Evening Star Newspaper, May 17, 1937, Page 16

DAILY SHORT STORY FIVE MONTHS By Mildred Uhlman. M behind the torn cur- tain that served as the door of her off - kitchen bed room & slip of a girl stepped cau- tiously. She stood for a frightened minute deliberat- ing, her hand against her heart to muffle its pounding. Her gaze traveled past her father, reading his paper by the kitch- en table, to the open door; she shook her head uncertainly At the sink a stoop - shouldered ‘woman, with sunk- en, apprehensive eyes, reached for & pan and dragged it noisily toward her; a lad of 10, sitting across the | table from the man, rustled the | pages of his reader, and under | cover of these noises the girl ran swiftly toward her goal. She was within two steps of the hall's welcoming gloom when, like a cat which has his mouse cornered and relishes the play before the final blow, her father turned and purred deceptively, “You, where ya going' all togged up like that?” Josie and Alphonse stopped their quiet game on the couch; Peter lifted resentful eyes from his book and the woman's dishrag lay, mo- tionless under the hand that gripped the sink board. The girl turned and stopped just short of the circle of lamplight. ‘With guarded voice she answered col- orlessly, “To a dance, pa.” “Wipe that whitewash off your face,” he ordered. Hands and heart jerking painful- Iy, the girl complied. His eyes, gray- green and unblinking, never left her face; the abject terror in her black | ones struck up a pleasant re-| sponse withinr him. “Who ya goin’ Wwith?” * ok ok x } | “QIX of us are going together; it's a dance over at the night €chool. I've stayed home every night for almost two weeks, pa; my work is | &ll done.” { “1 said, who's takin’ ya?” | “Nick Edwards . .. ma met him.” “Oh, a new one, eh? What's the | matter with Al Kominski?” i “Oh, pa!” she choked. “He's al- ways so dirty.” | “And Edwards keeps himself nice and clean, eh?” he scoffed. “Where'd ya meet him?” “He's Irma's duced me. town.” “Oh, so that's it, is it? Your own kind ain't good enough for ya. eh? Where'd ya get that fancy dress?” The girl touched her skirt with a loving hand and a shade of defi- ance crept into her voice. “I made it at night school—just before you made me quit. I got the prize.” The old man flushed angrily. “No kid of mine is goin’ out in a thing like that! Go back in there and take it off.” “Pa,” Mrs. Parenti interposed tim. idly, “let her go this once. She don' go much, pa . . . and she helps a lot.” “You shut up!” he snapped, glar- ing contemptuously at the cowering woman. And to the girl, “Get outa that rag before I rip it off ya.” “Oh, pa,” the girl pleaded, “please let me go just this once. Please, pa.” * ok k% NGERED by her stubborn insist- ence, the old man reached out and SECURITY FILINGS PUSHED BY BOARD Delays in Applying for Account Numbers and to Difficulties, Appeal Says. The Social Security Board today urged all wage earners who have not applied for account numbers under the old-age benefit provision of the social security act to do this as soon as possible, pointing out that delays only add difficulties to the enforcement of the law, After June 30 the Post Office Depart- ment will—in cities in which there are no Social Security Board offices—con- tinue to supply application forms for account numbers. Such applications should be sent after June 30 to the | nearest Social Security Board office. On June 30, also, employers will file their first report of wages earned by employes since July 1, when the old- age beneflt plan went into operation. After that, these reports will be made cousin; she intro- He's got a job down- ““Wipe that whitewash off your face. » quarterly. FUR COATS 32 Stored irimem CroTn GoATS $9.00 Fur Collar-Cuffs CLEANED & STORED Low Rates for Suits, Rugs & Drapes Insured against fire, theft, heat and moths. ECDTEI'S CLEANERS & DYERS SINCE 1870 1327 Connecticut Ave. N.W. Potomac 5870 1784 Columbia Rd. N.W. Columbia 0720 2315 Calvert St. N.W. Cash & Carry America’s Quality Cleaners and Dyers e T A (. struck her across the face and with an oath pushed her toward her room. Peter, from his chair, whispered bravely, “Go cn, Mer, go to the dance. He can't no more than beat “Sure, go on,” the father jeered, confident that she didn’t dare and § turning his atten- \J tion to the boy who saw fit to cross | him. With a choking cry Mercedes turned and ran. She gained the front door and w ith desperate, frantic hands Jjerked it open and fled down the bro- ken walk. She stumbled into the waiting car; breathlessly she urged, “Hurry, Nick, please hurry!” The slight, confident-looking man at the wheel glanced past her and up the short walk. Seeing the threatening expression on the man framed in the screenless doorway, he whistled softly and, shifting, drove smoothly away. LY LL evening Mercedes was rest- less, remembering her father’s anger. It was 11 o'clock when she turned nervously to Nick. “Please,” she said. “I've got to go home. I'm afraid.” “Sure, kid,” Nick answered, kind- ly. “I'll come back for you later,” he said to the others as he helped the girl into her wrap. Mercedes huddled in her corner of the seat. “I'm sorry to spoil your fun,” she said contritely. Mercedes shivered as Nick helped her from the car. They walked without talking to the back door, and she ran cold fingers along the win- For deep fat frying add a teaspoonful of o0 LARD Takes away that “frying-fat ador Delightful aroma More appetizing food Send for free cook beok of Prize Recies Angostura Corp., Norwalk, Conn. THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C. MONDAY, MAY 17, 1937. dow ledge. A little cry broke from her. “No key,” she whispered. “Oh, Nick, my father took the key away!” Nick tried the door cautionsly, but it was secure. “Can’t you stay with one of the girls?” he asked. She shook her head, thinking of the fear all their neighbors had for her father. * ok ok x JUDGE BROWN turned from the old man to the girl. “What have you %o say, my child, about these things your father has told me?” he asked. “Did you disobey nim and go to & dance and have you atayed away from your home since that time?” Mercedes looked at the judge and then at her father, at his cruel eyes and sneering mouth. She recalled the wretched years she had spent, DOROTHY KILGALLEN, girl reporter, was assigned to break the women’s globe-circling record. She did—made the trip in 24% days! And Camels were with her every step of the way. “It was a breathless dash,” she says. “I was glad to have Camels with me. I know they don’t frazzle the nerves.” 40 YEARS A RAILROAD MAN— 15 yearsa Camel smoker. “I'm proud to be a throttle man of the 20th Century Limited,” says Chas. J. Chase. “I don’t take chances with my nerves. I smoke Camels—smoke ‘em all I have a mind to. Camels don’t get on my in his house, the misery in which he kept her mother. “I won't answer any more questions,” she said quietly. “Your father wants you sent to the house of correction until you are of age, Judge Brown said so- berly. “Unless you help me—" He walted for her to speak. Nick's volce came back to her in the quiet. “We can't fight ‘em, honey; you ain’t of age. Do what they say, but the day you're eight- een we'll get married. I love you, kid.” Returning from her reverie, Mer- cedes smiled. “Don’t feel bad, your honor,” she said softly. “It's O. K., five months ain't long . . . if you got a dream.” (Copyright, 1937.) ne? ja ding “‘\: her ON¢® HEBROKE the world’s indoor record in 440- yd. dash twice in one day. Ray Ellinwood says: “Jittery nerves are a big bugaboo to a track man. I've had healthy nerves right through my track ca- reer. Ifind that smok- ing Camels never jangles my nerves.” VARIETY OF THEFTS REPORTED TO POLICE Bandits, purse snatchers and pick- pockets obtained more than $90 yes- terday and last night. A colored man appeared with drawn gun in a fllling station at Twenty= sixth street and Pennsylvania avenue Security Storage early yesterday and robbed the man- ager, John Hurst, of $30. The bandit fled on foot. John Robinson, an Indian, reported to police that two colored bandits held him up with pistols as he was parking his car in a garage at his home, at 3154 Highland place, last night and robbed him of $8. How & colored man threw her to “CERTIFIED” Cold Storage COOL Storage; WARM Storage; the sidewalk in the 1800 block of Q street last night and seized her purse containing $25 was reported. to police by Regina Beckhardt, 25, of 1601 Twenty-first street. John 8. Mayhood, 829 Sixth street, told police his pocket was picked of a billfold containing $25 while he was riding on a street car yesterday after- noon. ADVERTISEMENT. YOUNG GIRL TAKES IRON | GAINS TEN POUNDS | dren like Vinol. | Binta. gave T08Y eheeks. Chil- At all Leading Drus- - SECURITY for your BELONGINGS VAULT Storage; ROOM and Space Storage The utmost in protection. Why take chances? A SAFE DEPOSITORY FOR 47 YEARS Today the sport of fencing puts much the same value on healthy nerves and unfailing alertness as did the deadly duels of long ago. NLY slow motion movies could show you all the brilliance of JoannadeTuscan’s darting sword play. In Joanna de Tuscan’s own words: “A person who didn’t have nerve control would never stand out in fencing. My No. 1 reason for smoking Camels is— they never jangle my nerves. Camel is the cigarette that I find permits me to smoke as often as I please. It’s Camels for me ‘for digestion’s sake’ too. They’re so mild they never make my throat harsh or rough.” COSTLIER F0BACCOS any nerves. I appreciate how mild Camels are.” Camels are made from finer, MORE EXPENSIVE TOBACCOS «..Turkish and Domestic...than other popular brand. WRESTLING ACE, Joseph Green, absorbs plenty of punishment while competing in his favorite sport. “A long-drawn-out train- ing grind puts a strain on nerves,” says Joe. “I enjoy Camels often —they help to ease tension and never jangle my nerves.” ART OBJECTS o SILVER YAULTS RUG CLEANING FUMIGATION dlompang “JACK OAKIE'S COLLEGE” Jack Oakie runs the “coll, music Catchy by Benoy Goodmanand Georgie :30 pm P. WABC-C S.T., S Netw