The Wilmington morning star., 1940-03-21
FIFTEEN

LIN 1IN-Ae
phoned. Romany stiffened when she
heard his voice. He did not SOUND
sober, even in the few words II
took him to ask if Cholly was there
Romany told him coldly that Cholly
was not. And she added:
and you'll be doing a great
favor if you don't cali here again.
I'm sure Cholly agrees with me. She
doesn't want to Sc you now, or
ever"
The singer muttered something
under his breath, thickly, and hung
up. For a long time afterward
Romany could not shake her I'M
pleasant feeling of worry. She tried
to tell herself it was silly, and got
up from her reading to wash out
some of her lingerie because she
wanted to keep busy.
Her chief fear was that Terry
would come out and cause an I'M
pleasant scene at the apartment. OF
course they wouldn't let him in.
But he was perfectly capable OF
standing and ringing the bell till
he was taken away by a patrol wa
gon, or of yelling at the top OF ms
lungs. When Terry O'Rourke was In
his cups, no one could predict what
he was going to do or say.
Romany blamed herself later for
not telling Terry that Cholly was
on the beach, or at a movie. For
Terry assumed if she were not with
Romany, she was at work. A few
minutes later he staggered, dis
heveled and r%ed-eyed, into the Leo
. Dane Music Store.
Cholly was alone. She gave a
little choked cry when she went
forward at the sound of the door
opening and saw the drunken Terry
weaving on his feet. He said
thickly:
Hello, sweetheart! Hello. hello,
hello. Thlsh is your lii ole Terry.
Hi, baby"
Cholly never had seen Terry i'll
such a condition before. Her face
grew very white. and in her eyes
was the fear that she always telt
when she saw someone greatly in
toxicated. She knew it would be
fright, so she said as evenly as she
could:
Hello, Terry. L I'm pretty
busy"
He looked around through bleared
eyes. Then he laughed thickly.
"Sure-oh, sure. Terrible busy.
Cus-cust'mers all owe the place"
Then he laughed. 1t was an an
cry laugh that sent cold chills all
over Cholly. He looked like a mon
ster in his wrinkled clothes. She
was sure he hadn't even been back
to his room to change his shirt
since they had quarreled. Suddenly
Terry gave another laugh and
lunged toward her.
She stepped behind the counter
hurriedly.
so he yelled then. Rooney
was right. She tole me on the phone
you didn't want to see me-"
Cholly tried to soothe him.
Terry" her voice trembled,
why don't you go to your room
and take a nice shower and get
dressed up. Then when I'm through
work I'll come up and We'll go out
and have dinner"
She was frantic enough to prom
Use anything to try to get him out
of the store before someone came
in for music, or before Moe Leo re-
turned. 1t was SO seldom Cholly
was alone in the store.
Terry stumbled toward the coun-
ter and Cholly backed away.
YEAH" he sneered. Yeah, you'll
come to see me, sure! You're lynn.
I know. Rooney was right. She's my
frien'. She tells me the truth. I
ought to shlap-to slap your lynn
face. YOU
go! Please go, Terry" Cholly
begged, her knees shaking until
she could hardly stand. eff Mr.. Leo
comes back and sees you, We'll both
get fired"
The words were scarcely out OF
her mouth when Leo opened the
door. Terry, turning, laughed drunk.
emily.
"My-my fian-fianshay here says
you're gonna fire me Jus for COM
in in to shee iii sweetheart"
Cholly said desperately:
'Oh, Mr.. Leo, I'm sorry! I've
tried to get Terry to go home"
Leo was a little man, but he STEP
ped forward menacinGly:
Get out of here, you drunken
bum! Get out of my store! I won't
have you ruinin' my business! Get
out of here before 1 bust you one.'
Terry stepped back, doubling his
big fists.
"Okay, smart guy! Wanna fight:
Cmon fight"
Moe started for the door.
II wouldn't dirty my hands or
you, you tramp"
There was a policeman standing
at the curb. Cholly almost tainted
when Leo called to him.. The officer,
as big as Terry, came into the store.
Cholly was sure Terry would put
up a fight,
Come along, buddy" the officer
said soothingly. Lets take a little
walk. Let's go take a little ride and
buy a little drink" he wheedled.
Terry looked uncertain. But Off
n n'ho11au hol n nav with him
when it came to handling tipsy Irish
men. He led Terry away without a
particle of trouble. knowing who