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Show RICHARD HOFFMANN A. I SYNOPSIS Followlnu his father's bitter criticism criti-cism of his Idle life, nml the notification notifi-cation that he need not expect any Immediate financial assistance, Hal Ireland, only son of a wealthy banker, bank-er, finds himself practically without funds but with the promise of a situation sit-uation in San Francisco, which city he must reach, from New York within a definite time limit. He takes passage with a cross-country auto party on a "share expense" basis Four of his companions excite his Interest: a young, attractive girl Barry Trafford: middle-aged Giles Kerrigan; Sister Anastasia, a nun: and an individual whom he Instinctively Instinc-tively dislikes. Martin Crack. Barry's reticence annoys him. In Kerrigan he finds a fellow man-of-the-world, to whom he takes at once. CHAPTER II Continued Then he was good and angry-anger angry-anger flooding his Joints and his purpose with warm lubricant By G d, their best clothes, probably, and their money snatched from them by this animal, this drugged ape! As he raised himself from the floor, Hal had a savage wonder whether Kerrigan would like to fill the hole in his collection of experience experi-ence by killing Miller. His next act suggested Itself as glibly as if he'd done this sort of thing often. He doubled his right forefinger and. kneeling on one of the Jump seats, leaned forward and pushed the knuckle against Miller's ribs. Miller didn't start or tremble trem-ble or look around, but the car began be-gan wearily to slow down. "Pull up to the side," Hal said, disgust flattening out the anger In his voice. Miller obeyed gently, as if he had been chauffeur to old ladies. "Now," said Hal, "I want your wallet with all the money, your license, and your registration." Miller's futile fingers took out the fat, shabby wallet and spread Its compartments to show everything. every-thing. Hal put It Into an inside pocket and took his knuckles from Miller's ribs. "Slide into the other seat," said Hal. Miller obeyed, with a strange, sleepy air of gratitude. Hal stepped out of the tonneau and got Into the front without looking at Miller's face. "Ever been In Jail?" Hal asked him as the car started. "Yes," said Miller, very low. "Want to go again?" "No," said Miller. Hal ran past a farm road, backed the car into it, and swung out on the highway again toward the town. Miller parted his lips with a sticky sound and cleared his throat, "I was Jus' takln' her up the road to kinda try out an' see . . ." "Don't speak unless you're spoken to," said Hal quietly, "(let It?" "Yes," Miller whispered. He followed Hal into the lunchroom lunch-room with the embarrassed friendliness friend-liness of a whipped hound. Relief didn't at once come to the at-moftphere at-moftphere with Hal's entrance. Crack's narrow look at Hal's face was uncertain, though one hand Indolently In-dolently Jostled the golfball. And rarry Hal laughed at himself for having forgotten that this thing was to be used against her; and he barely kept himself from looking at her. showing her his sincere, forgetful for-getful anger. He smiled amiably at Mrs. Pulsipher, saying: "What? not started eating yet?" "No," she said, as if weariness had come to her in the short time he'd been gone: "I we were wondering " Her look went In timorous question ques-tion to Miller, then back to Hal. "We were just Just waiting for you," she said. "I wish you hadn't," said Ha! gently. "Miller and I've Just been arranging a sort of transfer: he's taking my place and I'm taking his." He added, "I've got the fares." . He saw Mrs. Pulsipher believe and recover. The nun's head was up and her gentle eyes on Hal's In something like proud gratitude, as if he had foreseen and spared her humiliation. hu-miliation. Crack leaned away from the counter, his close-set eyes bask-Ing bask-Ing on Hal's In their own speculative specula-tive laziness. Hal tumeu his back on Rarry, wondering why the devil he had to start trembling, now It was all over. He prayed he would stop It before Rarry noticed It: he felt her watching him. Kerrigan came to his side as the others moved back toward the tables. ta-bles. "He tried It, 'ey?" His tone was Judicial, but his brown eyes above the tough, florid cheeks were nimble with some special laughter. Hal looked at him, frankly arid humorously quizzical. "Yes, the louse," he said. "What's the Joke? "I was wondering how long you d keep from looking at ber," Kerrigan laid. Hal gave a tight, sheepish smile and let his look answer Kerrigan's. "Just wanted to gather myself a little and make the first one right" he said. Kerrigan nodded brief commendation. commenda-tion. "You've got old Spot-landing where he won't try this again?" "Mm," said Hal, gathering up his change. "Got his money and his papersand pa-persand the keys. Got an Idea about what we might do, too. Like to ask you later." Without any definite demonstration, demonstra-tion, Kerrigan welcomed the "we." "Good," he said. "Hungry?" 'Yes," said Hal, remembering that he was. "'ou?" "Yes." Every one, Including Miller, was seated at one of the big, white-enamel white-enamel tables when they started hack. "Gathered yourself?" Kerrigan said without looking at him. "Guess so," said Hal, smiling a little. "Go, sit beside her, then," said Kerrigan. "Right," said Hal. He pulled out the empty chair beside Barry In next the wall. "D'you mind If I sit here?" he said, as lightly formal as he could manage. man-age. She looked around at him wlthont hurry, the parting of her lips delayed de-layed again till after the first smiling smil-ing of her blue, yellow-flecked eyes. "No," she said in near-husky ease. "Thank you," said Hal, stlil casual. cas-ual. "I I'd like to thank you," she said quietly. "For what?" "What you've just done." "Please don't," he said. "Why not?" she said. "I'll tell you exactly why," he said, leaning a little forward. "Because "Be-cause I didn't think Miller had the wit to try what he did. Because I should have stood there like a wooden Indian and let him get away with It If you hadn't looked at me the way you did. There. But I ask you please not to look at me that way any more If you can help It, because It's rotten for my temper." Her lips parted further over bright teeth, and there was nothing of defense left In her look. And after he had involuntarily felt tne compliment in her candid pleasure, he realized how beautifully that leisured light behind her eyes free of coquetry, traced with reticent interest suited the soft, clear composure com-posure of her face. "That's all darned honest of you," she said. "Aren't you used to It honesty?" said Hal. She dropped her eyes, closed her lips, but she was still smiling when she looked up again. There was nothing conscious or dramatic about her saying, "No not especially. But that doesn't stop my liking It." "I'm glad," he said. "That makes It easy to be honest again. Honesty is my curse one of them." Her smile, and the light behind it, slowly disappeared. She watched him a moment, not thinking of what he'd said. "I like . . ." She began, and then the waitress' arm drove hetween them, her finger stabbing an Item on the bill of fare that Barry held. "Corn-beef is delicious; veal chops Is out." "Out where?" said HaL "Veal chops Is finished," she said. Barry moved the card so he could look at it, too, her eyes on It, but uninterested. Hal glanced up quickly quick-ly across and down the table. Crack wasn't watching them; but Hal knew he had been. The hotel couldn't take them all, and Mrs. Pulsipher was certain it would be too dear any way; but down the road a little they found cabins; the 75c sign convinced Mrs. Pulsipher and the sign "Showers" convinced Hal. Pairing the party was easy; the Pulsiphers for one cabin, Barry and Sister Anastasia for another, then Hal and Kerrigan Kerri-gan with Miller left for Crack. Miller Mil-ler started for his bed at once, peel-in" peel-in" his coat awkwardly as he went. "Miller'" Hal called after him. The man turned, grinning sleepy cleverness which Hal hoped was nierelv his continued attempt at In-eratiation. In-eratiation. "Bags." Hal said. "Ain't gonna need 'em Jus' for the one night," he said. "I don't need ""(let'em out," said Hal ; and Miller Mil-ler went about it. still grinn.ng As he undressed. Hal inspected the night shelter with quiet awe. Some part of every thread In the carpet showed, with so much un-bea un-bea en dust scuffed Into it that you wondered how you could be sure Hie thins was not antique. On the bureau-a shelf covered with sotted oilcloth and dignified With a broken comb, some hairpins, and part of a pink elastic garter. Hal sat himself naked on the prickly blanket of his hod, and In a moment a trickle of sweat darted down the middle of his chest. All the places all across the continent can't be like this, he thought. Poverty Pov-erty is pitiable, in a front-line dugout dug-out or In the slum room of some one who clings to old habits of tidiness; tidi-ness; but when it begins to fringe off into squalor, pitiable's not the word. Miller's probably asleep now comfortable here, with his clothes on. But the others the Trafford girl, the good nun ; none of them, not even complacent, dreaming dream-ing Crack can be Kerrigan came back from the shower, his graying hair In damp curls on his forehead, his cheeks glowing. "Hello, Colonel," said nal, smiling. smil-ing. "How's the shower?" "I wouldn't like to guess what they keep there In winter," Kerrigan Kerri-gan said, "but if you hear the fed-era! fed-era! men, it's easy to bail out. The door into the front store swings open whenever you happen to think. Crack's In there now, but he said he'd send up a rocket when he was finished. What was your thought about what next?" "Oh," said Hal. "Something like this. I shouldn't think any of 'em would be disappointed If we dropped Miller and his car. I know a fella in a company In Detroit know him well enough to ask him a favor. What would you think if I got him to put us on to a good sec- IIM Ifiltt "I Wish You Hadn't," Said Hal Gently. ond-hand car and trust us for the price till we get It to the Coast and sell It? If Miller was going to make a profit on the fares, we ought to be able to break even anyway. And If he can find , the way, we can. What d'you think?" "The scheme of a genius, a titan," Kerrigan rumbled, taking cigarettes from his coat. "We can try it," said Hal. "Only look if we could tell the others not tell them that It's through a friend of mine we're getting the car; If we could say you and I were chipping In on a bargain and expected ex-pected a profit on the Coast." Kerrigan's eyes were friendly with approval. "You mean the are-you-any-relation - to - Frederick - Ireland Ire-land sitchatlon?" he said. Hal nodded. Then a shadow fell on Kerrigan's look and he turned his head dubiously dubious-ly toward the door, saying, "Hi there, nippers. Finished?" The door was ajar and Cracks head was stuck around It. "Yes," said Crack, smiling with tentative amiability, as if he hoped to be asked In. "Thank you very much," said Hal. The door closed without sound ; Hal and Kerrigan looked at each other, both listening. After a moment Hal said In a subdued tone, "What does he carry that silly golf-ball for?" Kerrigan shook his head. "Why do you suppose that oaf In New York picked on him to be with the Trafford gal?" "Don't know," said Hal. "Except the only man I've seen this year stupider than Larsen is Miller." There was a car at the gas pumps, and Hal in yellow slicker and red-leather slippers walked across the grass with the headlights head-lights full on him, feeling as if he were on the stage of the Hollywood Bowl. He found the Gents' place all that Kerrigan had said of It-Rut It-Rut the water that fell on him from the shower was cool and pristine and good, like delicious rain. And as he reveled In It. he piously acknowledged ac-knowledged the miracle that made so simple a thing as cool water a tonic for body, a wine for spirit, an essence of immaculate luxury. The flow of his shower slackened slack-ened as the sound of raining began In the next compartment, beyond the partition that didn't bother to reach the ceiling. He heard a short breath taken of pleasure and easrerness; and then Parry's near-husky near-husky voice quietly said, "Oh, d n Hal gave a single laugh o, pleasure. pleas-ure. "Can I help?" he said. "Where are you?" slip said. "Next door. What's happened?" j walked Into this b' this so-and-so shower with my darned wrist-watch on." "Ah, cry-making," said HaL "Sorry." "You don't sound it, but thanks Jusl the same. Gosh, isn't It good tin water?" "Beautiful," he said sincerely. "Beautiful. As beautiful as as " "As cool water running over you after a hot day in an old car with seven people and a dog." "Where's the dog?" "Here having his shower too. He loves showers." Hal chuckled. "I'd like to see I'd like Well, yes." "Good," said Barry; "I'm glad." "Glad of what?" "Glad you can't I haven't I'm not " "What! Not at all?" "Well, practically not," she said. ,"Just jodhpurs and an old bed-jacket." bed-jacket." "I suppose you'll be going In for comedy in Hollywood," Hal said. "Who told you I was going to Hollywood?" she said, at once guarded. "Y'ou did." "I didn't." "You didn't say It with your mouth, but everything else about you did," said Hal. "Oh," she said coolly. "You're one of those people who knows lots and lots about other people just by looking at them." "No," he sa.d. "I'm mostly pretty pret-ty unobservant." For a moment she said nothing under the cool showering of water. Then curiously, "What's a snob?" "What do you want an epigram?" "No, I want to know what you say a snob Is." "A snob," he said, thinking, "a snob Is what envious people call some one who minds his own business busi-ness and only cultivates people he likes." "Who made that up?" "I did." Her tone wasn't flippant, merely interested : "To fit yourself?" "N'ho," Hal laughed. "Why?" "Just wondered. Sometimes today to-day you were what I thought a snob might be. Yon weren't so darn nice to the Pulsiphers, and they were ready to be nice to you. You didn't let down for Kerrigan till you saw he wasn't going to run after you. And " "I wasn't asking anybody to run after me," said Hal. "I don't think I'd like It And what else?" "And you made me mad" "I'm sorry," he said happily. "But I was I wasn't trying not to. You were making me mad, even before be-fore you looked at me there, where we had dinner." "Ah? How?" "Want It honest or pretty?" "Which ever you like," she said carelessly. "Guess which It Is, then," said Hal. "I thought you were too sure of your looks wondering all the time which of ns you'd have to keep from getting fresh. That made me mad." "Because you wanted me to be pleased and surprised when you told me about my looks? Because you didn't want it made hard to get fresh?" "Then I wasn't wrong. We can start all over again." "All over," she said. Her shower stopped and Hal's came more strongly. Then she made a squeak of horror. "What now? Bed-jacket wet?" "No, but I've got a chill and no towel. Gosh ! What would Lubltsch do?" "Keep the chill," said Hal, "you'll need it I'll toss you a towel over the top." He reached the harsh, gray towel Kerrigan had got for him and swung an end of It Into her compartment. com-partment. "Got It?" "Oh. thanks," she said, "a lot." "You'll remember this and not be boompslsh with me tomorrow?" "Yes. No. I mean I won't b? whatever you said. I'm sorry I was." "Don't be," said Hal. "All right, I won't." Then, In a moment, her soft voice said, "I'm going now. Good night Thanks for a lovely shower." "Hey, my towel," said nal. "You want It back?" she said, mildly Incredulous. "Oh, goodness, yes." "But " she paused and nal waited wait-ed a moment "It's- my towel, isn't It?" he said without sympathy. The end of the towel flopped into sight. "It's wet,", she said. "Good night." "Good night. Barry,'' he said. He stopped his shower and tool the towel. It was damp, faintly fragrant as he brought It near. He hesitated: Why was It wrong to use It? The sparkling of his gray eyes went faintly sober; and, folding fold-ing the towel, he stufTod It Into the pocket of his slicker. Suddenly Barry's voice came casually over the top of the partition again. "What's your first name?" "Oh, hello," he said as If she'd caught him at something. "Hal. Henry. Hal. Why? No, I didn't mean that" "Didn't mean what?" "The 'why.'" "Night" she said. "Pleafant dree-unis. "Same to yon, nh Garbo." lie heard her door close and latch. Slicking the loose water from his skin with his hands, the Impulse to chuckle kept nudging comfortably at his stomach. And we shall meet again, I trust. (JO BE COSTIXIED) |