Evening star., 1941-12-28

YOU were DullCIl VI SOdiiIiy Jun
els" He laughed uproariously and
Johnny didn't know exactly what to
say. If Vic had been kidding 1t
wouldn't have beer so awkward. hut
he suspected that Vic was serious.
And he didn't feel like laughing
good d-naturedly because his mlnd
was still at least half on his fatnet
and his unexpected absence fr I'M
the dinner table.
The meal wasn't at all what
Johnny had expected, but Vic ate
so ravenously that he decided not
to comment. He never did ike
Swiss steaks and he particularly olo
not like to have one piece OF meat.
no matter what kind it was, iadleo
out to him and no reserve lett m
view for a second helping. He
wasn't a vegetarian and had never
entertained any notions OF becom-
ing one, yet supper this evening
was very much more to the taste
of such a one than to q meat
eater like himself. And even tne
auxiliaries were scanty; be had
vague suspicion that the tomatoes
in the salad were not the best.
they had the pallid complexion OF
the hothouse variety.
Vic Raring to Go.
When they left the table he was
not in a good mood for anything
and had half a notion to stalk
Robbins in his lair and demand an
explanation. The meal, right down
to the gelatin dessert and the thin
cream in the coffee. had ranked.
And knowing Mikes own love OF
good food and insistence upon guam
tity. he was sure that the whole
ghastly affair was the result OF
Mikes being confined to his room
from late afternoon until morning.
We'll, Johnny, old boy" Vic said.
grinning broadly as they left the
table. I'm full up and in the mood
for frivolity. Let's call the girls
Johnny didn't answer for a mo-
ment, but drew deeply on his
cigarette and looked glumly across
the long living room. Through the
French windows at the far side,
running from floor to ceiling on
either side of the fireplace, he could
see the shrubs and flowers in
the trim gardens surrounding the
smooth green blanket of lawn and
beyond that the glistening yellow OF
the street lights that must have just
gone on. It still wasn't quite dark;
the night didn't seem to have begun
and yet the day was gone. The
flimsy thought ran through his
mind that this particular stage OF
youthfulness and responsibility
was just now slipping past him and
the station of full manhood and a
place in the world was not quite
| in sight. It wasn't good moment
for deciding things. yet he forced
himself to shrug his shoulders and
look up brightly and say, Sure,
Vic. Sure thing"
Sheila's father answered Johnny's
call and Johnny thought how like
it was the pompous old coot to
say, "Owen Morgan speaking" in
deep, gruff voice. and then wait
stolidly for the caller to plead his
case. Owen Morgan had been Mike
Mulvaneys lawyer for over 10 years,
ever since Mixes brother Cliff had
died and his overbearing manner
and almighty way Of speaking had
always struck Johnny particularly
| funny in view of Sheila's utter un-
affectednesS and delightfully."- down.
right character.
Something Is Awry.
Johnny Mulvaney, Mr.. Morgan.
How are you?"
"Oh. Oh, yes. Just a moment
IIl-IIl call Sheila." Johnny felt
the jar as the instrument was laid
on the table at the other end of
the line. And then, very family,
he heard, "Sheila, my dear, tele-
phone.
Something more was said that
seemed to take long time and
then Sheila was saying, Eyes, John
what is it?"
John! She had called him Johnny
ever since she could talk. And
What is it?"
He didn't realize how long he had
stood there stunned until she said
Hello, hello" with obvious i'm
patience.
This is Johnny" he said namely
"Vic and l., we were wondering il
perhaps you and Patty"
mot tonight, John. Not possibly
tonight" The words were clear ane
definite. I'VE are extremely tiret
after the train ride and are going II
retire quite early. I'm. sure VII