THE CHINA MAIL FRIDAY SUPPLEMENT, DECEMBER 13; 1940.
SHORT STORY.
OVERCOAT FOR DAVE By KEITH AYLING
Poising her beret on her blonde hoad, Anne decided that this time Aunt Mary had gone too far, Dave wasn't good for nothing. He was energetic, industrious and loyal, the ideal husband.
זי
Anne's smooth brow furrowed' ing something for yourself," Aunt grocer's she thought of Aunt aunt did want to invest some He would jolly well send her back as she put down Aunt Mary's let Mary had written. I shall be Mary's £5., She wanted a new money why should it not be in the cheque, and tell Aunt Mary ter after reading it for the third very angry If I hear that you have winter coat, some new shoes, and Dave's business. She did not think tell her what, he asked himself. -
She was Anne's only relative. He time. It was all very well being spent it on housekeeping or on in the spring she was going to her aunt would interfere either. her aunt's favourite niece, but that good-for-nothing husband of have a baby.
Dave was thinking of Anne's had promised Anne to be tactful there was a limit. Changing from yours.”
Dave needed a new overcoat birthday as he went back to the with the old dear. His face was her pale blue house-frock to her Anne sighed as she put the let- desperately. He would have to buy office. He had started saving up gloomy as he surveyed the-che- black costume Anne felt hot and ter back in her handbag. Ever one soon...Salesmen had to look for her present at the beginning que. That fiver would have been unhappy.
since Dave had given up a safe smart Dave's Birthday, was two of the year with the idea of giv- so useful.. She sighed. She wanted to avoid position in a bank to go into the days, after her's Ame felt the ing her something really good. But when at the josychological mó- a row, as she always did, but since wireless trade with the iden, of oranges, and yondered ir bananus there had been so many things ment of the interview his client Dave, her husband, and Aunt starting in business on his own, were more economical,
If Daye and bust
had been bad. His refused to sign on the dotted line Mary had been at tacit logger- Aunt Mary had not approved of didn't have a new overcoat soon commi account had nut come he wondered if a new suit would heads over nothing at all, it had him, And Dave was beginning he would look terribly shabby, up to pectations, Anile wanted have helped him to clinch the deal. really been difficult to keep the to resent the old lady's attitude. The last time his coat had come a winter coat with a silver fox Outside bgain he stopped in front peade, p
"If she wasn't your only rela- back from the cleaners there had collar. He would have ked, to of a shop window, and, contem- tive, and if you weren't the most been so many little squares of red have given her something likn his reflection, Phillips was wonderful woman in the world, cotton to mark the worn places.
that before the baby came. Tight He was getting to look like I'd tell her something," he had
Choosing the meat she wonder- As he rounded the door of the a tramp. He would have to do said. huh, wäre et a humát, ed if she dared to defy Aunt Mary main office of the firm where He something about it.
Anne's blue eyes were troubled If she bought herself, a cheap coat worked the girl at the switch- Aunt Mary's coming to tea on as she glanced at the clock. She on credit, she might manage, to board, signalled him. Letter for Sunday," Anne amounced after grabbed her shopping bag. Dave pay for it by tightening up the you, Mr. Lander and he wants to dinner, She shuddered with alarm came home at half-past twelve. housekeeping. Dave had never see you.” She nodded her dark as Dave Snorted, "Pah! That old She hurried off. Waiting in the noticed, when she gave him mor- head towards the sales manager's cat, I'm sick of being nice to her.
garine instead of buter...or he had office,
Why does she have to come on my been too sporting to notice.
birthday of all days, We ought to Dave was a sport, the remein-
spend birthdays, alone. She'll want bered with pride as the butcher
to know what I have given you dropped the meat into her, bag,
for a present, and she'll look down and he was clean and honest. It
her nose at whatever it is." was just as exciting boing married
Arifle was sitting on the big to him now as it had been five Dave Settled his spare years ago. Jogging home with body in the deep leather chất the heavy bag she could think of quick eyes studied his Boss. nothing but to give him a new smart Philips was. He was overcoat, endistes
per the ce of efficiency arid When he arrived home för. Inch
aye envied him his Dave dropped a fondly apprecia- blue suit the spotless linen tive, kiss on her eur. Darling, the, and the burnished 'dark what would you like for your shoes.
She read the letter again. "I am: sending you £5 for your birthday, and I insist on your buy-
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Dave slipped the letter into his pocket. He tapped at the frosted glass door panel. Mr. Phillips, the sales manager, grøsted him brisk nod. "Sft down, I'll talk to you a second."
*a
birthday? 1 expect I'll be able to His eyes were unhappy as they find something in the old sock-"". went to his own that were show
She supped her arm round his ing signs of wear and tear, and neck and kissed him on the side his suit that didn't answer to of the mouth. "Why not postpone pressing very well these days. the present business until next He started from his reverie year, darling.!!
kute aware that Mr. Phim He shook his head and made a ing it him. "Oh, E face. Not a birthday's a birth- the sales manager. day, and you deserve, one every well but you're day of the year, my sweet." ing well enough as
It was nice to be loved that
way. Anne thought as she answer-
ed:
الا
salesman. I've made
of the fact that we've
I want a packet of smokes you for as
and a box of Turkish delight, so am going to talk to you.
Pouffe at his feet with her de curls tald against his knee. darling, please be nice to unt Mary this time. I have a
She pat- "Please, time,
Th utways alice to her. I If I let go sometimes she'd respect me more. She seems to cause I accept all she says." He think I'm a, spineless nit-wit be-
ran. his fingers through her hair.
"But I'll be on my best behavi- Soun for your sake, my sweet.,
promise, but it's going to be
ult Lou'see
door bell rang. Anne At the door Dave, I forgot to "checks were bright Now she was
spots
that I can make a pig of myself. I want you to give me that little frightened of what she had done. in the afternoon when you are extra effort, and I want you to "Dave, please don't be cross, but away."
look an ad a bit. Phillips paus Mr. Martin, the tailor called. Over Junch Dave suddenly stop-ed thoughtfully, his fresh grey, While business is slackc he is mak- ped eating. Anne félt a little un- eyes on Davo. "Lander, has it over ing Clothes for his old clients at a comfortable as he studied her, his occurred to you how important a special reduction. I thought you dark blue eyes, full of concern. part. appearance plays in “Here, I say, darling," he remark- game?"
we
of
12
our needed, an overcoat and 'er-I
prom
to pay it off at five bob 'I can manage that out hous
feeping. Dave's eyes flashed with sudden
fion "as"
she stood up. Anne to came over and stretched up
thing when you began to zák. Dave knew his face was getting
ed anxiously, you're not eatingYes, sir, I have. As a matter anything. What's up, Anne, tum- of fact I was thinking of that very my ache or something?”
Before Anne, could answer. had come round the table and hot. wus: hugging her tenderly, Tell me, darling," he whispered. "What is it. I hate to see you worried,"
She shook her head, and her Voice convinclog nothing wrong, my sweet, well oh. I've just got the ies. I suppose."
"Ob. Indeed, well I'll have kiss them away and risk giv
you indigestion....... Dave laughed
lovingly as he took her In his
"Good. I am glad of the der. I was afraid you ting a little slack. App
at deal to do wit
of sales succe In the sma
prefers to
-dressed was yo to buy clo
You see, I
--He held her slender to his. He remember- terview with the sales..... manager. So, Anne had noticed, too. After a Hittle while he said: “All right, Anne, we can do it on I do need a coat it went against the
ed "grain,
While the tailor was measuring he wondered if he dared tell
Dave was det ding, but Anne about Aunt Mary's cheque arins. They hugged each other. Mr. Phillips baulted him sharply. He would not for the moment, the They seemed to melt into one. "So had I Lander. She sta.v.d, matter needed" thinking over very person, with the same hopes, the too. Now she reaps the benefit." carefully.
was
same great purpose to love each He wagged a lean freckled finger The next morning Anne other always. Their eyes grew at Dave. "Make your sacrifices wrestling with the housekeeping misty with happy contentment, while you are young. You have accounts when the noise of Dave's To think that two people could the right stuff in you, Keep your key in the door disturbed her, It be so happy together," murmured sales going up, and I'll raise you was 11 o'clock. She fled to the Dave. It's too wonderful.”
in two months. In the meantime hall. "And it's going to last for c "I want to see you the best-dressed Dave caught her in his arths. breathed Anne. one couldman on the best-dressed staff in He lifted her off her feet to kiss ever, come between" us.",
the business."
her, "Sweetheart, you're having a Dave's grip on her slac ened a Marching his heated self out new coat, too, for your birthday. minute. His face was resolute Dave admitted that Mr. Phillips, I've had a bit of lucka. Es he ech
ht, and what could he do bonus for getting a dificult client. bout it?
Hurt lip with lunch, and we'll <lous-go-and buy it." He began to Instal- "Whistle a fox-trof"
tand they danced "into"the"-kitchen.
into a
"No one.
"Not
famous Aunt Mary,
Immediately the front dðb
closed behind hin
went to ways und
ing
tled
chair
ot red, she be
the
the ed
•"the" "wind
Aunt
vas that 50-d
had anythi
nd clench-
cry. Ho
ew over
Anne met night in her
at the 'offl
lovely. I m' Dave's dark
that Darling,
ičky
lit
if
Korked"
fus to
PLAIN
CORK TIPPED
The SUPER Cigarettes.
Obtainable at
C. INGENOHL'S CIGAR STORES
LA PERLA DEL ORIENTE
other tobacconists.
tell her
Dave
for his work. that.
Dave Rad
were married. He
when hi
out it. His ráco
as he studi
Who would write to him
co? Although
iilfar he could:
ore it oper and Kis eyes Golly it was Aint Mery
Wh
His ·
own, and
ed that
she would
Dave had turn flat.
idn't: aunt, darling."
Idea down
ened
your had, Bald. “She, hday.
had
Five pounds Tave
menns ell
Bhe would want to run
puts a farthing into the
lilm £52 Yor, his
From Heaven) ...
the gas
9. But his faca sobered all at once,
to
tó
go
to Aunt
bought
Bout
he was tfully as
what to
tell auntie how
There was a postscript. "You are much you give for my cunt," she I'll work my way up to sales mán- to buy something for yourself (ho, hazarded ater as she snuggled on 'ager of this "Orm, then I'll raise read) and you are not to tell your his lap in her blue padded dress- the capital on my record. It wild about this cheque. She would ing gown. “She might think we' won't be dullcult. Let's keen, the, not understand my being gener-- were extravagant."," ['family out of the business." our with you, having been spoilt Dave's answer sent her alarm
Antro reflected, Dave, was: In- all her iffo."
brocket high. clined to be a little too sensitive Dave grunted in sudden anger..⠀ “Oh, - "won't over Aunt Mary, who had been n. Of all the chock... » So the old girl shouldn'e llegi jolly"well" will." father and Snother to her. If hur's was cross with Anne în well now.. (Contiffsfed “un¬Fagr:6)
And: