The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-03-08
Chapter Six
Spending Money

nv the city Lovely stopped to
shop before taking the subway
down town.
Off the subway she stopped
again in little shops, groceries and
delicatessens along Seventh Ave-
nue.. Cold cuts. Cheese. Salad
packed in a Waxed container.
Fancy buns. Cake. Cert was to
have the day off. No cooking. And
in summer they all loved such
things.
Lovely all but fell in the door
OF the apartment. so laden was
she.
"Greetingsl" she called gaily.
Cert came hurrying out of the
kitchen.
"Oh, Lovely!" almost fearful
with Joy at sight of her. Il was
getting so Worried ! saw Katie's
mother down on the corner and
she said you hadn't stayed there"
And then she became aware of
the packages Lovely had dumped
Oh the table.
"Looki" Lovely was undoing
them. "Uml Better put it all in
the Ice box, or are you hungry"
Lovely pushed the food to one
side and was opening the other
packages.
stockings for you Cert. We
hadn't pair between us-remem-
Der when you wanted to 60 to
Molly's wedding? And a blouse
for you. Gypsy like they're wear
ing" 1t went on for a delight
fully long few minutes.
There were things for little
Sunny too. When the last paper
had been crushed into ball and
thrown into the waste basket Cert
looked at Lovely in dismay
But you didn't get a thing for
yourselfl"
"Well," Lovely hesitated, 81
didn't need things as much as
you"
"Oh. Lovely. you shouldn't be
that way! You shouldn't. But you
can borrow anything. Anything!"
Lovely laughed brightly at that
and with a note of surprise:
Maybe that's what | was
thinking Of" she said.
1t was a natural thing. They'd
always shared.
Then, the more practical of the
two, Cert asked:
"How much you got left?"
Lovely was taken by surprise.
she counted ner money.
Ninety cents" she said.
Then at Gert's suddenly seri-
ous face:
well. don't look so Worried"
III know. but you must have
spent an awful lot. Where did you
get it?"
"You would ask. darlingl A
very kind man gave 1t to me-"
Joe? But he could never give
you that much" Cert never OBJ
jected to Lovely's taking small
sums from Joe because after all
the tiny chip diamond that still
lay in the purse with the 80 cents
meant they were engaged. Cert
took such things seriously.
No, sweetie pie, not joe" Then
at Gerts sharply alarmed look:
at wasn't what you're thinking at
ALI"
"Oh, Lovely you know I'd give
you anything I've got. ="
81 know" Lovely interrupted.
You'd give me your whole life
and all its happiness but you're
not going to. If you have TO hand
that gift over to Sunny someday
that's different. But I'm not TAX
ing any such packages from my
sister" An impulsive arm around
her she kissed Gert's plain face.
You're so beautiful, Lovely,
you'd ought to have everythingr
Cert said. "But Rings having a
tough time too You know they
haven't let him in the union yet.
Looks as if he'll stay just helper
all his life because he can't raise
the dough TO make it in"
Defending Ring, Lovely thought.
Selfish quarrelsome Ring. Well
that was love. And ii was like
Cert. But Cert was back on the
old thought.
Then what was It, Lovely7"
she asked anxiouSly. ii know no.
bodys giving money away for
nothing "
You tell me darling" Lovely
said lightly as she started putting
things away am not good at
guessing games. The nuns at the
Home always said I was too pretty
10 be very bright"
But things were pleasanter in
the fiat that night Ring sat down
to a cold dinner Of especial tasti-
ness, across from a wife who was
cool and rested and somehow a
little dressed up and prettjei 10
look az than usual
Lovely. looking az them, paused
on the thought az what a differ
ence a little money made.
I've got to have IT," she
thought 1--we got 10 have it!
Enough 20 smooth things To
beautify things" She'd never
reslixeo before how much money
did mean. She had 70 have H. And
Joe. who was calling for her soon.
would never have a. He was
caught in the same rut Ring was
In. Helper Truckers helper. Too
many men in the union for the
work there was. They were pro-
tecting themselves by making en-
trance requirements sitter than
ever Joe would never get the
money Together for il
Lovely was still thoughtful
when Joe called for her. Ring In
vited him in and offered him beer.