Evening star., 1941-01-03

hurry out INTO the night. And ate
he'd gone, vi lay there in her bee
unable to sleep, wondering what sht
should do.
From Donald Smith she hat
learned a great deal. But when sh
had opened the conversation b,
saying. do you know where you
wife is?" he had answered strangely
Shes gone home to Boston, tc
her family" he had said, and there
was deSolation in his voice 1T wa:
the only thing for her to do. I'm
glad she did it."
"Glad?" vi had said, surprised.
"Yes, glad" The boys thin, in
telligent face belied the calm
though. The ache in his heart
showed clearly in his eyes. "She Is
going to have her-her little fellow
pretty soon, and couldn't give hel
the things that she needed. Doctor
nurse, hospital. all that. That's why
/ didn't let her know what hap
pencd to me. I knew that if she
thought I'd run away she'd go home
where she'd be taken care Of, ]
hated doing it, but I had to-for
her sake"
He didn't know how deep his
wifes faith in him was. He had no
Idea what she had gone through
since he'd run away" since he'd
been in Jail. And vi knew that he
hadn't committed the crime he was
imprisoned for. She had immediate
faith in him. He'd been taken in
badly by an unscrupulous employ
er. vi knew that. She didn't even
ask the boy to tell her so himself
His character was in his face.
Ran Away, Finally.
He'd told her then, because he
seemed to like her and to be glad
TO have some one to talk to, about
how he and Betty Malcolm had
eloped a year and half ago. They
had to because Mr.. Malcolm
wouldn't consent to their marriage.
He was a department store owner,
/ hard headed. domineering man.
He'd wanted Betty to marry a man
who would be something, He had
no use for artists. They were
dreamers, and worse than that they
were loaferS.
And when they ran away they
never heard from Betty's family.
No attempt had been made to find
them. And from a close friend to
whom Betty had later written, they
learned that their names were not
mentioned in the Malcolm house
hold. They were disowned.
But they've taken her back
now" he'd said. i knew they
would. That's why didn't let Bet
ty know what had happened to me.
I knew she would 60 home"
vi had asked him about his work
and after a while he'd gone up to
his room across the street and
brought down some of the paintings
he'd done. She didn't think the
paintings were very good, although
she knew she was no judge. But
she was enthusiastic about the
beautiful designs, the page layoutS
for advertising and the sketches OF
mems clothes and womens dresses.
He'd done pencil sketches OF auto
mobiles from memory while he was
IN iail. and they had a speed ana
dashing beauty about them that
she'd never seen in ads anywhere.
She hadn't told him where Betty
was because she was afraid Of the
fear that might race through him.
Right now he thought that she was
safe at home. She didn't know
whether 1t was right to rob him OF
that belief. She had better idea.
BY telling him that she had
known Betty from seeing her in the
neighborhood and wanted to write
to her, vi had got the Malcolm's ad-
dress. And now the moment had
come to do the thing she'd planned.
Sends Vital Message.
The wire was brief and unscru-
nulously bold. Addressed to Mr..
waldo Malcolm, it read: against
parents wishes advising you baby
born am. Thought you should
know" And she signed it: DR..
Gale Barclay" giving his home ad-
dress. Then she went back to bed,
but not to sleep. She lay there
trembling for hours.
And then what she had feared
most actually happened. Gale re-
turned at o'clock and no reply
had vet come from her wire. She
was already dressed and breakfast
was on the table. He sat down i'm
mediately and ate, and all through
the meal he was preoccupied.
what was it. Gale?" vi asked
finally. unable to wait any longer
for voluntary information.
"a boy. Fine little fellow" And
then Gale looked up at vi and said,
st suppose I've an awful nerve ask
ing this, vi, but would you mind
going over there and helping out
for a while? One of the neighbors
was very swell about helping, but
she's been up all night. I can't
afford to hire nurse and 1 don't
think it's really necessary. You
could carry on for a while, if you
would, until I can locate some one
who won't charge much"
why, of course, Gale vi said
forgetting about the wire that would
soon arrive. will you need the
car?"
Gale shook his head. "You take
1t. If anything comes up call me
and I'll take a cab. I'm going to
sleep until 10 or 1890"
vi found Mrs. Smiths apartment
and the woman who'd been staying
with her looked her thanks when
vi came. Quickly she outlined the
things that were to be done, and
then she left to go to her own rooms
across the hall.
Leaves Word for Donald.
The baby was in market basket
that had been hurriedly but COM
fortably lined with soft blankets
and covered with linen sheets ano
rubber pads. vi recognized the
baby things she had bought with
the money Gale had given her fol
her Christmas dress. And she was
glad all over again that she'd done
what she had.