The Boy Grew Older

d Dr. Clay. "Her nervous condition isn't good," he added as an afterthought. "Somehow or other she doesn't take much interest in

pulation with the managing editor that somebody else should cover the story in case his son was not yet born. The consent had been somewhat grudging and so he had no inclination to call for another respite now that the baby had actually arrived. It would h

ody around the hospital knew anything more than that about it. She had left a note and Dr. Clay had taken the extreme liberty of reading it. Medically speaking, he could not say that it indicated anything more than a highly neurotic condition. The woman was rational. He could not see his way clear to

her startled. Now that it had happened he realized that he should have known that Maria might do

that you've still got him. I believe he's having his bath now. Wouldn't you

ands around him had shouted "Knock his block off. Kill the nigger." And he had seen someone very beautiful slowly crumple up before a slab-sided, bristling, little man who had no quality of skill or grace. Nelson had just kept coming in and in. He never stepped back. Often he took a blow in the face rather than bother to stop for an instant from swinging his own short arms at the brown belly in front of him. The victory had seemed altogether mechanical. Gans had not been knocked out so much as clawed to

He could not be quite sure of it because that was the very moment something inside rapidly wheeled him about and sent him all but running out of the alley. Later he was more enterprising. The dramatic critic at

take us up to her dressing

s with me. But never mind. Here they come. It is now their turn on the stage.

"But that scores for you. Yo

cattered over the room. Maria sat down on a chair and stretched out her feet. There was another chair nearby but somebody's stockings were on it. Pe

ally sisters

. The rest they are all mixed. It could not be that th

the greatest dan

ow. When Boots was sick, Mr. Casey-he is our stage manager-he wanted me to go on in her place. He said

the right leg and then the left leg and then kick both legs. That was what he wanted Maria Algarez to do. How is it you know? It is s

d been little kittens and placed them on

easy when you do things. And the thing you danc

to the Waltz' of Weber. 'Miss, Miss, Missed' is not so good. That is right. And so

atre. I only write about sports. Baseball, you know

it will be our secret. We w

houting and all eight Bandanas rushed int

aid Peter jump

d Vonnie across the room. "We don't

d Peter. "Excu

seconds. "You must come again. I want tha

he said. "There isn't a nickle's worth of harm in the lot of us. But t

reme

d was "The Invitation to the Waltz" by Weber. He wasn't good at it. And besides it was all

e who said it, the door man, a stage hand, a scrub woman, anyone would have sufficient authority to terrify him. His mind leaped beyond that and he had a vision of a policeman laying a hand upon his shoulder and saying, "I arrest you on the charge of mashing." After that would

sweeping into his street. First came the musicians. Then one girl. Then two and presently the flood. Peter did not dare to be too detached any more. Fortunately he found the window of a cigar store just at the corner where the alley turned into the street. By pretending an interest in the special sale of genuine imported English briar pipes Pe

arm again. "I knew you'd come," she said. "It was that look yo

d Peter. "I just happ

are glad

ourse

rotected on the streets of a great city at night. It's

I wish I could.

they haven't got any sense. 'I knew I could rule you the day we wer

as stupid? And I'm no

but your figure is grand. I guess you find

got sense. Wh

were waiting for Maria? And I know a lot more than that. You keep looking at that girl

Peter, "I guess

tep," and Vonnie went up the stree

"what was it you ta

e're going to

is it yo

lik

nny. But it is not so funny. We can talk about it again. Now I am so tired th

were just fin