Evening star., 1940-12-31

10 d CIldlT dIlu lOlCCu llCi INV ~
he said, Tell me, Mrs. Smith, does
your husband know you've moved?'
1t had occurred to him that II
Don knew her new address he must
be in the immediate neighborhood
must be keeping close to her. And
if that were the case, he thought
that perhaps the young fool could
be located.
NO" the girl replied. "He-he
still sends the money and-and
everything to the old address. They
forward it to me from there. The
delivery boy said he'd taken all
these things to the other place first
and was told to bring it here"
Gale shook his head slowly. Its
beyond me-" he said at last.
He waited then until the girl was
quieted and proceeded with taking
her pulse and blood pressure. He
asked her all the usual questions
about her diet, and SO forth. and
then he took his leave. He felt
strangely paternal toward this
young patient of his. He thought
how nice it would be If he could
invite her to have Christmas din
ner with himself and vi, at their
apartment. But he knew that nc
good could come of that. Wis sus-
picions were already arouSed-fool-
ishly. of course-and the strain
would be unbearable. 1t would be
no more comfortable for Mrs. Smith
than it would be for him.
He stopped on the way home TO
buv some candy and nuts and big
bunch of roses for vi. And when
he pushed open the front door OF
the apartment. laden with his pack
ages. he was startled for the second
time that day at the sight OF gay
" decorated Christmas tree.
A Surprise for vi.
vi was standing on a chair, put
ting on the finishing touches. she
turned when he came in, and Gale
laughed outright at the picture she
made. with tinsel clnging in spark
ling strands to her thick dark hair
and a cluster OF fragile, crystal
ornaments held precariously in the
crook of one arm.
He felt good suddenly, like the
cares of the world had stayed out
side when he closed the door. In the
room there was only cheer and
friendliness and freedom from
worry.
What was it happened to that
guy Scrooge to make him feel the
Christmas spirit all of sudden?''
he asked, standing there with his
coat and hat still on, the bundles
still in his arms.
"Scrooge?" vi exclaimed, smiling
with a kind of puzzled uncertainty
Il don't know. Why?" She turned
and put the last of the ornaments
on the tree.
"I don't know" Gale said. Just
happened to think about him. !
didn't even know it was Christmas
until an hour ago, and when I came
in the door just now I felt like
Scrooge. Anyway, I think that's
who l felt like He laid the pack
ages down as vi got off the chair
The Christmas spirit got me" he
snapped his fingers, lust like
that"
vi looked at her husband quiz
zically DIR. Barclay, have you been
drinking?" she said, cooking her
head to one side.
Upon my honor. not a drop,
Gale replied lightly. Then he tossed
his hat on a chair and slipped out
of his coat. He reached out and
pulled vi into his arms, tilted her
chin up with his foref1nger, and
kissed her full upon the lips.
GOSH" vi said when he released
her. Merry Christmas!"
Another Surprise.
"You know, I bet We have lot
to be thankful for, if we only
knew it." Gale said. He dropped
into chair and stared admiringly
at the tree as he started filling his
pipe. Think of all the people liv-
ing in miserable little rooms with
out any heat and with hardly
enough food to keep them alive
And here we are in nice warm
little apartment with real Christ
mas all around us"
vi was bending over the pack
ages, opening them and not looking
at Gale. That little Mrs. Smith,
she said, in that wretched tene-
ment."
Gale was holding his pipe between
his teeth, lighting it. 'Oh, she's not
so bad off now. Didn't I tell you
she'd moved to a little apartment
one room, but cozy-up here west OF
Clark"
"Moved?" Wis fingers on the
wrapping paper we're still "I-why
no, you didn't tell me that"
Yeah. Couple of weeks ago. And
that screwban husband of hers had
the decency to remember it was
Christmas. He sent her a lot of food
and things, even a little tree"
But if she'd moved-"Vi be-
gan then abruptly broke off.
You mean, how did he know
where she was?" Gale said. Il won
dered about that, too. She said they
forwarded the stuff from the old
place"
"Oh," vi said, but Gale didn't
catch the note of relief in her voice
"Oh, that-that's fine, isn't it
"She was so thrilled she was in
| tears"
If Gale hadn't been so absorbed
in thinking about the sudden
warmth of feeling that had come
over him, and enjoying it, he might