New Britain herald., 1926-06-25
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 Illustrated

Sylvia tucked Babs' note into the Ipockct of her coat, and turned to tthc serious business of collecting meat and vegetables for dinner. ! IL wasn't until after that dinner Twas eaten. and she and Fanny were settled before the liying-room fire that Sylvia even thought Of Babs again.
 | Sine ran upstairs then, and took ner letter out of her coat pocket. II suppose I'll Lave to ask her to |s,uy here for a day or two until she lnnds q place to live" she said, when .she had read it to Fanny.
 lie scoWied. T suppose you will" ! he admitted grudgingly, But l hate ithe thought Of having a strange fe- male hanging around the house, I'll bet she smokes clgarets too, and talks about Io- of things she doesn't understand. If there's any thing 1 can't stand it's an old maid Wh,rg are you going to put her to sleep?"
 That was a problem. Sylvia didn't know just where she could put Babs and her bags, when she did come. There was no extra bedroom now that Sylvia the Second had arrived. Even the little housemaid. Liza. had Ito go home at night.
 "I suppose you could sleep on the davenport for q night or two,' Syl- via said finally. and Babs could have your bed" But Ranny interrupted her Nix on the comedy" he said, shaking his head and looking as cross as a bear, I'd get fine lot Of sleep on that thing, wouldn't I?-No, I'll go over to Mothers while you old maid friends here Maybe she's take the hint and beat it after the first night. 1
 And so it was settled,
 But Sylvia wasn't happy about it,
 II wasn't that she didn't want Babs 10 come there. She did want her, and she was hospitably inclined, any way.
 But she hated the thought of Rauny leaving her. even for q few nights. She hated anyone to spoil | their evenings here together, in the 1. -paneled room with it's grate !. fire. it's books, and it's softly-shaded l. lamps.
 The Little White House was an | earthly heaven for her, these days. l
 She loved every bit of it. from the ' attic where Ranny had put his old !, billiard table and his wall exercises, 1 10 the baS mcnt that he had white 1 washed. She loved it as a woman ] loves the place where she finds hap pincss and contentmont and peace. ! And Sylvia had found all three Of i them here, in this cheerful little l place.
 On Sunday morning, a few days ! later. Bals' telegram came. !
 "Iou open it and read it." Sylvia ! called 10 Kanny when he brought it ! upstairs. She was bathing the baby . herself at the time, and didn't dare . 10 leave her for even half min ! ate. l
 Tor Sylvia the Secoud Was no fralI . baby. such as little Junior had been. ! She was fat and sturdy. and she } rolled herself around on the bath table in a reckless way that filled 7 Sylvia with fear that some day she would roll right off and onto the , floor.
 "Irs from your friend Babs De Euo." Fanny called through the . closed door of the bathroom. "She . says shc"l be here at five tonight and wants you to meet her at the station"
 Sylvia groaned inwardly. Sunday Was Iiza's day off, and there wasn't anything in the house to eat but some canned things. For on Sun days Mother Phelps always gathered hef flock around her at the big house. and fed them OH the fat of the land.
 ..I must say that your old pal has nerve" Fanny added, after a pause, "Why does she have to be met at the station as if she were the Do- wager Empress Of Patagonia, I'd like to know? Why cant she jump in a cab and come out her, by her self. huh? l SUI pose this means I've got to go and get her, doesn't 1 it."
 sylvia slipped the baby's flannel i Eimono over her cute little curly head. wrapped her in pink blanket l and went out into the hall.
 Come on downstairs and we'll l talk it over in peace and comfort" | she said, and carried Sylvia the Sec ond down to the liyingroom, "Of | course, you'lI have to meet her, but | how will you know her? You've never seen her and l cant go with . you, because it's the baby's bed | time"
 Then d sudden thought struck her, and she laid Sylvia the Second in Rannys arms and ran upstairs to the attic. There, in her old steamer trunk. she found the thing she was looking for. A photograph of Babs . DclanU.
 Ranny groaned when he saw it. ! "Nhcw. she certainly is some fam ! ing mama" he exclaimed, haif-shut- | ting his eyes as 1T the sight of Babs' 1 pictured face hurt them.
 Sylvia couldn't help laughing at . him. She isn't half as homely as . this picture, she said. she really . would be good-looking if she fixed l. herself up q little. She has nice 1 features, and you'n like her. Shes . just as smart as whip"
 Ranny grinncd. shed have to be . as smart as mustard to get away . with a face like that" he answered. !
 But at five o'clock he left the . house on his way to meet Babs De- ] lano He had her picture in his . pocket,
 Although I don't really need it." ! he had said 10 Sylvia, when he kiss ] ed her goodbye. '1'H just look ! around for the homeilcst woman in