Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-09-13
Daily Short Story
Three in a Row
BY ROBERTA YATES

i are. unfortunately. two women.
in the life of Thomas Turner,
there were. more unfortunately
three, and he loved them all.
In fioundering male fashion he
had shown this love so clearly.
that all three were expecting a
proposal OF marriage any minute
now.
The only thing fortunate about
Thomas situation was that he
lived in large city. and the three
did not know about each other.
But Thomas was pretty miser-
able. He felt like cheap
Romeo or a polygamist, when in
fact he was steady, solid bank
cashier.
The only excuse he could find
for his philandering was that each
OF the tire girls appealed 10 a
different phase OF himself.
There was Julie Phelps. small
and gay and as cute as an Angora
kitten. When he wanted light re-
Taxation he took Julie dancing.
There was Rose Burton who
worked in a settlement house. was
in earnest about doing good, and
was also beautiful in a Greek god
desS way.
When Thomas spent an evening
with her. his morale scared up
ward.
There was Polly Kern who was
athletic and dashed from tennis
court 10 swimming pool TO golf
course with refreshing energy.
AS an outdoor relief from inside
banking hours. Polly was peerless.
Thomas felt so dizzy trying to
decide between them that one
night he stayed at home to think
!, over his tangle.
He decided that he needed ad-
vice-not from the three involved
but from an unprecedented by
stander. So he went next door
10 see Mary Doran.
Mary was like sister. They'd
lived next door to each other since
childhood; they'd shared triumphs
and troubles for years.
He blurted out his difficulty to
her. Mary started 10 laugh. but,
when she saw Thomas was serious,
she smothered the mirth from her
nice, familiar, puckish face.
SURE YOU'RE IN LOVE:
Are you sure you're In love
with all three of them?" she
asked.
"Yes, damn IT," said Thomas
wretchedly. 81 want to marry
all of them. know i sound
conceited.
They ought to kick me out,
but that's how II is"
Mary thought over how it was.
Then she said:
-"Why not choose the one who
loves you best?"
"How would know that:"
"Test them"
Her brown eyes sparkled with
an idea.
"Find out which one would
stick by you II you were I'm a
jam. Which would help you or
turn you down."
She outlined her idea OF test.
That" said Thomas, SIS the
craziest idea 1 ever heard"
Its no crazier than the mess
you're In" said Mary. "And II
would settle things one way or
another"
He had faith in Mary's judg-
ment, however wild her scheme
She was a smart girl and she
knew other girls.
TESTS JULIE FIRST
He tried the test on Julie first
breaking il TO her above a swing
band in the Rendezvous, and act
ing very serious.
Julie, there's something you
must know"
jules eyes widened to blue
saucers. waiting for the proposal.
ITS about money" he went
on. "Stolen money!
Julie fidgeted and giggled
Tommy. you're Kidding
81 wish I were, but it's true.
Ten thousand dollars. i took II
q little at a time. They're after
me ut the bank. IL means
prison bars, Julie"
When Julie finally got Il. she
reacted as TO an electric shock.
She jumped up, then she sat
down.
Tommy, you couldn't have.
Ten thousand dollars! Where
did you spend it,"
1T went on the horses"
Thomas extemporised. why"
Horses"
She stared at him, paling as she
decided he was confessing the
truth. She dabbed at tears with
a lace handkerchief and Thomas
felt the meanest liar in the world
How could you do it," she
sobbed. How could you do this
20 me: The disgrace. It'll be
in the papers. They'll drag me
into IL.
And you didn't even spend
the money on me-"
The Angora kitten was gone
In her place sat full grown and
selfish tigress who got up and
ran. And that was the last Of
her.
Thomas hoped for more from