New Britain herald., 1926-07-14

him.
 Well, if he does, will you please
 give him the number here at the
 shop?" she asked-"Fenway 222."
 Mons promised that she would.
 Every time the phone rang that
 afternoon Merry picked up the re-
 ceiver with shaking fingers, pray
 ing and hoping that Tony's voice
 would greet her ears.
 But 1t was always customer
 wanting to make an appointment
 for a facial or a marcel wave or q manicure.
 At six o'clock she went home, hoping that there would be a call waiting for her there. But there was none.
 She picked at her supper and then ran upstairs to dress herself.
 Tt would be just like Tony to come rushing in without teIephon- | ing first" she told herself, brush- ing her hair until every wave of il shone like molten gold.
 It was eight o'clock when she finally settled herself in the sitting room with a book that she could only pretend 10 read. Through the door she could see the telephone in the hall, and command a view of the front porch as well. She waited.
 At half past eight. Jimmy and Mons decided 10 go 10 moving picture show to see Mary Pick ford in Little Annie Rooney" Mons declared that she needed cheering up.
 At nine o'clock Cassie came downstairs, bathed and cold creamed and manicured so that she positively glistened.
 i've been dying to make some lemonade for half hour, but l didn't dare come down. I thought your precious Tony was here" she said. What happened 10 him to- nighto"
 "I guess he fell through" said Merry, borrowing a bit of Jinny's high school slang. She did not raise her eyes from her book. and she spoke with careful indiffcr- l enCe.
 But every nerve in her body was straining for the sound of an au- tomobie in the street for the | first buzz of the telephone before | 1t rings.
 Alter Cassie had had her glass of unsweetened lemonade and had | gone upstairs. the house seemed | even more quiet than before. In | the kitchen q water faucet dripped. | Hes not coming" it seemed 10 say
 The old clock halfway up the stairs said tho same thing in diff ferent way. Not here-not herc,' it ticked.
 Presently it struck ten. and Merry gave a start-it couldn't be ten o'clock!
 There was a cuckoo clock in the , dining room and she got mp and went out 10 look at it. As she stood there. with her hand on the electric light button, it struck ten, too- ten strolcs Tony wasn't com ing!
 Merry found herself shaking her head as she stood there looking lp at the slow hands of the old dock. Her throat felt tight and her eyes burned as if she were going to cry at any moment.
 She switched off the light and vent out onto the front porch, ooking up and down the empty ength of Chester street.
 She knew that Tony wasn't com ng. and vet she half expected the glare of headlights would suddenly fight the pavement. and his bluc ar would stop at the curbstone in ront of the house.
 As she sat on the top step. with Ter hands clasped around her ,nces, someone came out of the : 1ouse next door. She knew that t was Derrick Jones. He was yhistling eve Been Working On he Railroad" under his breath.
 She got up and tiptoed into the Id IA IldllNdS ptlllilNt uIl ethb NNilt lpstairs.
 "Your love didn't show mp. did ,e?" Cassie's shrill voice came rom her room. Hes certainly cting like the dickens lately old you what happens when a girl ,ets her swceties narrowed down o one man, didn't F"
 "I wasn't expecting Tony" Mer- y managed 10 say without a tremor n her voice.
 She was in her own room now. 'he closed the door, locked if, and ook little bit of paper from her op drawer.Tn it was an old-fash- oned ring with little claws that leld a single pearl.
 She made a movement as if she we're going 10 put it on. then sud lenly dropped 1t back into the irawer, and threw herself across he bed. sobbing with silent and grief.
 (TO BE CONTINUED)
 Jimmy makes discovery. Cassie .sks Merry to go for an automobile rip with Morley Kaufman and an unknown.