1940-12-13 — Page 34

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THE CHINA MAIL FRIDAY SUPPLEMENT, DECEMBER 13, 1940,

SHORT STORY

OVERCOAT FOR DAVE BY KEITH AYLING

She sighed. She wanted to avoid a row, as she always did, but since Dave; her husband, and Aunt Mary had been at tacit logger- heads over nothing at all, it had really been difficult to keep the

peace.

Poising her beret on her blonde head. Anne decided that this time Aunt Mary had gone too far, Dave wam't good for nothing. He was energetic, industrious and loyal, the ideal husband.

She read the letter again. "I am sending you £5 for your birthday, and I insist on your buy-

Anne's smooth brow furrowed ing something for yourself,” Aunt grocer's she thought of Aunt nunt 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 hear that you have winter coat, some new shoes, and Dave's business. She did not think tell her what, he asked himself 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. She was Anne's only relative. Ho 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 lot 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 give so useful, position in a bank to go into the days after her's. Anne felt the ing her something really good. But When at the paychological, mo-i wireless trade, with the idea of oranges; and wondered if bananas there had been so many things ment of the interview, his client starting in business on his own, were more economical, It Dave and business had been bad. Hia refused to sign on the dotted line, Aunt Mary had not approved af didn't have a dew overcoat soon commission account had not come, he wondered If a new suit would him. And Dave was beginning he would look terribly shabby, up to expectations Anne wanted have helped him to clinch the deal. to resent the old lady's attitude. The last time his coat had come a winter coat with a silver fox. Outside again he stopped in front "It she wasn't your only rela back from the cleaners there had collar. He would, have liked 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 like plated his reflection, Phillips was wonderful woman in the world, cotton to mark the worn places. that before the baby, came. right, 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 suid.. ta

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 workted 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 announced 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. Walling in the noticed when she gave him mar- 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.

Dave slipped, the letter into his birthday of all days. We ought to Dave was a sport, she remem pocket. He tapped at the frosted, spend birthdays alone. She'll want bered with pride as the butcher glass door panel, Mr. Phillips, the to know what I have given you dropped the meat into her bag, sales manager, greeted him with a for a present, and she'll look down and he was clean and honest. It brisk nod. "Sit down, Lander, her nose at whatever it is. was just as exciting being married. I'll talk to you a second,”. “ to him now as it had been five

Dave settled his spare young years ago. Jogging, home with body in the deep leather chair. His the heavy bag she could think of quick eyes studied his boss How nothing but, to give him a new smart Phillips was. He was dap overcoat.

per the ace of efficiency and pros When he arrived home for lunch perity Dave envied him his neat Dave dropped a fondly apprecia- blue suit, the spotless linen cole tive kiss on her ear: "Darling, lar, and the burnished dark tin what would you like for your shoes.

Panera del birthday? I expect I'll be able to TILs eyes were unhappy as they

went to his own that, were show ing signs of wear and tear, and his suit that didn't, answer, to pressing very well these days.

He started from his reverie, aware that Mr. Phillipg was look He shook his head and made a ing of him: "Oh, Lander began face. "Not a birthday' 'à birth- the sales manager. "You're doing. I promise bat, it's going to be day, and you deserve one every well, but you're not do difficult. You see day of the year, iny sweet, ***ing well enough as my head It was nice to be loved that salesmair. I've made no secret way Anne thought as she answer- of the fact that we've earmarke cd: "I want a páckét of smokes ed you for a bigger job so and a box of Turkish delight, so I am going to talk to you squarely that I can make a pig of myself I want you to give me that little in the afternoon when you are extra effort, and I want you to

́ ́ look oh,ad a bit" Phillips paus

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find something in the old sock:"

She slipped her arm round his neck and kissed him on the side of the mouth. "Why not postpone the present business until next year, darling.

away.

Anne was sitting on the big cream pouffe at his feet with her blonde curls laid against his knee. “Oh, darling. please be nice to Aunt Mary this time. I have a special reason

Dave did not answer. She pat-- ted his knee imploringly. "Please, darling, be extra nice, this time, it's important

believe If I let go sometimes she'd "But I'm always nice to her. I

respect me more. She seems to think I'm a spineless nit-wit be- cause I accept all' she says" He ran his fingers through her hair.

"But, I'll be on my best behayi- our for your salte, my sweet....

Dave's eyes flashed with sudden

to

The front door bell rang,. Anne sped to answer it. At the door she halted, "Oh, Dave, I forgot to tell you. Her cheeks were bright spots of colour Now she was frightened, of what she had done. "Daye, please don't be cross, but Mr. Martin, the tailor called. Over lunch Dave suddenly stop-

While business is slack he is mak- ped_enting. Anne felt a little un-

ing clothes for his old clients at a comfortable as he studied her, his

special reduction. I thought you dark blue eyes full of concern.

needed an overcoat and-er-I “Here, I say, darling"" he remark-

promised to pay it off at five bob ed anxiously, "you're not eating "Yes, sir. I have. As a matter a week. I can manage that out anything. What's up, Anne, tum- of fact I was thinking of that very of housekeeping." my ache or something?"

thing when you, began to speak." Before Anne could answer he Dave knew his face was getting irritation as he stood up. Anne had come round the table and hot.

This came over and stretched up. was hugging her tenderly, "Tell "Good, I am glad of that, Lan- kiss him. He held her slender me, darling,” he whispered, “What der. I was afraid you were get- body close to his. He remember- is it, I hate to see you worried. ting a little slack. Appearance has ed that interview with the sales She shook her head, and made a great deal to do with the usy-manager. So Aune had noticed, her voice convincing. There's chology of sales success. A client too. After a little, while he said: nothing wrong, my sweet, it's just,, even in the smallest business al “All right. Anne, we can do it on well-oh. I've just got the miser- ways prefers to give his order to credit for once I do need a coat ies, I suppose.".

well-dressed representative. badly. But it went against the "Oh, indeed, well I'll have to When I was your age I starved grain. kiss them away and risk giving myself to buy clothes.

While the tailor was measuring you indigestion. Dlive laughed. "But you see, I have a wife him he wondered if he dared tell lovingly as he took her in his and-" Dave was defending, but Anne about Aunt Mary's cheque, arms. They hugged each other. Mr. Phillips baulked him sharply. He would not for the moment,, the They seemed to melt into ong "So had 1 Lander. She btd:7 d. matter needed thinking over very person, with the same hopes, the too. Now she reaps the benefit." carefully. same great purnase to love each He wagged a lean freckled finger. The next morning Anne was 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

arins.

"And it's going to last for ever,” I want to see you the best-dressed Dave caught her in his breathed Anne. "No one could man, 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 slackened. a Marching his heated self out new coat, too, for your birthday. minute.. His face was resolute as Dave admitted that Mr. Phillips I've had a bit of luck-a £5 he echoed, "No one." He broke was right,, and what could he do bonus for getting a difficult client. into a little grib "Not even the about li?...

Hurry up with lunch, and we'll famous Aunt Mary

go and buy it. He began to whistle a fox-trot and they danced into the kitchen.

?

His mind turned over anxious- Immediately the front door had ly. With the furniture. Instal- closed behind him, Anne's mind ments due, the insurance and the went to ways and means of buy. money he was putting by for the Anne met him at the office that ing him a new overcoat.. She set, baby's arrival... Anne must have night in her new coat. "Darling, tled herself in the big fawn arm- the best. He frowned, and clench you look lovely. I am a lucky chair, and stared at the big bowl ed his fist in sudden worry. He man." Dave's dark face, was lit of red roses by the window. Dare, simply couldn't afford a new over, with enthusiasm. It was us if she be frank with Aunt Mary and,, coat or a sult, and he ne d d bo h. they were just married, it seemed tell her how important it was that. So did Anne. The poor kid hadn't, to her. How wonderful, it was to Dava should have smart clothes had anything decent since they be so completely in love. for his work. She decided against were married. He jumped, on a Over dinner she reflected: hap-

bus.

pily. How wonderful of Dave to Dave had forbidden her to dis He was feeling for, a penny to have spent his bonus on her birth, auss finance, with her aunt after pay his bus fare, wher his fingers, day present, Really, he ought to one, unfortunato, sitirmish. There, touched the letter. He had forgot have invested in a new suit to go was another reason. One day Dave ten all about it. His face was with the overcoat. Her content, wanted to go into business on his puzzled, as he studied the en- ment faded as her mind went own, and Aunt Mary had sucgest- velope. Who would write to him Sunday, If she fibbed to Aunt ed that if they ever wanted capital at the office? Although, the writing Mary and told her she hud, bought she would supply it.. Of course, was familiar, he could not place the new cont with her cheque?, Dave had turned the idea wh it. He fare it open and his eyes.

**But she dare not tell Dave about widened. Golly, it was win Marvi. Aunt Mary's cheque that she was "I wouldn't be bossed by your, She had sent him, £5 for his, going to return as tactfully, as aunt, darling, he had said. “She birthday, Five bounds — Davo, possible," She wondered, what to means well I know, but, if she gasped pennies, from Heaventi

do

flat

puts a farthing into the business. But hilo face sobered all at once, "Dave you won't toll auntie how she would want to run it. No. There was a postscript. "You are much you gave for my cont,” sho I'll work my way up to sales man- to buy something for yourself (he hazarded Inter, as she snuggled on ager of this firm, then I'll raise rend) and you are ho to tell your his Jan in her blue, padded dress- the capital on ny record. It wife about this cheque. She would ing gown, "She might think we won't be difleült. Let's keen the not, understand my being gener- wero extravagant."? family out of the business.” rous with you, having been spoilt

all her life,"

Ange, reflected,» Dave, was, in alined to be a little too sensitive over Aunt Mary, who had been n. father and mother to her. If her

Daye grunted in sudden anger. Of all the cheeks. So the old girl wos cross with Annɑ as well now,"

Dave's answer, sent her alarm? rocket high,

"Oh Won't II And why shouldn't I1×I Jily well wm, I'l

(Continuption,