Evening star., 1939-08-27

It's the smart thing. Be saperoo. Don't
even talk to anybody or see anybody - any
of the old boys. Is that smart?"
"Of course, Mack Let s not talk about it"
Sure. Forget it. 1t won't be long. Chalk
won't be in ten years. He's got big mouth
piece working for him. He won't be in three
years. Listen, could stand on my head that
long, if it was the smart thing to do
During the summer they put rose garden
at the east of the house and started grapes
on the hill behind. One afternoon in the fall
Mack came in from work, swept Jean off
her feet and swung her around and around.
"All the same old racket!' he laughed. DIFF
ferent angles. but still angles! Why, blazes,
Doll, this saperoo stuff is cinch! dug into
my work, showed an interest in things besides
nv lob, made friends - all the old stuff -
and what d'you think? I'm on the road!
Starting next week "a car and sample
line and a route and expenses. I'm sales
man.
Jean found it hard to breathe, and that
wasn't entirely from the tightness of his arms
as he swung her around. why, darling,
you're born salesman! l. never thought of
it, but you are! Charm, poise - meeting
people - you'll be wonderful at it!
why not? And as long as I'm in this,
might as we'll make the best of it. That's only
smart"
There was another year when Jean was
happy. She knew she was happier than she
:cl< h. Cho
Mack got bonus and new car. He wanted
her to 20 with him the first trip in the new
car. She made excuses. She'd been careful in
the mornings She didn't tell him she was
going to have baby.
The first fall rain started the morning she
was helping him pack for the trip. He men
toned casually, selecting tie: "Chalk's up
for parole He'll get it,
Jean was packing his Gladstone on the bed.
She took hold of the bedstead for support.
Its cinch,' his voice was saying far off.
His mouthpiece has waited until everything
is right It a cinch. And, boy, will it be good
to get loose again!'
YES" Jean managed, her back to him.
Its been hard for you, Mack"
Tougher on you, Doll
mo, Mack. like it. l really do. It's
heaven"
He blew that away with short laugh.
You can't tell smart boy anything.
81 know what you want, Doll. Plenty of
clothes and plenty of places to show 'em off.
You'll have EN-
But won't you sort of - well. at first,
anyhow - sort of hate to break away, Mack?
Just little, Mack?"
"You want to watch out for that A guy
plays this gag long enough, he's apt to turn
into home grown saperoo. Even us. We've
pulled this racket as long as it is healthy for
u.s."
When Mack was gone on the trip, Jean
began paying for her happiness. Shed known
it would be like this, but that didn't help.
She couldn't keep the baby secret much
longer. And baby is saperoo stuff. Smart
people don't have babies. 1t wouldn't fit in.
When Mack found out, it would be good-by
to heaven. Jean took long walks alone, and
she lay alone at night She started flats of
petunias and verbenas and marigolds and
pansies in the laundry room. Silly, but it
helped. She tried not to notice the little tree
planted over the galvanized box behind the
house 1t wasn't doing well. but she didn't
try to help it.
Mack was still away when she read in the
paper about Chalk's parole. 1t had been
Joo;.d -Tho,, ha roally cried frprn relief A