New Britain herald., 1920-07-21


 everything from fur boots and hot water bottle to a chicken sandwich and hot toddy. lts his way of apoloEizing for insisting upon an open car instead Of closed one"
 You mean it's hts way of getting anybody to drive with him in that open car" Alfred Durkeo chimcd in. 'T tried it once. and br-r''---hc shiv- cred cxaEgera tedIy-'I went to bed with chilla tor week.
 We all laughed. for Alfred is ire sistiblc when he talks nonsense, and ! drew quick breath Of relief. The danger of a scene had been passed But that DiCky was furiously angry beneath his laughter knew. and dreaded our first moment alone to- gether
 \ Moment Postponed.
 That 1t was a moment. however which could be postponed for several days 1 was sure. For tho first time l felt thankful that even Rita Brown. much us I disliked her. was to share the drawing room my father had pro vidcd for mo. She at least would in- sure me against any unpleasant in- tcrview with Dicky on the journey. and once arrived at . Cedar Crest T. knew that Leiia's wedding would catch us up in a whirl of gayety and keep us fully occupied for days.
 1 couldn't resist a furtive glance at both Dicky and Major GrantIand. and l almost laughed hysterically at the elaborate manner in which they were avoiding even n casual glance at each other. That the little incident had intensified the antipathy between the two men I well knew. though I guessed that Major Grantland was as relieved as l that Rita Browns ban ter had resulted in laughter instead of an angry scene.
 Rita herself was watching Major Grantland furtively. a speculative look in her eyes. I knew from a carficss reference of I,eila's that she had met the young officer only once or twice before. kut I was sure that her mer- cenary mind was fully aware of every worldly advantage that he possessed. Furthermore. I guessed that she was studying him with tho purpose of de- termining the weakest points in the barrier he had built up between him. self and the wiles of women.
 I had to admit the cleverness of her first move. She looked laughingly nt Alfred Durkee and spoke directly to him.
 "rd Love To-"
 Everybody knows you're a hot house plant. Ali" she said tantaIiz- ingIy. ''I don't know of any place you'd be really comfortable except the one which my Puritan training forblds mo to mention. You simply don't know enough to appreciate the majors car. I hope he doesn't think that all your friends are similarly afflicted"
 Sho accompanied the little speech with n swift, provocative glance at tho young officer. then dropped her eyelids with a simulated shyness that was as ridiculous to any one who knew her as her reference to her Puritan training. If ever there was a typical product of New York's melting pot. her race and birthplace sedu- lously shrouded but unmistakably alien, 1t was the girl. glowing. beau tiful. almost exotic. but hard as pol ished steel. who had just given the subtle challenge to Major Grantland.
 There was enly one thing for him to say. Even q man unused to womch could not help knowing that IT" said it promptly. graciously.
 These chaps are siandering my car. Miss Brown. It is really quite comfortable. I hope you will try it some time"
 "I'd love tol" she responded promptly with hn exceedingly clever stimulation of ingenious franknes.. 'T'fl hold you to that promise when we get back. But just lcok at that clock. win you. good people? If we don't want our elders and the baby 10 travel to the sunny south without us we'd better get busy with the eats"
 She had spoken only the truth. For, the next few inutes we fairly bolted our fcod. and our walk to the train was a hurried one. Dicky and Alfred took my bag and hat box. but the cloak which had nearly upset the tranquility of tho occasion depended