Show tk I FICTION I ON S STREAK By GARTH R. R OF SPENCER P IRISH lE lEH H Russ Van Hosen was late but feeling feeling feeling feel feel- ing good with the check from another another another an an- other car sale tucked in his pocket He walked in at the back door Pat was stirring something at the cup cup- board She heard him but didn't glance around Russ squeezed her shoulders and kissed her then waited hopefully Pat didn't respond After a minute Russ turned away and walked onit on it into to the living room So Pat was still sore Well one thing was certain certain certain tain the next peace move would have to come from her He sat down and reached for the sport page Golf was opening at the Wyaconda Sunday Well they probably probably probably ably wouldn't go now they probably ly wouldn't go anywhere Lately it seemed they'd been quarreling all the time It had begun this time as usual with with a fa quick sizzling flash of Pats Pat's Irish temper One of those brief ups flash-ups which usually ended with little damage done Only this one hadn't ended yet it was still dragging dragging dragging drag drag- ging on Well let it drag Maybe by the time it was over Pat would have learned to keep that streak of fighting Irish temper down Pat came in from the kitchen Russ Van Hosen she said sharply put that paper down All right Russ knew what Pat wanted to carry on from where they stopped last night I want to know Pat said tightly tight tight- ly just Ujust why you left the party with that Gertie Hale last night Russ' Russ jaw grew stubborn I told you I went out to start her car that's all It certainly took you a good long longtime longtime longtime time Where was her husband why why didn't she have him start it I uI dont don't know he was somewhere somewhere somewhere some some- where around I guess Anyway I had sold her the car t Yes Pat said two years ago before Id I'd even met you Russ I are you getting a little tired of me Russ groaned Pat knew better of course All she wanted was a row Maybe he had spent too much time with Gertie but what of it What about Hal Kirk last week Pat had asked him to stop over and see her on his way in to Chicago Talk about old pals Well Pat insisted Russ turned back to his paper Ive said all I have to say Pat started to speak again then stopped Over the paper Russ saw her face tighten All right she said quietly Russ watched her walk across the room and begin to climb the stairs He listened and after a moment moment moment mo mo- ment he could hear her moving about in their bedroom above Doing Doing Do Do- Doing ing what he wondered After ten minutes he went to the foot of the stairs and called Pat No answer Pat he called again Pat was coming down the stairway stairway stairway stair stair- way she had on her hat and coat She carried her bag in her hand Pat Russ demanded where are you going Why Pat answered coldly should you care care Russ studied her face She was bluffing of course threatening to leave Well two could bluff right he said why should I 11 Im going back to work for Hal if you want to know A little stab went through Russ' Russ heart Simply because of Gertie Hale Not entirely Russ we simply simply simply sim sim- ply cant can't go on fighting all the time You know Russ said evenly Ive been thinking that same thing Pats Pat's lips whitened again So Soth th that's ts t's settled Ill I'll need some money she said Russ took out his billfold It held three fives and a ten He offered her the bills Without looking at them Pat shook her head not enough she said Im taking the next plane at the airport Russ was sure now that she was stalling giving him a chance to beg Russ swallowed against the painful painful painful pain pain- ful aching in hi his throat What a fool To think their little spats had mattered mattered mattered mat mat- as if every couple didn't have them during their first year Maybe even now if he should call the airport airport- The clock struck ten booming through the awful emptiness of the house Russ grabbed the phone the plane left at ten Feverishly he dialed the number Airport Listen has the plane Its It's gone The silence of the house beat against his ears He couldn't stand it here he had to get out d thing Russ started for the front door then remembered it was rain rain- ing His raincoat was in the closet off the kitchen door The closet was dark his searching searching searching search search- ing arm knocked down a package a long package that clinked as it fell He dragged it into the light c a h r 4 S 'S SC Sly S S C r ly a t i t 1 0 00 I o 1 00 t I Russ t took out his billfold It held three fives and a ten He offered her the bills Without looking at them Pat shook her head her to stay If he gave in this time hed he'd have to give in always The stubborn lines of his jaw hardened Taking the car check from his pocket pock pock- et he endorsed it with willi his pen This is on Conway Company he said you Hyou can cash it anywhere in the state Pats Pat's cheeks went fiery red Her voice was low but it trembled Russ Van Hosen I could murder you Give me those bills and let me go I Russ said nothing He watch watched d her herback herback herback back the car out onto the drive Not until then did full realization come over him He had held firm he had won a moral victory But Pat was gone Russ walked slowly back into the living room He was still dazed unable to believe it Ten minutes passed a half an hour Then memories memories memories memo memo- ries began to rise and choke him a hundred memories of the swell times they'd had together together- From that first day when they'd met at the golf course course- They'd played together and hed he'd beaten her in spite of the ribbing shed she'd given him over his mis-matched mis up patched-up clubs Hed He'd been saving to buy a new set but hed he'd bought her a ring instead If there were only some way to get her back back back- From Kirks Kirk's Sport Shop Chicago It contained a set of perfectly matched clubs So that was it That was why she had had Kirk stop there To get a present for for him All these months Pat had been scrimping on her clothes pinching saving saving- What a heel WHAT heel WHAT A HEEL HEEL HEEL-he he had been I A sound from behind startled him the turning of a latch He whirled Pat stood in the doorway Pats Pat's eyes were blazing her cheeks were on fire Russ Van Hosen She stamped her foot and it shook two bright tears out on her cheeks Russ Van Hosen I COULD MURDER YOU I Honey Russ gasped Honey girl Dont honey me I For a half hour youve you've let me sit out there in the drive In the rain Waiting for you to come out and get me But you Oh how I hate you I Instead you waited until I had to give in myself humbling my pride pride pride- Suddenly Pats Pat's voice broke Her arms went around him Oh Russ I dont don't care what you did But say you love me that me-that that you'll always love me I Because I love you so sol Russ didn't answer he didn't want to answer All he wanted was the assuring feel of her in his arms Russ Pat was sobbing even while we were quarreling I loved you If you could only forgive that streak of Irish in me meHI meI me- me I HI can Russ said humbly if you can overlook a streak of stubborn stubborn stubborn stub stub- born Dutch |