He had remembered.
The best jewelry store was Wesson’s and he was going to get the watch at the best store.
No diamonds—but a good watch.
It had been a long trolley ride from Edgeplains and it was a long walk across town from the trolley line. On the way, he passed the Court Avenue entrance of the Transcript Tower and he stepped inside it, briefly, full of such recollections that he knew he should hurry on, before one of the boys came by and caught him red-eyed. It was worse than being caught red-handed, Coley thought.
He felt an arm on his shoulder just then and he heard a familiar voice:
“Hello, boss. Somebody tell you?”
Coley smiled and raised his head and there was Payton, the city editor, grinning, but looking odd, too. “Tell me what?”
“Thought that was why you’d come down here.” Payton glanced apprehensively at the streaming people and lowered his voice: “The whole country’s under air blitz, Coley. They’re holding it back here, to prevent panic, in the belief this area is not on the target list.”
“What is this?” Coley asked softly, “April Fool?”
“It’s it,” Payton answered. “You should know!”