Evening star., 1939-12-10


giddied their heads.
The fat man had large card under his arm.
He tried to present it to jim.
Care to see the menu, sir?'
NO. said Jim, hastily. "Oh, no!'
Again the fat man exuded gratitude. 'Iou
wish to leave it in my hands, SIR
Jim said, hazily, "Absoutely.'
The fat man seemed overwhelmed. He bowed
himself out Jim took Gnny in his arms and
kissed her again. They were both in strange,
lovely haze.
'Jim," Cinny said I'VE shouldn't do this.
She wasn't very determined about ii. though.
We'll only have one honeymoon. Jim said.
You're so swell, Jim," she murmurcd. He
didn't notice that she was being repetitious.
The telephone rang. "Mr. Martini voice
queried. This is the ticket office downstairs.
We were wondering, sir. whether you intended
to 90 to show tonight.
That had been the idea in the first place.
They were going to see that celebrated movie
palace, the Majestic, and walk through Times
Square. why. yes said Jim. 1--WE were.
Why"
1--WE thought you might, and it happens we
have only two seats left for Hellzapoppln' -
the last available in town, sir. Care for them:'
''Hezapoppin" was the musical sensation
of the season, and it was ridiculous that Jim
should even consider it. But there was that
mad, gddy feeling in his head, and before he
knew quite what he was doing he said, with a
strange, lordly sensation, "Well believe we
would like to see that show.
liz TURNED back to Ginny: Honey, what
show do you think you're going to see tonlght:?'
When he told her, the way she nearly cried
made him forget that by now. the forty-tlve
dollars in his pocket must be practically gone;
that when they got back to Pittsburgh they'd
have to live on nothing, almost until the first
payday rolled around.
rap on the door again. The fat man came
in. This time he had two walters, wheeled
cart loaded with silver dishes, an ice bucket a
host of savory odors.
'You would like the table set by the fire.
place." he asked. "A fire, perhaps.
Somebody must have misunderstood. OBJ
viousy it wasn't the fat man. He was so sure OF
himself He took complete possession, bossing
WdllCiS SllSlIy eliiSo AVAIL ~AAAo
found themselves seated on opposite sides of
table, eating strange exotic food, drinking bub-
bling wine, opened with great ceremony. The
fat man was there to reassure them about every
morsel.
This partridge, Mr. Martin - it is not one
of those frozen birds from Siberia. No, it was
raised on Long Island, and shot through the
head will have nothing to do with this im-
ported game. 1t is hung too high, sir, much too
high, and you cannot be sure -"
The James Thomas Martins ate pedigreed
food with the appreciation it deserved
Perhaps it was the bubbling wine, perhaps
the excitement, but Jim found his eyes playing
tricks on him at the end of the dinner. He didn't
care. He was recklessly, thoroughly enjoying
himself 1t was just funny - that was all as
he told Ginny, on the way to the theater. When
he signed the dinner check he misread it first as
$47.OO He laughed in the car, and Ginny
laughed, too. 1T was $4.7O, of course, he said,
but it was so blurry it looked like $47.0O."
Going to the theater was an adventure in
itself The fat man heard him mention the
theater, and said, Shall arrange for car to
take you there, sir? It's getting late" Jim said
he might as well.
A belboy brought the tickets. There was no
mention of cost. They'd expected taxi, but