The Wyandotte herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1879-1943, 1939-02-17
ONE WHITE
SHIRT
g
@RUDGING dejectedly up
nvnrsH onH ro.
By SIDNEY Nj. WILDHOl
Copyright.-WNU Service.

| GrancheSter'S proud and ra-
diant Main street Sherman
Gridley peevishly and DELHI
erately walked out of step with the
stirring strains of band music float
ing in and about the gaudy decora-
tons of Granchester's fiftieth ami
versary celebration as prosperous
town.
The magnificent parade had al
ready begun, to judge from the ap-
preaching music and the mob-lined
sidewalks of waiting, expectant peo-
pie. A municipal holiday had been
declared for. the big occasion.
Sherman Gridley plodded along,
seeking a place where he could
notwithstanding while unobserved.
For Sherman was to have marched
in Granchester's longest and most
stunning parade; was to have
marched in the front rank of the
Oriocrescent fellowship, of which he
was a proud member, and which
was Granchester's select and Sc
cret lodge.
The fellowship decreed blue trous-
ers (furnished), white shirts and
blue caps (supplied with the trous-
ers) as the official and effective cos
tune for the grand celebration.
But that morning when Sherman's
mother was industriously ironing
his one white shirt in the kitchen
Sherman hated to think of it. The
scene was too painful! But he
forced himself, with a certain dia-
bolical glee, to review in his mind
the fateful events that had caused
his absolute ruin.
Prowler, the family cat, had
climbed with customary boldness
right on top of the little table where,
waiting for the one white shirt,
Sherman had brought bottle of ink
to write a note-honestly, it was
perfectly abysmal luck.
Seeing the attractive black fluid
in the bottle, Prowler tipped it over
with an exploring paw, dabbled in
it, and, at Sherman'S exclamation
of anger and dismay, took fright
and leaped directly across to the
ironing boardl
Martial music did not lessen the
ire Sherman cherished deep within
him against Prowler, the cat. His
other shirts would not do; no, moth
ing but one white shirt, and that no
longer whitel
Sherman edged into the crowd to
peek over myriad heads.
In sheer despair, he was going to
feast his eyes on the immaculate
array Of Oriocresent fellows a.
their proud detachment came
swinging along. It would serve to
feed his wrathful yearnine for ven
geance on Prowler, and since the
cats unwary misdeed was retreat
ing into the past. his mood needed
food, if it was to maintain its heat.
For as he stood there, wedged In
among a sea of craning necks,
Sherman became vaguely aware Of
the faint aroma Of perfume, q
delicate, hower-like fragrance that
promised two things: q girl and
distinction. 49,! ee /, r RI =
l.. It didn't take even Shernan's
slight deductive powers long to 10
cate the girl. 1, a. - a. - 81 .a
She stood, neatly iprim. in q brown
tailored suit, scarcely two 3eet away
from him, turning, restlessly~ tfiia
way and that, trying now TO look
over the tops of those ahead and
now over those behind her.
Her wide, dark eyes. rested mo-
mentarily on Sherman, and IN
thrilled, at sven % siGht n token.
Pausing hardly an instant in Their
troubled survey. the eyessleft -Shsf-
man ltoeeeserse sher u his otherwise
rude stare unnoticed. .ssS,
Wafchings Sherman saw"a hand
wriggle through the crowd, down
low, near her hand, the hand IN
which she held q .brown-headed
purse. The hand maneuvered clpse
in experienced motions, reached the
clasp and deity opened the bag.
Forgetting The parade, the crowd
and everything save that hand,
Sherman plunged between two, gos-
siping housewives and clasped the
wrist in firm grip. Ii :,
BY rights, Sherman, the girl and
the hand should have become the
center q o seething uproar. But a
particularly loud band going BY 'ef-
fectively. drowned any signs Of q
scuffie, and those nearest at hand.
save two, thought that Sherman
GrMley had clumsily stumbled. Il
| One Of the two who. knew other
wise, the owner of the hand. shipped
loose his- imprisoned member with
the agility of an eel and made rap
idly away. a ~ Il.
The ether, who had wide dark
eyes and swavy wisps of-hrown hair
emerging under the edges Of her
] precise little hat-she perceived NJ
once what had occurred, with = .
Discrimination that was amazing.
! Thank you," she murmured sin
cerely- you saved me loads OF
trouble. The purse contained. ng
ticket money" then, sas the din q
another band drew near, these aw-
ful pefades."-- - --- Il.
Sberman pulled his. hat from his
head to acknowledge her thanks.
Out Of the tail Of /. one. eye he