Evening Star Newspaper, January 8, 1935, Page 21

DAILY SHORT STORY: FINGER OF LUCK Broken in Spirit, Boyd Resolved to Die at Sundown, But a Sudden Shadow Brought Him Fortune. BY GLENN REILLY. THE bright rays of the Western sun shone friendly down upon all men alike that Fall aft- ernoon. Perhaps alone out of several million people in the city Roderick Boyd repudiated its genial radiance and mentally cursed it. To Boyd it was not & bnm%evc of happiness, but & hurpglnxer of his own approaching dissolution. For Boyd had deter- mined to die when that same sun had flickered its last gleam over the ‘Western sky line. He smiled a wry smile at the irony of it. How symbolic, that sun. It was just like his life The Shadow Came Nearer the Walk. had been—weak 4 and of little import in the beginning, rapidly waxing brilliant, but destined to ultimate ignominy. “Is it possible,” he asked himself, “that & university man, an able con- sulting engineer, a fairly wealthy man as I once was, not so long ago, could have gone so far down the scale in 50 short a time? Penniless, friendless, jobless and with a wife ill and requir- ing expensive treatment?” It had been a fast path down. First he had sold his furniture, then his home and then even their personal be- longings—Mary’s jewelry, his own col- lection of rare coins. He didn’t mind for himself. It was Mary that he worried about. Soon she must have that operation or know that forever after it would be too late to be cured. So he had planned to die. An insurance policy on which he had kept up payments was still in force, and his demise would insure that Mary was cured at least. She would get a thousand dollars, and he knew that the operation would cost $400. That left $600 till she was able to get work. Yes, that beau geste was all that he had left to offer her, the only way in which he could thank her for her | loyalty through the hard times, the months of actual poverty. He walked over to the main street downtown and looked for the last time at the bulletin board outside the em- ployment agency. As usual, nothing, just as he had discovered countless times before. He rubbed his hand over the sprouting bristles on his chin and moved slowly on. He had taken but a few steps when he heard the door of the agency open and the scratching of chalk on the board. From force of long habit he turned and scanned the notice over the heads of the usual agency hangers-on. His heart missed several beats and he blinked his eyes to see if they were deceiving him. Outlined whitely against the black of the board he read: “Wanted—Capable engineer; $200 a month.” men outside the door and strode up to the desk of the personnel man. “That—that job as engineer. Where 1s it? I'm a consulting engineer. Will you give me a chance?” “You?” The agent appraised him from head to foot and laughed deri- sively. “Listen, buddy, who're you trying to kid? You look more like a stumble bum.” Boyd was taken aback. MARRIAGE PROBLEM TROUBLES FINLAND Revival of Old-Fashioned Wed- lock Sought—Thousands Looking With an incredulous cry he | forced himself through the ring of | | Boyd continued gleefully. down, he saw that the man was right. Funny that he had never noticed it be- fore. Expensive suit, but it was stained and needed pressing. Shoes scuffed and worn! at the heels, but they could be shined. A two days’ growth of beard, but that could be shaved off. All he lacked was a few cents—but it might as well have been a fortune. “But—" Boyd started to protest, then he saw the futility of argu- ment, and sudden hot tears burned his cheeks. Turn- ing on his heel, he walked away. The fruits of victory snatched from be- neath his very nose, and by the lack of a pitifully small amount of money. As he was about to retrace his way outside, the agent called, “Listen, mister. If you can get cleaned up and get back here before we can get some one else, I'll send you. But not otherwise. Heaven knows, consulting engineers don’t grow on bushes.” Boyd's eyes now lack luster evinced no hope at this gesture intended to soften the blow. Where in the world would he be able to get enough money to make himself presentable in that short time, when for days he hadn't been able to find enough to stay his hunger. No, he would have to carry out his plans as if he had never heard of a job. Death would just be a bit more bitter, if it could be, at this last jibe of fate. Dejectedly, his footsteps took the familiar route to the park, a route they would never again be forced to follow. Boyd sank wearily into the lank embrace of a park bench and gripped the iron hand rests. Facing west, he could see the shadows lengthening on the grass. He determined that when the shadow of a tall poplar finally touched the border of the sidewalk he would arise, walk to the boulevard and deliberately step in front of one | of the heavy busses. That would make it accidental death, which his insur- ance policy required. Inch by inch the shadow came nearer the walk. It was within a hand’s breadth when Boyd could stand it no longer. Kising to stride to the boulevard, he suddenly paused at a reflected glint on the ground. The peaked tip of the poplar's shadow out- lined by Boyd's ill-omened sun, was pointing like a finger to something on the ground beside the walk—a bril- liant, gleaming object. Curiously he stooped and picked it up. Unbelieving, a strange expression crossed his face as he looked at it. He ran back to the main street, stormed into a barber shop, sat down, and shouted: “Quick! A shave, a shoe | shine, send for the tailor to press this suit. And hurry before it gets dark!" The barber gaped in amazement as ““The sun has brought me luck. See>"” Holding out his hand, he displayed a shiny silver dollar. (Copyright, 1935.) ‘Tomorrow: “Frozen Out,” by Charles W. King, deals with a California frog- jumping contest, two unscrupulous claim jumpers and a wily old gold miner. a party to an unsuccessful marriage to obtain a divorce, desire to avoid taxation, unemployment and economic uncertainty. Now the committee is trying to think up remedies. Printed in Armenian. Armenia’s first book on Shakes- THE TEVENING - STAR, WASHINGTON, THE hew C1ie 1214-1220 F STREET D.C., TUESDAY, JANUARY- 8§, 1935 JANUARY SALES! —in NEW COATS for women, misses, juniors. —in action-priced apparel cleagances. —in gleaming satin slips, nighties, undies, corsets and negligees. —and Spring News stirring in‘the Dress Shops—Cruise Cotton Shop and throughout the Store! ; op, °49.50 to *59.50 COATS trims this 0 black _wool .50 Square draped shawl trims this man's 50 coat i ich January Sales! - $1.95 Bias Slips With a Choice of 6 Furs for women, little women 8 Furs for misses and juniors And All at - $39.50 This is one of the best coat offerings since Christmas, and there have been some good ones! Notice the list of furs— Persian Lamb—Tipped Skunk—Kolinsky— Kit Fox—Canadian Beaver—Black Fox— Mountain Sable—Jap Mink—Caracul And notice, too, the variety of styles—all of which should be equally “good” a year hence! Shawl Collars for WOMEN Persian draped Persian square Skunk ripply Skunk notched Kolinsky ripply and high back Kit Fox waist deep Beaver square Best collars for Misses—Juniors Kit Fox revers Black Fox shawls Jap Mink shawls Caracul swirls Skunk waist deep Kolinsky ripply i Beaver notched and high backed ® Beaver with muffs Mountain Sable Black Brown Green (Nayy for Misses) Fifth Floor—Coat Shop. January Sales! Lacey Satins! Tailored crepes! 36 to 44—for Misses and Women Tearose SATIN Pure silk, pure dye satin for $1.65! Several pretty styles trimmed with creamy white lace on vestee front and in ap- plique designs. French Crepe peare in the native language is being Ignore Ceremony. printed. HELSINGFORS, Finland (#.—The —_— task of finding ways to popularize “old-fashioned” marriage at the ex- pense of more casual relationships be- tween couples confronts & special committee of Finland’s Parliament. The committee determined that 8,644 couples in the country have neglected to participate in any sort of | nuptial ceremony. The reasons, the committee reported, are the influence | of modern literature and the theater, | shifting moral standards, inability of | ¥ 7th, 8th and E presents SENIOR-MISS DRESSES January Sales! The fine smooth weave that washes and wears splen- didly,. Tailored with double V or straight tops daintily finished with hem- stitching. Crepes in tea- rose and, white. Grey Shops—Second Floor. Fitted Chemise! Pure Silk Milanese —and COMBINATIONS Runproof Rayon Silk-and-Rayon 115 § oo oo el -~ = Both types in Tearose and Blush Sizes 32 to 40. Chemise with straight top, flare leg. January Sales! ‘Trims this misses' $59.50 coat of velvety diagonal wool ....$39.50 Trims this Junior's black rough wool Dottie Bals Newest in Baldriggan Pajamas! Discovered! how to weave dots right into knit paja- mas! Here for the first time are these new and clever Dottie Bals. Pajamas in soft knit colored cottons are very perky with all- over coin dots. The styles include tailored trousers and ski-pants, V and crew necklines. Little dots, me- dium dots and big dots in white are spattered over blue and rose grounds. Sizes 15, 16 and 17 Grey Shops— Second Floor. Two Very Special Type Foundation Garments $8.50 Semi-Step-in Brocade Foundations For medium fig- ures and full- diaphragm types $ 5 95 33 to 40 - Firmly reinforced over the diaphragm . . . low evening soiree back . . . modified up- lift bandeau of net lined lace. Sizes 33 to 40. $12.50 Foundations Built to slend- erize the extra- $695 heavy figure. 2 . Patent Leather Deep, Metal Frame VANITY B% 53 WOMEN! BLACK New $98.50 to $110 COATS 75 Richly, Abundantly Furred with MINK Silver Fox Persian Lamb Black Fox If you’ve been waiting to invest in one of Jelleff’s really superb coats, here’s your cue! The four most wanted furs, very beautifully fashioned into large square shawls, draped and rippling shawls, cape coats with high back collars. On _black, brown and green coatings of the finer quality. One of those chances that probably cannot be duplicated! Fashion Coat Shops Third Floor. Woman’s $110 coat with detachable Silver F o x shawl on Forst- mann’s Coating. ..$75 Spring Parades the Moderate Price Shop in Ncwy & White iy Misses . . » NAVY Matelasse Flat crepe Blister crepe Corded sheers Diagonals—with WHITE Flowers Cushioned chiffon Starched lace Women... NAVY Novelty sheer Diagonal crepe Heavy sheer Flat crepe with WHITE @ Lace vestees @ Herringbone @ Braided net Misses, 14 to 20—Little Women, 1615 to 2214 There are new dresses almost every day now in the Jelleff dress shops Moderate Price Dress Shops—Fourth Floor. JuniOFS—Dress News —and VALUE NEWS! Very fine, firm brocade material and skillful designing combine to make this model a most effective one in moulding long, - slimming lines. Low evening back, net lined lace uplift bandeau. Sizes 37 to 44. Grey Shops—Second Floor. Combinations with uplift bandeau top, side closing, bloomer, bandee, or step-in leg. Beautifully made with- out a seam to mar their smooth fit! Street Floor. $12.95 NEW—Hyphen crepe! (crinkly and soft) NEW—Two-tone! NEW-—Pearl Grey! —and new . . . the colors! Navy blue with bright Kelly green . . . soft blue with brown . . . rose with navy. Necklines higher and smarter than ever. .. and unmistakable touches of Spring in shining pat- ent belts, crisp lingerie touches, breezy little bows! Juniors! Dress pictured is an example in New Hyghen Crepe—navy blue with greenest "of green taffeta bow! 11 to 17. $12.95 Sizes 11 to 17 Junior Deb Shop —Fourth Floor. —young styles —women'’s sizes $19.75 —please observe . . . the colors anticipate SPRING! The styles. . . with wide flaring tops . . . with finely shirred tops . . . with ruffied tops with stitched tops . . . with side button trim . .. with one-snap fastener. Fine, lifiht weight kid gloves like these are a scarcity in the market « + » we luckily struck an importer who had a surplus of 732 pairs— just enough for one day’s brisk selling! Charming dresses de- signed for the many young women who need large sizes. In pure-dye silk crepe in navy, black, brown, with fresh and arresting details. Sizes 16 to 26. SECOND FLOOR—DRESS DEPT. , $‘I 95 Beige, Navy, Black-and-W hite Grey, White, Brown-and-Beige