Evening star., 1941-01-03

In his hand was the yellow page
of telegram.
Il had to do it, Gale" vi said,
getting up from her chair and 60
ing to him. What did he say?"
Gale thrust the telegram into her
hand. Il ought to break your neck"
he said. Haven't you any princi-
Piles? Don't you care at all about the
ethics l have to observe? I told you
fatty to leave this thing alone. Why
didn't you? Well-why didn't you?"
He was standing there stiff and
angry.
The telegram read: Taking first
plane to Chicago. Accept inclosed
money order. My daughter no char
ity case" And it was signed waldo
Malcolm"
Gale Meets Donald.
vi looked up at Gale and her eyes
were wet and there was a smile on
her lips. 1T was right to do it, Gale.
Really it was"
Gales eyes were still narrow and
hard with anger. He had taken an
other paper from his pocket and
vi saw that it was money order
for $500.
"Gale!" she exclaimed. How
| wonderful"
Wonderful" Gale repeated
harshly. Whats wonderful about
it? I'm working for his daughter,
not for him, and she didn't want
| him to know anything about this"
He cursed and turned away toward
the bed where the young mother
was sleeping.
vi saw him gently touch Betty
Smiths wrist and count the pulse.
He nodded, then went over and
looked down at the baby in the
basket. She saw him smile uncon-
sciously, then go briSkly to the door.
We'll talk about this later" he
| said to his wife as he went out.
AS Gale crossed the sidewalk in
front Of the apartment, going to his
car, he saw a young man, hatless
and with blond hair in disorder, run
ming toward him. He waited with
his hand on the car door and he saw
that the young man was looking at
the little black bag he carried.
Mrs. Smith?" the young man
gaSped. He was out of breath, and.
despite the cold. his leather jacket
hung open at the front. You her
doctor?"
"Yes. I am" Gale replied quietly.
who are you?'
Isis she all right? Is the-the
baby"
Are you her husband?" Gale said
coldly.
Yes, yes, of course" Donald Smith
replied impatiently. But, doctor,
tell me"
She's all right. She's sleeping.
Sos the baby" Gale opened the car
door Come on, climb in here.
want to talk to you"
Gale Sees the Light.
He had to grip the young mans
arm at last and force him into the
car because Donald Smith wanted
to see his wife Immediately. But to
Gale that wasn't important: he
hadn't cared for several months.
There was no reason for this impa-
tience now.
1t was almost half hour before
Gale got the story straight, the story
Of Don's being in jail. of his think
ing Betty had gone back to her par
ents in Boston. He couldn't under
stand the money that had been COM
ing to Betty every week, nor the
handsome presents that had been
sent by Santa Claus" at Christmas.
but in the silence that followed
Don'S recital the truth dawned on
him-heavily and with a pressure
that brought burning flush to his
face. Eight dollars a week from an
anonymous vi A cheap Christmas
dress. but beautiful presents for
Betty Smith. 1t was hard to see the
road through the mist in his eyes
and hard TO swallow with the lump
in his throat.
Before We go back" he said
abruptly, I'VE have a lot of shop
ping to do. A basinette and a bath
table, a lot Of stuff for the baby.
And you better get some clothes.
You don't know it, but your father
in-law's going to be here in a few
hours and you've got to make an
impression. And I'll stake you"
When they left the downtown park
ing lot an hour and half later the
small coupe looked like a makeshift
truck, with White-enameled frame
work projecting from tie rear COM
partment and boxes and bundles lit
tering the inside. Donald Smith was
neatly dressed and his hair was
trimmed and his face shaved He
would stand rigid inspection for
presentable appearance.
| When they returned to the apart
ment, the nurse Gale had called
from downtown was already there.
| But vi was gone.
A Surprise for Gale.
''She said she was going back to
your apartment, doctor" the nurse
said. She figured you'd taken the
car SO she called a cab"
They stood there a moment, Gale
fumbling with his car keys, the
nurse staring at the packages he
and Don had brought. Neither of
them felt comfortable because at
the other side of the room Betty and
Don were holding one another tight,
and they were crying and laughing
and trying to talk but only succeed
ing in crying and laughing some
more and holding on tighter.
Back at his own apartment Gale
found vi. She was putting on her
coat, with the gallant assistance of
an elderly gentleman whom she
introduced as Mr.. Malcolm, Betty
Smiths father.
"JuSt telling your wife what I de-
cided coming out here on the plane,
doctor" he said. Had to get it off
my chest, sounded so fine. She'll
tell you about it." He turned to vi,