Show W TH THE 1 FICTION CORNER PET PEST PESTa a By ROBERT DENNIS THE HE footsteps came down the I city room and halted at the door of ot Clint Lipton's office Penny Alder felt eyes on her boring down through the barrage of typewriter keys she was sending up Something about Clint Lipton put a chip on her shoulder shoulder Miss Alder Alder- the voice was too polite to belong to her pet pest is is Clint comin back today She looked up at the old man who stood in hi the door of Clints Clint's room a shiny serge serge suit bagging around his lean stooped figure like a piece of wilted lettuce She nodded An assistant society editor had troubles enough Let Clint Lipton take care of the sports department and his own pests Old Hughey Lawler was his problem problem problem- The old fellow touched the yellowed yellowed yellowed yel yel- lowed saw brimmed straw hat clamped down over his thin fringe of white hair Ive got some news about The Kid for Clint to write up he said as he crossed the narrow aisle Oh HOh Penny replied helplessly If U it was about The Kid old Hughey would stand and gab forever forever forever- Course Ive I've got to give it to Clint Ive I've been keepin Clint right up to date on The Kid Kid Kid- H Hd swallowed swallowed swallowed lowed at something So hes he's told me With dull fascination fascination fascination fas fas- fas- fas she watched the old fellows fellow's fellows fellow's fellows fellow's fel fel- fel- fel lows low's Adams Adam's apple climb up and down the stretch of turkey-like turkey neck above the size over-size collar Clint also bad had said that said that the next time old Hughey tried to fold his ears back he be was going to to Did I ever show you the picture The Kid sent me when he was out on the Coast Hughey pushed a post-card post portrait under her nose lose a while while-r you while wa t ph photo photo- to- to graph of a young fellow in sailor blues Hues his hat cocked at an angle over one belligerent eye A HA fine lookin boy Miss Alder Shed She'd seen the face before Her glance strayed in through the open door of Clints Clint's office to where a shaft of late afternoon sunshine spotlighted a photograph tacked on the wall wall wall-a bare kid in a fighting fighting fighting fight fight- ing pose Shed She'd always looked down her short straight nose at those pictures of Clints Clint's brawn and beef friends friends- the guys with tin ears and bent noses the guys heaving forward passes the passes the tough he And Clint Lipton with Lipton with his head of of wild rusty hair and that habitual frown wedged between his set deep-set gray eyes was eyes was part of his muscle menagerie as far as she was con con- My My grandson Miss Alder Alder- You'd have thought the scrappy kid in the sailor suit was an admiral from the pride in old Hughey's voice You HYou ask Clint if The Kid wasn't on his way of being welterweight welterweight welterweight welter welter- weight champ champ before before he wanted to enlist enlist enlist- Ill bet he was Pennys Penny's comment comment comment com com- ment dropped like a pebble into the deep pool of Hughey Lawlers Lawler's pride He gushed words Penny Alder actually was glad to see Clints Clint's rust-colored rust head appear She almost welcomed his deep frown when he spotted her caller Old H HUghey ghey turned to Clint Ive urve got something for you to write Clint Clint Clint- up Clints Clint's nod toward his office was about as friendly as an umpires umpire's thumb I can only give you a minute minute minute min min- ute ute ute- Sure Sure The old fellow turned Penny found the Lipton frown aimed at her Youre a pal he accused you know that old guy gets me down She looked up at him and that chip was on her shoulder For holding him he scowled youre going to break down and go out to dinner dinner and and places with places with me tonight Is uIs that a pass or or-a or a penalty Take your choise only chaise only get your hat on He wheeled away Penny stared after the back of his sun-burned sun neck Why could he annoy annoy annoy an an- noy her more than any other man shed she'd ever known His very vitality vitality vitality vital vital- ity the way that shaft of late sun put sparks in his rusty hair hair every every everything thing about him bothered her Lets have it fast Hughey Clint said Ive got a date date date- That's what he thought She closed her typewriter desk with a bang She looked in again again again- Clints Clint's frown was concentrated on that latest picture of The Kid He reached for a yellow telegram old Hughey held outI outI outI out I come to tell you first Clint the old fellows fellow's shoulders slumped because The Kid would want 1 i written up on your page where page where his hla friends could see it He aint comin back Clint Penny didn't get it at first first and and then her chest went all tight for that old man in there The way he stood the the tone of his voice voice said said that everything hed he'd been living for had been wiped out by a telegram sent to the next next of kin I Clint kept frowning I You know what to say about The Kid Clint old Hughey prompted Tell em about that sweet left of his and how nobody ever got past it The old fellow talked on and on Clint listened his face deadpan Penny Alder listened too She was still at her desk when Clint and Hughey Lawler came out That picture picture- the old fellow said anxiously I I wouldn't want to lose it it- it Ill Til get it back to you Clint was letting him go without even one word of sympathy Sure well well well- thanks I guess I m lb I 1 rAA N F f k i t L AV Jf V D. D You haven't got your hat on said Clint gruffly I suppose that means its it's another no date wont won't be coming around any more Clint I mean there wont won't be anymore any anymore anymore more news about The Kid Kid Kid- Clint glowered as Hughey Lawler slowly started away then away then suddenly sudden sudden- ly he strode after him You HYou cant can't just walk out on your friends like that Hughey He gripped the old fellows fellow's arm hard Drop around around anytime anytime you feel like talking about The Kid Kid Kid- Penny doubted her ears but the smile the old boy gave Clint was real enough Sure Sure I I will Clint Clint Lipton turned and came back back to to halt at her desk You haven't got your hat on on- on on his voice was gruff I suppose that its it's means another no date I I 1 she began her eyes searching searching searching search search- ing hisO his O 0 K go go on say it So I gave him the off brush-off by hanging out the welcome sign sign sign- Shed She'd never tried to look beyond that scowl he always wore Like The Kids Kid's left left left-it it wasn't easy to get past his guard guard guard- You ou really like old Hughey Law Law- ler she said abruptly I Sure Sure if if I didn't like the old pest I wouldn't let him bother me would I But you wouldn't understand You never give a guy a chance to see if you can like him him him- For a moment Penny matched frowns with her pet pest She could feel his puzzled eyes follow her as she stood slowly and moved toward the coat rack He was right she right she hadn't been able to understand why shed she'd let him bother her her but but it was becoming clear She must have liked the real Clint Lipton all along even when she was carrying a chip on her shoulder for a a tough guy who didn't exist exist exist- When Penny Alder turned she was smiling smiling and and had her hat on I |