The Wilmington morning star., 1944-01-12

right moved down, and the oppo
site. They WoVe around her waist
and back, around her hips and
back.
I'm next step below half-wit, -
she thought to herself, while her
lips formed the words of Carmen S
seductive love song, her advances
to Don jose Here I am Mallory
unused further, latter h v i n g
spurned a legitimate money offer,
singing in the streets of section
equivalent to New York slum.
And for nothing!"
But she realized she could not
really say, For nothing" T o o
much ecstasy was written on the
faces of the spectators. They were
like those in New York who treas
ured pennies to sit in the top gal
lery. who so often knew the scores
better than those in plush boxes.
She wasn't really singing for moth
| ing
Someone began to play castanets
Mallory searched until she found
that artist, a little girl, not over 10.
who was clicking them in an ex-
pert rhythm that matched the Ha-
banera. When the singer smiled at
her. she cleaned with pride, as did
woman standing beside her. APP
parently her mother, for she, too.
looked proud. A white-haired old
lady in work dress and apron
swayed as if she were only 16. A
young couple held hands. Two men
kept such expert time with their
swapping fingers that Mallory knew
they were musicians.
When she had finished the song
everyone burst into applause and
cheers. There was an astounding
crowd by now. From other streets
people had crowded into this one
block. Riders had stopped h e r
cars to get out and join the throng.
Under cover of pounding hands
Prism inquired. Got any more
bright ideas? Taking it for granted
you thought you had a bright
idea"
st did, admitted the girl in an
undertone. 81 thought if I sang a
Spanish song they'd think knew
the language and stop annoying
me-crazy. wasn't it? Now" she
faltered, 81 don't know what I
want to do"
But her audience did. "Seguidil-
la! Seguildilla!' they be g a n
screaming, noisy clamor for the
song that follows the Habanera,
the insinuating love song with
which Carmen lures Jose into
loosening the ropes about her
wrists so that she can escape.
you're gonna be here all
night" Prism's gloomy prediction
seemed correct.
Again the throng was screaming
for the Sequidilla. The applause
began to rise again, along with
their demanding voices. But some
thing was happening. At the out
! skirts of the crowd, quiet was
taking hold. People were dropping
back before one man, in uniform.
Mallory now saw. He made path
toward the car. Those who had
perched on it were sliding away
from his authority and angry ex-
preston.
"Jiggers, a cop!n' mumbled
Prism in the manner of a New
York urchin. She laughted softly
without moving her facial mus
cles. Maybe you're gonna get
pinched. Miss Mallory for singing
on the streets without a license.
Better get a good story ready
But before the man reached her.
someone in the crowd spoke for
the blond girl. Its Mallory Bak-
er." The first utterance became
cry. Everyone began shouting.
Mallory Baker! Mallory Baker!!
Until then, the girl had not known
she was recognized. Even now her
name was hard to distinguish be-
cause of the Latin accent on the
second syllable of her first name
and on the final one of her last
name.
But the. policeman understood.
BY the time he reached the auto
mobile he was smiling in response
to the chant of the throng.
efMees Baker!!" came his Latin
accented welcome.
| Mallory extended her hand and
said, 'How do you do?" Perhaps
this was someone who would lead
her out Of her predicament.
What are you doing here" the
man queried.
Prism was gazing at her mis-
tress in a fashion that said. "Yeh.
Answer that one." Otherwise she
was resigned to this latest adven-
ture.
81 had the route all figured out
Oh my map Mallory began.
while she was talking the Officer
was shooing away those few who
still dared perch on top of the
car seat, so that the girl now was
able to sit down beside the bulky
Prism whom no interloper had
managed to bulge. "But / couldn't