Evening star., 1941-11-16

She was in her prime, now. Bears
averaged good quarter of century;
half her life had been spent in cages,
in circus wagons and trains, in work.
The better half was ahead of her. he
thought, if she could only know it.
He looked at the speedometer and
his lips frightened. Get it over with.
Eddie, he told himself. Don't let it
drag. He stopped the car with a jerk.
and she looked up at him reproach-
fully. Out" ne ordered tersely.
She tumbled out and rolled over
twice, stood erect and shook hands
with herself. prizehghter fashion,
paws above her head.
"Okay, okay." said Eddie. his voice
harsh and loud in the silence. He
unsnapped her leash. looked at her
collar. with her name spelled out in
imitation emeraIds. well. what are
you waiting for? You're on your own.
She turned a somersault, took bow.
Look" Eddie told her. earnestly.
ITS all yours. You're free"
Her eyes watched him. her ears
waited for a familiar word. Eddie
shivered in the high, clear air. Listen,
you don't know good thing when you
see it. No more work - nothing but
fresh air and plenty of room to step
out. You'll get to know the other
bears. You're a bear, see? A bedy'
She looked at him, still waiting for
some gesture or command she under
stood, and he groaned. He couldn't
take any more Of this. so long," he
said, and strobe to the car.
As he opened the door, her nose
pressed against his leg.
"Geer' said Eddie. Don't you
get the idea, at alp He led her back.
off the road. out of sight of the road.
Tall trees, soft grass underfoot, and
silence. I'm dom you favor" he
said. He felt in his pocket. Two lolli-
pops left. He gave them to her.
Nov stay there" he ordered. Hold
it," He did not touch her again. He
did not even look back.
PErE COOPER was not a man to ask
questions out OF turn, but even
curious man would have been stopped
by the look in Eddie Reardon's eyes
when he returned with the borrowed
car. The circus had moved on. and
Eddie stayed in one place, diligently
doing one thing, which was to get
drunken than he had ever been in
his forty-odd years. 1t took him three
days. and in the three days that fol-
lowed, he reversed the process, taper
ing off until he was starkly sober.
Like a man at grips with a great
love, he had. in drink. been unable to
shake off the memory of Victoria;
now in sobriety. she filled all his
thoughts. One thing he knew. He had
to get away: put miles between them.
August found Eddie back in New
York. back in familiar haunts - and
still sober. 1t was as though he had
lost his taste for liquor overnight,
as though liquor had proved its made
quacy. The city steamed with heat.
oozed with humidity; he thought OF
Victoria in her high clean world, and
was glad. He got job running the
switchboard. the night elevator. and
an assortment of odd errands. in the
old Mohawk Hotel.
Just about anything went. in the
Mohawk. Once. when they we're low
in funds, Victoria had shared room
with him here. Familiar faces ap-
peared daily in the small lobby -
Helen Link. the equestrienne. Toby
Connell, the clown. and Mortimer
Ball, one of the Little People. Eddie
came out from behind the desk to
shake hands with Mortimer.
"How's Victoria?' the dwarf asked.
''She's swell" Eddie answered.
Got her in winter quarters.
.She was a good BEAR" said Nor
timer.
Eddie sa;d "Che still is"