Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1939-08-25

ole'S out again"
"Oriole Walters was the elevator
starter at Titan Tower. He had an
other name, but no one seemed TO
know it. His virtuosity at whistling
bird notes, which thrilled Oriole even
more than it thrilled his involuntary
audiences, was his trademark. It was
only a part of his fame, however. The
other part rested upon his reputation
for being the vocal newspaper Of IT,
tan Tower. No event connected with
the building was too unimportant to
escape his note; none was too trivial
to be unworthy of special broadcast
by Oriole Walters.
Iriole's diet was nearly as spectacu-
lar as his talents. Alphonse, the
griddleman at the coffee shop, always
had an eye and ear-out for the
Orioles matutinal call.
Oriole entered, sat beside Linda and
ordered canned peaches, with the juice
drained, and spread with honey.
"Peaches-under the drier; bee
sweet" Alphonse intoned, topping it
off with whistle blast that sounded
like the Sunset Limited at a grade
crossing.
Oriole didn't bat an eye. He was
practically insult proof, although Al
and several Of the customers-tried
their best.
"Good morning." Oriole said pleas
antly to Linda, and fell to chatting,
while waiting for his order.
"You know, he said, "that little
Hanson girl in DR.. Schwartz's office
the little blonde that married Ed, on
the fourth elevator? Yes, Ed Warren.
Oh dear, no she's not with DR..
Schwartz NOW. She's had baby. My
heart goes out for those two kids;
what fix they're in now-with only
one salary and a new baby. Well,
they WILL do it :"
He babbled on, and Linda did her
best to pay no attention without out
right snubbing. She was succeeding
rather well until Oriole got down to
the third or fourth news item on his
morning broadcast.
When Linda heard the words, "that
little Marberry, the sweet thing, with
the brown eyes, she was all atten-
ton.
"She's a quiet little thing, and but
ter wouldn't melt in her mouth-but
:. "Oriole was saying. And Linda
knew he was talking about Janice.
"Well, it looks as though she was
doing all right for herself, despite
her quiet ways" the starter continued
"What with that Blaine boy SO crazy
about her, although they both try to
hide it.
"Sure, Blaine-the son Of Old Man
Blaine, himself. Well, Marberry-you
know she's in the big insurance office
on the nineteenth floor-certainly
must have learned lots about insur-
ance. Looks like she's going to marry
permanent annuity But don't
say that I told you ). ;"
Linda paid her check and left. This
didn't seem to make sense. It was gro
tesque. Not little Janice of all peo-
pie; Not Jan. Why, she had told Jan
over and over again that Bill Blaine
was the man-and Janice hadn't said
a word. Janice was true and fine and
loyal. Janice wasn't the type to allow
Linda to make a fool of herself that
way. Must be only Orioles idle, ma
licious gossip. Wait a minute!
Wasn't it Janice who had argued
SO strongly AGAINST Linda's move?
Wasn't it Janice who had tried to dis
suade Linda from going with Bill
Blaine?
eff I loved man." Linda could
still hear Janice's word, no
half measures"
Little Marberry on the nineteenth
floor, Oriole had said. The nineteenth
floor! Of course. CDR. William Mere
dith Blaine, 19O2-12." Wasn't THAT
on the nineteenth floor, too?
How blind you've been, Linda, how
utterly, stupidity blind! Babbling like
a stricken schoolgirl, of love and ro-
nance, with little Janice-sweet lit