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 a movie or maybe to a dance, now The Cinderella Slipper had started its winter season in the basement of Kelly's. Or maybe spooning with Madge in the swell parlor of the Connors' new flat.

"Minnie, don't cry like that. Your eyes will be all swole in the morning. Don't cry, Minnie darlin'. Here, drink a glass of water. Come, baby. There's nothin' to break your heart about. When you get started to makin' money you can have all them things back again. You go to work tomorrow in that new studio and maybe you'll have a chance to make your hit there. You'll watch 'em close this time and won't let anybody double-cross you. I swear I'll kill that Grant girl if I ever get my hands on her. I never liked her the minute I set eyes on her, with her sneaky ways and hifalutin' manners. Sittin' there like a queen on a throne, turnin' up her nose at thirty-five cents a pound roast beef."

"Keep quiet, ma. My head's bustin'! I ain't sore at Eleanor. She don't know I got done out o' them clothes. . . . She's sick, ma. It's that Jew-woman, I bet, and if I find out it's up to her I'll fix her for it. I'll keep people away from her store! I'll walk right in and tear everything in the old place to pieces! I'll, I'll . . . where's that vinegar? Oh, my head's just killin' me."

An hour later Michael Flynn passing Minnie's room heard a tremulous sigh rise out of the deepening gloom. He paused, and his heart sank at the sound of it. His girl was unhappy; perhaps she was crying. He rose on tiptoe and bent to listen. The hand on the jamb of the door trembled. He wanted to go in to Minnie and take her in his arms, as he had done so often in her childhood, but he dared not. He