New Britain herald., 1925-06-02
mind to telephone Mss Briggs.

 her where Dick usually ate when he was downtown. And, then she would hunt Dick up. ,, She hated to eat alone. And besides. she want cd to ask Dick who the 'Lucie" of the letters was! She couldn't draw peacefuls breath until she knew that Fe.ay r tha
 She went into q, cigar store and looked up Miss Briggs telephone number. She called 1t.
 A woman with quayering old voice answered tho phone. Miss Briggs wasn't at home. she said.
 This is Mrs, Briggs Miss Briggs"mother." the old voice went on. "I think Susy's working late, You could probably get her at tho office. .. Who is this talking, please?" s Inc
 But Gloria had hung up.
 She stood silent as statue in the telephone booth. ... .-.
 Was Dick having supper some- where with Susan Briggs?. =. Her first suspicion Of him flicked her brain for an instant. Then 1t was gone. -. ....
 Oh, no not Dick! He wasn't the kind of man who made dates with his secretary! He wouldn't do such a thing. .. She put the thought aside.
 Gloria was very hungry.
 There was little restaurant nearby on Main street where the food was delicious. She made up her mind to so there for a bite. Then, afterward. she would run up 10 Dicks office and surprise him at his work.
 On her way. Gloria bought a movie magazine. She looked through 1t, sitting at corner table of the cozy restaurant with it's shaded lamps and smell of savory food.
 The waiter brought her soup ... |. mock turtle soup. thick. and steam ing. Gloria ate it hungrily. She sat back and looked around her, as she buttcred hot muffin.
 She was the only person in the room who was alone.
 At the other tables were little groups of two or three. Two, for the most part the eternal duo of a man and a woman.
 You can always tell the married couples from the ones that aren't married" Gloria gggled to herself. "The married ones usually have a newspaper to read. They never talk. and they're always glum!" ,..
 Then her eye was caught by the familiar look of man who sat with his back toward her. in the farthest corner of the restaurant. There was something about him that made her think of Dick. .. It was Dick!
 Gloria stood up 10 go to him.
 It wasn't until then that she saw that Dick was not alone.
 Across the table from him sat a woman. A woman with blue, shin ing eyes and a mouth which might have beeA too large if it had not been so Ane and firm .. .. Susan Briggs,
 Gloria stared at them. Miss Briggs raised her eyes and saw her, standing there. She leaned across the table and spoke 10 Dick.
 Glorias first impulse was to laugh when she saw Miss Briggs and Dick at that half-hidden table in the corner of the little restaurant.
 It was certainly the best laugh of the year - to catch the straight laced Dick out stepping" on the sly! To catch him taking his secre- tary out to dinner without telling his wife about it! It was too funny. The corners of Gloria's s mouth went up in malicious Iit- tie smile.
 Then Dick turned and saw her. And something hl his eyes startled her with it's intensity. What had he and Miss Briggs been talking about to make him look like that? Could 1t be that he was in love with her, after all?
 All the laughter died on Gloria S lips at the thought. Was she going to play second fiddle 10 Miss Briggs in Dicks life? Was she going to be one of the great army of wives whose Husbands are in love with their office girls? Well, she just guessed not! Not so you could notice it!
 With fury in her heart Gloria marched forward to the table where Dick was sitting with Miss Briggs, Dick jumped up and pulled out a chair for her.
 well, this is a surprise" he ex- claimed.
 Yes - I noticed you looked surprised when you saw me-" Gloria answered with sarcasm that bit.
 Without a word of greeting to Susan Briggs, she sat down at the table.
 "HaYe the waiter bring the rest of my dinner over here," she com manded Dick. Unless you have something to say to Miss Briggs that you'd rather not ahaye your wife hear"
 She laughed unpleasantly. She took out her vanity case and dabbed bit of rouge on either cheek. Then she raised her eyes to Miss Briggs.
 You don't have to wear rouge, do you?" she asked. You're as red as beet. You look as if you have a - -...--------@--~==s-