Out of Time Read Online Free PDF Page B

ballooned as they walked past. Every one of them wore a hat. Fedoras and bowlers. And the women too. They all had on hats. Tight-fitting cloches or veiled peekaboos. And dresses.
    A couple glared at her, whispering disapproval as they noticed her pants. Not one woman wore slacks, only dresses and skirts. Some wore their hose turned-down in a risqué fashion statement, but clearly wearing blue jeans was not something a lady did. All too aware that she was showing off her limited goods, Elizabeth self-consciously crossed her arms over her chest.
    Hundreds of cars and thousands of people teemed around them in a dizzying rush. More and more passersby gave them odd, disapproving looks.
    A young boy with a ragged, woolen cap strode past them. “Paper! Get your paper here!”
    Simon startled her as he called out. “Boy!”
    The young man came over to them and held out a paper. Simon reached into his pockets and came out empty. And even if he had change, she realized, they couldn’t start spreading twenty-first century money into the past.
    “Sorry, I don’t…” Simon showed the boy his empty palm.
    The newsboy sighed, but then noticed Elizabeth for the first time. He waggled his eyebrows suggestively. “Ain’t you the stuff?”
    He couldn’t have been more than twelve, and by no means a threat, but she couldn’t help but feel a little tingle when Simon stepped closer to her and glared at the boy. But she couldn’t dwell on that. Using Simon’s momentary distraction of the boy to her advantage, she used opportunity to get a glance at the paper.
    “Just lookin’,” the kid said quickly and started back down the street.
    Elizabeth leaned in and whispered in Simon’s ear. “You were right. July 17, 1929. And the Yankees lost again.”
    Simon raised his eyebrow in question.
    “Read the headline.”
    “That’s my girl,” he said, but then cleared his throat and looked away.
    Her stomach fluttered at the compliment, not to mention how adorable he was when he was flustered. “And we know that you can read the watch.”
    “True,” he said, pulling her closer as the crowd surged across the intersection. He led her to an empty doorway away from the mass of people. “But, I’m afraid, reading and manipulating are far different things.”
    “You’ll figure it out.”
    Simon didn’t seem so sure. He looked down at the watch once more before he put it in his pocket. “This may take some time.”
    The doubt in his voice sent a shiver up her spine. He’d never been anything but certain, and to see him off-balance was incredibly disconcerting. But why should it all be on his shoulders? She wanted to allay his fears, but she knew him. Recognizing he had them would be an insult. Better to lighten the mood. If anyone was ever in need of a little cheering up, it was Simon. “If my boss doesn’t mind that I’m late,” she said. “Then I’m game.”
    His lips quirked into a smile. “You will be docked pay, of course.”
    Elizabeth laughed, but it didn’t last long. They couldn’t exactly stand around on the street while he figured out the watch. There was no telling how long that might take and the sun was already dipping behind the buildings.
    Their current, hopefully temporary situation was surreal, but she could deal with it. What choice was there? They just needed a plan. Time for some acting and not just reacting.
    “So,” she said. “We’re going to need shelter, at least for the night.”
    “Yes. I’d prefer not to stay on the streets. I doubt New York has changed that much in the last seventy years.”
    “Right.”
    “And we’ll need clothes,” Simon added. “I’m afraid we’re garnering a bit too much attention as we are.”
    Elizabeth’s stomach growled loudly.
    “And evidently food,” he continued. “Preferably something not out of garbage can.”
    “So we need money,” Elizabeth summarized. It always came down to money, didn’t it?
    “So it would seem,” he agreed. “Any