"Don't go, girl. Don't. Don't give me the horrors and leave me alone to-night, Marj."
She moved slowly into the gloom of the cross-town street. Solemn rows of blank-faced houses flanked it. Wind slewed as through a canon, whistling in high pitch.
"Gee!"
"Fine little joy lane for your Christmas Eve, eh? Don't go, Marj. Have a heart and be a sport. Let me blow you to a supper down at Harry's for old times' sake. Didn't you promise my old woman to keep an eye on me? Didn't you? For old times' sake, Marj. It's Christmas."
She stood shivering and gazing down into the black throat of the street.
"It'll be a merry evening in that two-by-four of yours, won't it? Look at it down there. Cheerful, ain't it?"
Tears formed in a glaze over her eyes.
"Be a sport, Marj."
"All right—Blink!"
* * * * *