt.
"You didn't call, and 1--we lost
my job, and my landlady p-put me
out, and I'm so hungry, Jim!'
Hungry! Why, you little goose!
He laughed at that, and in spite OF
her own tears she smiled with him
It did sound ridiculous, now that
, she was with him. "I couldn't eat, u
. she told him, half shamed. II was
} so upset"
}, "We'll fix that right away" His
, arm on hers, he started her toward
the hotel dining room. Seems I'm
, always feeding you," he joked.
J you're the hungriest woman
know. Here, we'll sit back
. here in the corner, and you can tell
me all about it over a plate Of ham
and eggs"
. He hadn't received her message
. until just an hour ago, he told her
gravely. Mrs. Peterman had stuffed
t it beneath his door and it had beer
, pushed under the edge Of the rug
: It was only by accident that he no
l ticed it when he did. He had come
Immediately, laying off work fol
: the day. He scowled and his fists
, clenched as he listened to her story
{ of yesterdays happenings. He, too
, had seen the headlines and the pic
, lures in the papers, and they hat
: angered him. Q.
VI "It's been rotten having to reat
! the stuff they've been printing
!, about you, knowing half of il
wasn't true, and not being able tt
e do anything about it," he burst out