The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1940-02-17
Always Helpful
By G. D. COOKE
g Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
WNU Service.

- door shut behind him and ran
down the long flight Of stairs to the
drive. He was Tuning.
To heck with herl" he muttered
darkly to himself.
He climbed into his coupe and
slammed the door, drove out into
the street and headed across town
toward Joe Benet's soda fountain.
Joe was always helpful.
Bob had good reason to be angry.
A week before Alene Newton had
quietly informed him that hereafter
he could fly his kite alone. That
had been because he had refused to
take her to hear Cab Galloway at
the Main Street the night seats were
two fifty a piece. And she had fur
thermore informed him that his
presence was, to her, about as well
come as leprosy and would he
please stay away. He had stayed
away for a week, and now that
Alene had shown no signs Of chang
ing her mind, Bob was taking things
into his own hands.
He crossed the inter-city viaduct,
then zigzagged across town to Twen-
ty-second street. Bob had a vague
idea that Joe could help him out.
He parked opposite the ''No Park
ing" sign across the street from
Joe's place.
"GIme a chocolate matted, Joe.
Double the cream and put in lots
of malt"
81 heard your little romance went
fiat last week." Joe said curiously.
Bob's eyes narrowed. "Yeahl And
who told you that?"
Joe slipped the container under
the mixer. 81 dunno. A little bird,
I guess"
Bob put the coins back in his
pocket. Frog Crawford"
Maybe" Joe said vaguely. He
stood tapping his foot idly and look
ing out into the street. There was
bad blood between Bob and Frog.
Bob emptied his glass, then he
leaned across the bar so the couples
in the booths along the wall couldn't
hear him. ''Listen, Joe," he said
quietly after a quick glance around,
''you don't know swell looking
brunette, do you? You know the
type l mean, a real bonfire. want
to take her around to some parties
and show that blonde Alene that
she's not the only potato in the
sack"
Joe looked at his customer
solemnly. Wasn't it the week be-
fore last that you were in here
talking about the little white cot
tage you were going to have-the
one with the roses on the porch?"
he chided, ignoring Bob's last ques-
ton. Then he doubled with laughter.
Bob turned red. AS Joe started
to turn away he reached out and
caught his arm. "How about that
brunette, Joe?"
Joe shook his head. at have
enough trouble with you without in-
Producing you to bonfire like that"
Aw, now, Joe. l gotta have some
help"
And that's not ALL" Joe went on.
Some morning you're going to
wake up and find that you don't even
have Alene."
Bob wrinkled his nose in surprise.
'Have her! amt got her, have I?
And anyway, who'd want herr"
Frog Crawford"
"Huh!" Bob banged the metal
container down on the bar.
Sure! He was in here tonight
after box of chocolates and he
said he'd heard you two had broken
up Joe took Bob's quarter. ''He
was driving his old mans Packard"
he added
Say, you don't think he was go
ing to Alene's?"
Joe pulled the lobe of one ear
refectively. Wouldn't be sur
prised," he stated.
Bob slid off the stool. ''I'n murder
that guy!"
Joe reached out and caught his
hand. Hey wait a minute! What
! will you do if Frogs not there?
You'd better take along a peace
offering, hadn't your" Then: 1--WE
have some nice boxes of caramels,"
he suggested. Five pounds"
Bob stared at him for a moment;
then he grinned "You old pirate.
Well all right, gi'me one" And
he was across the street and into
his coupe in jiffy,
Joe watched him go; then he
turned to one Of his soda dispensers.
"Have to make a call, Bill. I'll be
back in a minute"
He went into the telephone booth
and dialed a number.
Hello, Alene? This is Joe
Yeah, he was here all right
No, I didn't tell him you
called. l just mentioned Frog
Crawford a couple of times and
told him what a sap he was to
be quarreling with a nice girl like
you. He ran right out to his car
and started out. Ought to be there
any time unless he gets pinched for
speeding What else did !
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