New Britain herald., 1922-12-26

in her eyes ns she left the table, al
 appeal. which I answered by unob
 trusiNely rising as she turned ava, from the table, and walking with he to the door. When we were ono, safely In the hall outside the door
 she held out her hands to me.
 II T want to thank you for you
 courtesy to us under such trying cir
 cumstances," she said. "and wonder
 If you'll think mo presumptuous if
 tell you that the cleverness. the re-
 sourccfulness and the tact with which
 you have handled this thing set thil
 experience apart from most of my as.
 signments. It has been pleasure tc
 meet you"
 You don't really believe that any.
 body could dub the utterance of a
 compliment like that presumptuous
 do you?" l asked, smiling. and giv-
 ing her hand warm answering grip
 Indeed, l can't imagine my calling
 presumptuous any possible utterance of yours. The pleasure of our meet ing is not all on your side, you know.'' | Then" she hesitated oddly-"I'm going to take you at your word and run the risk of offending you. Please" she hesitated again. don't let bitterness get the upper hand of you secretly in this thing. Outwardly, of course, you'll carry on. lam older than you-and have seen many things" Her eyes were sud- denly weary. world d-worn--''and, be- lieve me, this affair is nothing to take seriously in your own heart. But--I glory in the way You are handling 1t. More power to you"
 Dicky Takes His Cue fA She dropped my hand. turned and walked swiftly away before could have answered her. even if had wished to do so. With . warm little glow at my heart, because of the womanly sympathy she had given me. I went back into the dining room. But I was not ready to follow her advice, any more than was in state of mind to heed what Lillian and my father had told me before starting on my journey. had forgiven Claire Foster. but ] could not find pardon in my heart for my husband
 Dicky rose as I came, back to the table, and remained standing even1 after was seated.
 The Lord knows I'm not usually thrifty" he said with a fine Assump- ton of carelessness, but clicking taxi meter, or whatever they substi- tute for it up here, annexes my an- gora more swiftly than anything else. So as long as you're going 10 stay here with Claire, anyway, think I'll mosey along. What time will you be along in the morning. The first train leaves at 10, the second and only other one at two. But I warn you now, I'm not going to get up ia the morning in time to catch that first train"
 Neither are we." I responded promptly. Well get down to your hotel just in time for you to take Us to lunch. SO order a good one, that's a dear"
 Tomorrow At Lunch Time"
 Say, where do you think you are?" he countered assrievedly. "'Order a good one 7 We'll, that's hot one. anyway. You'll get our choice be- tween roast beef and some sort of stew, and piece of bakery pie for dessert. I've been eating at that so- called hotel for several days now"
 Then we'll eat an extra late and bountiful breakfast '" I, said imper-l Come on Claire, let's speed him on his way. We can come back and finsh these delicious baked apples afterward."
 She rose obediently, even as Dickyl parked: Now what's the use of that? And l saw that she was pre- pared to agree like docile child to I might propose.
 You know very well why..' I re- torted, and if Dicfy had parked like a big dog I certainly yipped like 8 little one, and was glad of the oppor- unity to lay aside even for a second the saccharine tones which had sed- ulously used ever since my arrival.
 "Oh !'' Dicky returned blankiy, fol- owing the exclamation with . sulky: All right"
 But when we emerged from the din- Ing room into the hall he had adjust ,d hi1 own mask, and we were a ner = trio as we came out on the ,eranda, and Dicky signalleds the axi driver to start his engine.
 Tomorrow at lunch time then.' Dicky said clearly. ''So long. Claire. iood-by, MadGe."
 He tapped Claire lightly on the ihoulder. stopped and kissed me, and an down the steps to the waiting xxi.