The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-02-04
. SERIAL STORY
HIGH FINANCE
CHAPTER XIV

CHAPTER XIV
Next morning was one OF those
Eays that starts wrong and gets
worse. A Lady In trailer got pre-
mature with a baby, and | had 70
help her scared husband pack for
Che hospital Mt 6:I5, with our truck
les yelling for their grub. A couple
In Cabin Five planned 70 cut down
their nights overhead by swiping a
pair OF sheets, and threatened me
with the law when / made 'em open
RIP their suitcase. Dolt got hungry
Bnd pinched a couple OF fiapjacks
90 hot they burnt his mouth, and
waved his tail at me when / jump
ed him. And there was # love let
Ter from the bank, reminding us Of
q note and mortgage due in q month
and wasn't IL about time we paid 1t
off-a little matter OF $407660 with
interest! Like 1t paid off. would
they so would I. Fat chance. On
top Of all that, 1t was raining and
was cross.
Doc was eating his breakfast in
the corner when Judy pushed
open the door He got up. She
looked at him without seeing him,
and he made a quick change from
Sed to kind of white. Juddy said
MON, what's the matter with
shat trailer under the Pride OF
India tree?"
Broke I said. "On their up
pers."
1t was one OF those things that
happen in every camp. The wife
was young. pretty thing, thin as
O. stick OF spaghetti and worn TO a
fragile tending her half-sick hus-
band who shaped up like a t. b. to
me. They'd got this far on their
way from Oklahoma to her broth
or in Florida and ! don't reckon
they could have raised the change
for a dollar between them. You
could see they.Were scared.
II thought I heard the girl cry
ing Juddy said.
That was me when they hung
me up for the parking fee" ] said
The man got q fill Of gas"
ALSO on tick. Every camp gets
gas grafters. It's part of the over
head"
do you suppose they've go'
anything to eat?"
Doc Oliver got up As he passed
us, Juddy drew her skirts aside ane
leaned away, registering that if ht
didn't have leproSy, it was at least
seven-year itch From the window
could see him bracing the trailer
girl, who was taking in some of the
raggedy things she'd hung out tt
air. She lifted her head and spoke
and he walked away, blinking like
somebody had hung one on hit
chin. ] stepped to the door.
What are you up TO now, Doc?'
He turned the eye Of sick fish
on me. Nom, what's wrong with
mc?"
81 haven't got time to go into 1t
now." said.
"I never can seem TO do any
thing right" he said. mot with
women"
We'll, tell Nom"
Il tried to give that girl little
money"
What did you say to her?"
What was there to say?"
II see. You wait till her hus-
band isn't around and just 90 NJ
and push twenty on her. That's
fine. That's swell Doc, haven't
you got any notion OF what a
good-looking woman is up against
on the road?"
His eyes looked at me. kind OF
dazed. NO he said. Have your
Inside the wagon judy giggled
right out loud. "Tactl' she said.
Never mind, Doc" | said, for
he was looking unhappy and rat
tied. You meant we'll!
Il didn't" he said. What made
her act that Way?"
"Hellfire and campfire, Doc!
Where's your saVvy? She thought
you were making pass at herr
Juddy giggled again. Doc sort OF
gulped.
For money!" He took the bill.
out of his pocket and stared at II
like 1t was poison.
Gimme that twenty" ! said.
1t didn't require two minutes OF
my valuable time TO negotiate anc
report. Its okay, Doc. She's cry
ing. I guess they're both crying
You get that way when yoU
haven't eaten properly for maybe
a week. Doc, you must be rich"
NO" he said. Not rich"
Speaking as man to man, about
what would you assayP'
"Momp Judy said.
you let me run this I said
doc, the bank down at LeVerton
is getting itchy about"
Judy grabbed me. mo, Nom
No! MOI" she almost bit my ear.
well, pardon me-" ] said. I'm
speaking out of turn again. But
maybe you'll tell me how we're
to pull Tambay through this knot
hole any other way"
She put her teeth over her lip
I'D rather take Hendy's money
than his"
Doc walked out. i was sore.
gave 1t to Juddy straight.
you needn't be 80 nasty about
his money. You've had sever