Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 16 June 1936 — Page 23

[DAILY SHORT ST ORY Too Fussy

—By Douglas Cronin-

F. was almost midnight when a small tan roadster, driven by & pretty girl, turned in from the street and came to a halt before Jimmy Devlin’s service station.

Jimmy, alone in the station, glanced up, grinned, then trotted outside.

“Hello, honey.” Anne Devlin smiled, and responded eagerly to her . husband's kiss. “How's business?” “Swell. The best Saturday night I've had in a year. In fact,” he added, pointing to one of the three pumps on the other side of the roadster, “I sold out the last of the éxpénsive gas about an hour ago. There's not a drop left.” [Anne frowned. “I wish you didn't have to work on Saturday nights, dear,” she said. “But at -least you'll have something good to eat tonight. “Here!” She extended a small metal container and a thermos bottle. “As a special treat, I made you some stuffed peppers. And you'll find some nice hot biscuits, too.” » » oy ARLING!” Jimmy sighed. “Aren't you ever going to stop being so particular about my Sat-urday-night meal? You're too fussy. All I need is a cup of coffee and a sandwich. Honest, Anne, you neednt’ go to all that extra trouble.” “Trouble? Nonsense!” Anne pouted. *You just don’t appreciate my efforts to—-" . Jimmy silenced her with another kiss as a car drove up and stopped behind .the roadster. “Now you run along home, honey, and get some sleep. And hereafter,” he added, with mock severity, “I

don't want you fussing so much |“

over your husband. He's not worth it.”

H » o

FTER Anne had gone, Jimmy filled the tank of the waiting car, then went into the station to eat. It was just as he discovered Anne had forgotten to include sugar for his coffee that a big black sedan drove up. Before he had a chance to get to his feet, one of the two men in the car's front seat called impatiently: “Make it snappy, Buddy!” “Yes, sir.” Jimmy stepped out and stood beside the car. “What will you--" He broke off. A revolver had appeared over the edge of the car door and was pointed straight at his chest. “All ‘right, Buddy,” said the man belind the gun, “empty yer cash register and bring out the dough. Every cent—see? We'll be Walch ya!” 8.8 8

IMMY'S feet remained rooted to the ground. There was, he knew, at least three hundred dollars in the till at the moment. He needed that money badly—to pay rent, grocery bills, this month's installment on the roadster. Three hundred dollars! The district police station was less than two blocks away. If only he could—— “Didja hear what I said? Get goin’!” : ~With a miserable glance at the menacing pistol, Jimmy shrugged hopelessly and turned away. .. “Hey! Wait! Stay where you are!” the bandit ordered suddenly. Jimmy swung around, A car had turned in from the street and had halted in one corner of the graveled clearing. ' Surprise and alarmed, Jimmy saw that the car was his own tan roadster, with Anne at the wheel! ” » » 3 ow listen, Buddy,” muttered the man with the gun, nodding toward one of the gas pumps, *just stick the nozzle of that hose in our gas tank and pump away. One false move and yer a corpse. If

that dame comes over, we'll handle

er!” Jimmy .acted accordingly, his eyes on Anne, who had stepped out of the roadster. If she should walk over here, scream or something, these men might Anne, however, called in a cheery voice, “I just returned for some water, dear. I'll get it myself.” “Okay, honey.” “Desperately, Jimmy tried to sound casual “Say—who is she?” hissed the seconid holdup man. “She's - my wife,” was Jimmy's grim answer. “I want her to keep away from here just as badly as you do.” : “Good night, dear!” Anne called

JIMMY heaved a relieved sigh as the roadster backed out of the drive and disappeared round the corner,

“Now go in and get the dough— pronto!” barked the gunman,

Jimmy did as he was told. Having delivered the money, with" a heavy heart he watched the sedan move away and swerve out into the street. Then, amazingly, he saw a long blue touring car appear from around the corner and, with sirens suddenly screaming, nosed the sedan to the curb. Three blue-coated men, all armed, leaped from one car to the other. Cursing and handcuffed, the two lawbreakers were dragged out to the pavement, ” » ” ARLING!” Jimmy whirled. A roadster had pulled up beside him. “Anne! What happened? How—" ‘Cheeks flushed, Anne laughed excitedly. “As soon as I was out of sight, I raced to the police station.” “But—but how’d you know those fellows were crooks?” “Oh, it was easy to tell something was wrong, dear—and I figured it

must be a holdup. You see, you were |'

turning the handle of the expensive gas pump—and you'd just told me there wasn't a drop of that kind left!” “Oh!” Jimmy grinned unsteadily. “I guess I was so afraid you might come over, that I didn’t notice’ it. But listen, Anne, did you really come back to the station to fill the radiator?” “Of course not.” She smiled. “When I noticed something was wrong, I made that up as an excuse, and got away as Suickly as possible.” Anne opened her purse and took out a tiny package. “I came back, Jimmy, because I'd forgotten to give you this.” She grinned. “If I wasn’t such a fussy person, I'd never have troubled to return with it—and those men would have got away with the money.” She -handed him the package. “Sugar—three cubes. I Know how you detest coffee without it.”

THE. END.

(Copyright. 1036, by United Feature Syndicate. Inc.)

MINE REOPENING LIKELY

RFC Grant Is Expected to Provide 150 Jobs. Times Special CLINTON, Ind. June 16—A Reconstruction Finance Corp. grant-to permit reopening of Vermillion mine, providing employment for approximately 150 men, has been approved. A. D. Spears, general manager of the Ferndale Coal Corp., said today that operations at the mine would ' probably begin soon after July 4.

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Answer to Previous Puzzle

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