Show y 1 UiS i LAURA A i in A i iM M i nn A Author of oj MAD MARRIA 1 y LOU BROOKMAN ON nr NM sf ovice fN BEGIN HERE HERE TODAY Pretty Norma Nonna Kent year old secretary ary marries Mark Prayers Travers ml mU- mU son In spite of the tion of ot Marks Mark's father faUter P. P M. M Travers Traver The story opens in Marlboro mid middie SW die western metropolis After an extravagant ex ex- honeymoon at fashionable Blue Springs the couple return to Marlboro It Is weeks weeks' before the young man can find work He ie loses toses his first job then becomes a floorwalker floorwalker floorwalker floor floor- walker in a department store In spite of poverty po he and anti Norma ar are happy until his father sends for him Th elder Travers offers to take Mark Into business organization If th the theS S son fl will prove he can make goodMark's good Marks Mark's first assignment Involved a business trip to France Norma Nanna must remain at home She trI tries to tol persuade Mark not to go but he hede hede- de departs parts Norma rudely treated at her father laws home sUps slips away tea leaving no trace of at her Chris Saunders Normas Norma's former roommate helps her find a Job Marks Mark's father employs detectives to trail the girl They produce records records rec rec- to show Norma three years earlier ear ear- lier had been convicted on a vl vice charge In spite of evidence that she was Innocent and the charge framed Travers ers sends his lawyer to Parts Paris Weeks later Norma Nanna receives a letter telling her Mark has divorced her 5 Chris helps her to find work and loans loans'S S 'S her money when she becomes ill m. In August Normas Norma's son Is 18 born When little Mark is four months old Norma Nonna begins work again agath typing manuscripts at home Bob Farrell Parrel sends ds her flowers at Christmas anc and calls frequently NOW GO ON WITH Wlm THE STORY CHAPTER CHAE Norma Nonna earned 95 during the Ute six weeks she typed manuscripts for lor Frederick Stuart The sum went to Chris as a first payment on the thc amount she had borrowed The origInAl original inal loan of was was' mounting as astonishingly aston as- as ton Lots SLots of time t to pay It It Chris al always always a- a ways said Wd carelessly when Norma spoke poke about the debt Chris would woud never present a detailed statement o of or the money she had spent though Normas Norma's own accounting told herthe her herthe herthe the sum was close to 1000 The 95 barest beginning little lIttIe more than enough to pay Normas share of the rent and food bill for the six weeks That was the hopeless hopeless' pars pare par of being In debt Most of what Norma Nanna could earn would be gobbled up by Immediate expenses It was Vias because e this problem was never far from her mind that Norma welcomed the opportunity that came the second week in February even though It Involved separation from baby Mark Jennie Clark the Ute girl who had tak- tak elf erf Normas Norma's place as Stuarts Stuart's secretary secretary secre secre- tary resigned on short notice JennIe Jennie Jennie Jen Jen- nie explained she could return to the theoffice theoffice office where she had been let out when the staff was reduced She said she liked the first job better and that this time It would be permanent perma perma- nent I Chris Saunders whose knowledge knowledge knowledge knowl knowl- edge was amazing considering the fact she never asked personal questions ques ques- told Norma the reason Jennie wanted wanted-to to go back to the Ute theother other office was because a young man In whom she was interested worked there When Jennie announced d she was leaving Stuart telephoned Norma and offered her the job That same afternoon she went down town and told him she could start work the following week The problem of caring for Mark had been easily arranged For 6 each week Mrs Carey who lived across the hall hail agreed to k keep ep the baby during the hours Norma would be away Mrs Carey had no children She was fond of them Ulem and before her marriage had worked as a practical nurse A pleasant conscientious wo woman woman wo- wo man she could be trusted to carry out Normas Norma's instructions exactly and she welcomed the chance to earn even evensO evenso so small an amount When Norma told Frederick Stuart Stuart Stu stu- art t she could come back to work as his secretary she added Im goIng goIng going go- go Ing to have to ask for more money Mr Stuart I want 35 a week I think Im I'm worth it and If an any manuscripts manuscripts man man- come in to be typed I can cando cando cando do them in addition to the other work I had lots Jots of time before that I might Just as well have been typing You see I haven't Just myself to think about now I have to make more money For a a. moment Stuart frowned This Is a poor time to be Increasing salaries he said but but well well Ill I'll pay you 35 Yes and I think you'll earn carn it Be here at nine on Mon Mon- day Norma toM told him she would be there During the ride home on the street car she tried to compute men tally how long at 35 a week it would take t to pay the he money she owed Chris For Forone one one thing that debt would not be growing larger now She could pay her way and little M Marks Whatever it was possible to saye would be paid to ChrisO Chris c Q e Q eIt e. e It was hard Monday morning to leave the baby Sharp doubts plagued Norma all through the day Suppose Mrs Carey didn't get his formula formula for for- mula just right Suppose she should leave Mark alone Even in five minutes min mm- utes he might wriggle from the bed Ded and hurt hIr himself Norma remembered bored how Junior Baker had been scalded She suffered harrowing I moments of despair When the lunch hour arrived she telephoned to ask ak the landlady's daughter to go upstairs and ask Mrs Carey Cuey how Mark was getting along Norma was informed that the baby was was' sleeping Nothing at all eventful event ful fill had happened Mrs Carey re reported reported reported re- re ported Mark Markwas was getting along f fine hie At Norma reached the top of the stairs and burst breathlessly Into the apartment The baby baby Is Is everything a aright aU all right 2 Bless his little heart heart- said MId Mrs Mrs Carey He hasn't been a a. bit of trou trou- ble Good as as' a regular little ange angel all allday day dayl I did everything the wa way you said uld Mrs Travers I 1 gave him his hIs' bottle at three o'clock and h he went to sleep when hed he'd finished i It Look Zook at him html I Marks Mark's wide blue yes considered his mother with Int interest r t. t He wiggled wiggled wiggled wig wig- a foot and gurgled contentedly Norma down on her knees beside the bed felt a wave of overwhelming relief There was tiny Mark exactly as she had left him No frightful accident No tragedy The Th bab baby was as happy and nd safe as as asif if sh she he had been with him all aU day Thank you Mrs Carey Norma Normi said rising to her feet I I 1 couldn't help but feel worried It Its It's the first day Ive I've ever left him you know Youve You've taken beautiful carof care car of him and nd Im I'm not going to let myself myself my my- seI self worry any more marc Ill I'll see ee if U I cant can't be home a little earlier tomorrow tomorrow tomorrow tomor tomor- row night I Well Ill I'll Just run along since I youre you're here Ill I'll have t to be getting the supper supper supper- Mrs Carey disappeared disappeared without finishing the tho sen tence ence Chris arrived a few moments later and the two girls were soon busy preparing pre preparing paring their own evening meal not to worry over the baby's welfare was WIlS the hordes hardest part jart of ot Normas Norma's new schedule schedules She liked working with Stuart It was true rue Jennie Clark had been slack abo about t keeping the files flies in order Other tasks that should have been at attended had been neglected The accumulated work made Normas Norma's first days hi In in inthe the the theoffice office unusually busy ones Still there were gentz Ing Jug moments when she pictured Mark MarV- tossing and feverish from some sudden sudden sud ud den mysterious illness or his his' little body shaking with sobs unable to tell ten what ailed him S On Saturday afternoon t at atthe the end of her first weeks week's work Norma took Look the baby to the hospital clinic She learned with with's a mingling of shock and thankfulness that Mark still sun kept kep his rating of ot perfect health During Dur ing tog the first six months of or his life he had not been bern ill once It lIt astounded Norma to realize 1 that another person perron could care for her herson herson herson son exactly as well as she could Almost Al AI most she felt dismayed The shock of at this discovery passed immediate l ly She told Chris that baby Mark Markby by keeping up such a splendid health record was was' doing his part port to improve improve im im- im prove the family fortunes Chris liked the baby played ed with him and worried over him almost as much as Norma Hes gol going g to tobe tobe tol be spoiled spoiled and and spoiled badly Chris predicted d. d but honestly who ho could help it Hes He's getting cuter every day Bob Farrell Farren continued to pay an occasional visit and gifts gUts for Mark often orten served as the excuse for these calls Heres something I thought might amuse young Skeezix he would say handing over er era a a. package which might contain anything from a toy popgun pop popgun gun to rubber blocks Practically every plaything he brought was was was' for fora a a. much older child chUd When Mark regarded regarded regarded re re- re- re them with wide eyed unconcern unconcern unconcern cern they were placed away for future future fu fu- fu ture use The girls accused Bob of buying the contraptions because he himself found them entertaining Farrell Farren always al a- ways grinned and pleaded guilty to these accusations Twice he was Invited U to dinner at the both apartment times on Sun Sun- Chris and Norma had the entire day at home Whenever there was any ny task around the apartment requiring a a. mans man's skill when the electric iron refused to operate or ora ora ora a piece of furniture became unsteady di Bob put It ln In order Shortly after the second dinner invitation invitation in in- he aSked both asked both girls to a attend at at- tend a musical comedy comedy-a a very good Coad goodone goodone one Just Juston on from New York Chrisand Chris Chrisand Chrisand and Norma accepted but on the evening evening eve eve- ning of the performance Norma developed de de- de eloped a headache She refused to let the others change their tickets for another night As a result Chris Chrisand Chrisand and Bob attended the play and Norma Nor ma remained at home There could be no doubt about Normas Norma's pleasure in Bobs Bob's company She always alwa's welcomed him More Marc often than Chris Chrls she urged him to U drop in hi again soon and it was Norma who suggested Inviting him to din din- ner However she and Bob were never alone When Chris tried tactfully tact tact- fully to engineer such tete a somehow the plans went amiss Chris could not be sure whether Norma managed this intentionally or 01 not e G There were ere times when she was sure Normas Norma old fondness for Bob was developing into a a deeper tion A safer surer affection than the madcap plunge Into romance that Normas Norma's marriage U to Mark Travers had been That Chris felt was as the solution of oC Normas Norma's problems Married to Bob Norma would have protection from the thc world that had treated her BO so harsh harshly h She would have a home for Jor hers herself lC and for littie lit lit- tIe tle Mark And Bob Farrell was was was' de do- voted to Norma as he always had been Anyone could see that I But did Norma really care for tor Bob One day Chris believed she he did The next she was uncertain If It she she's s foolish enough to turn downs down fine boy like Bob Chris told herself to keep faith with a a. good good- I for nothing like Mark Travers she does doesn't t deserve sympathy Apathy Bobs Bob's Bobs worth 10 Marks Probably she's In I Ilove love with Bob and nd doesn't realize it I Iye yet ye Well they'll have to settle af at lairs fairs for but I know what I Id Iddo do After Norma returned t to work the days sped rapidly Weeks Week's evolved again into the old routine of ot rushing to catch street cars taking and transcribing dictation hasty lunch hours more dictation clinging to a strap for lor the crowded ride ide home and w 4 blessed evenings and week week ends ends with little Mark March made its eutry entry l Iamb lik The ml sun un 1 melted and bright winter sunshine made heavy winter wraps actually uncomfortable Norma scrimped on n lunches and made the first payment on a cheap carriage carriage for r ine the J baby Before Belore that at taking Mark out for lor a daily dally airing had been auf of the theAu queStion Won Won- All AU of the sunlight sun sun- light Possible to absorb through a a. third floor loor window he had absorbed That was M not enough the doctors said d. d After the carriage arrived Mrs Carey arey spent nt two hours dally wheel ing irig him up and down the block Sa Saturday Sat Sat- ayLand and Sunday Norma always took him out She felt immensely proud when passers by glanced glance into the he carriage and said What a a. pret pret- ty y baby or stopped to 10 ask how old he was Above his blue blankets the Infants Infant's hooded head was Just Visible It was not easy to ke keep p him covered Ma Mark k that child chUd of or perfect disposition and deportment was showing an Increasing Increasing in- in creasing tendency to when he was supposed to be asleep He le wanted t to use his arms and legs legs' He wanted to be Independent On a a. Sunday morning in mid mid- farch Norma w was s the baby down the street She crossed the first block and the second Roslyn avenue Just a thoroughfare thorough thorough- fare are for town cross traffic Norma approached the curb waiting cau cau- for the signal light to change from rom green to red Intent on the problem of ot getting across the street she did not notice the lie limousine that approached and slowed lowed abruptly To be continued I |