New Britain herald., 1921-06-28


 sentiment, and.- I tfancfed, his usuaT disposition to blame me for the housing arrangement which had been forced upon us by his own folly in, selling our Marvin home. And all the bitter fancies concerning Edith Fairfax in which I had been indulg- ing crowded into my brain. ,r and forced the cynical little query to my lips:
 Are you sure of .that?".
 Dicky started as if I had thrust d stilletto at him. and turned upon me. fiercely.
 What dye mean by that?" he. de-. manded. There's a lot of use try ing to be decent. to. you. isn't. there Always handing out some nagging. blistering dope like. that,. Nov. ., if you really want to know. I can tell you"
 But his little tirade had given me time to repent and plan how best to remove the impression. 1 had given him. My temper was not easy to pla- cate at the irritating things. he was saying. but I smothered my resent ment ruthlessly. took. my right hand from the wheel and laid it on his tenderly for an. instant
 Please don't. fly. on at a. tangent like that till you know what I. mean" said softly.
 He gave A short little. laugh, ...I
 That's what I'd like to know" he retorted. but the e-rancor had gone from his tone. and I realized that my task was half-accomplished.
 Suppose meant" I said. picking my way slowly. that I have no in tention of letting you get lonesome in the city? You'll be out here most of the time this summer, anyway, and whenever you want me. suppose you let me come in and share the studio for a day or two? Then in the fall we surely can find something where you and can stay part of the time till the housing situation lets up and we are ready to get city apartment or . suburban home once more.'
 waited breathlessly for his an swer had advanced the sugges- gestion of the studio tremulously, feeling that his acceptance or re- reflection of 1t would signify much to me. Yet in the back of my brain I knew that my attitude was wholly for the studio accom- m odations were cramped for one-l they would be almost intolerahle for two. '.'
 Dicky was silent for nearly a min ute after I had finished, and I drove miserabIy along. wondering if I had failed to convince him of my sin cerity or if he were trying ito. think or some method of dodging the studio suggestion. Finally, felt his arm slip around my. waist. and his voice sounded mischievously in. my ear.
 Pretty Quick Foot Work"
 Pretty quick foot work; old dear" he said mockingly., but there was tenderness in the rnockery. and my heart grew lighter. "Of course, that wasn't what you mean at first, but so long as you shifted so. clever ly, far be 1t from mo to hold grudge on it. And l was going to spring that very suggestion. when you came up to bat with it. or course. the studio will be out of the question. except for an occasional day-you know what a cramped little hole it is-but 1t will be lots of fun having you camp there with me. and we ought to be able to find some sort of rooms toward fall. I. tell you, dear heart 1t makes all the differ ence. in the world to mo whether you're around or not. If you're there its home. if you're away it isn't
 If there is a woman in the world with any affection for her. husband whose heart would not have thrilled at those words I should like to see her and card index her as a curiosity. My heart was beating high. with happiness. I tried to. express to Dicky something of what I felt, and failed miserably. but I think he un- derstood, for his clasp frightened around me. and we logged on down the road in biissful contentment.
 A Hurried Messenger.
 The sounding Of horn behind me warned me that car wished to pass. Dicky took his arm from my waist as I swerved tho car to the side of the road. But tho driver of the car. instead of passing, kept even with us. and as I looked up to see the reason of his action saw that in the seat behind the wheel sat pr. Petit.
 He xestured imperiously for us to stop. and felt suddenly as if ice had congeaied around my heart. His face was stern and set. and I knew that he would not have stopped me with Dicky in the car unless there was some grave reason. for it.. stopped the car. and Dfcky leaned across me. took the query trembling on my lips from my niouth | .syybat has happened? he asked,