New Britain herald., 1926-06-14

dark with d scoWl. then il cleared
 away a7d he shook his head.
 No, if you can stand having him
 hang around. I guess l can.' he
 said gruffly. Myself, l cant stand
 these guys that never take drink.
 They aren't regular he-men."
 Sylvia thought that over, after
 ward. as she put the bab" in his
 little bath and put him into his
 sleeping bag.
 Surely, Peter was a regular he
 man" True enough, he didn't
 drink or gamble. But he smoked
 and he rode a horse and did all
 the things that most rough-and- ready men did. Could it be that
 Ranny was jealous of Peter? Was that why he always said mean. cut
 ting things about him?
 But when Peter came at six o'clock Fanny greeted him heartily
 and made him a drink that Peter
 didn't touch. But later Eddie Car
 ter arrived and drank it, and his
 own high-ball, besides.
 Mrs. Bracket arrived at six thirty, so wrapped up in big cape lof summer ermine that Sylvia's first iglimpse of her was of sleek blond
 head and two long grey eyes.
 q don't care for her looks" Fay iconfided to Sylvia when they were .alone in the kitchen a few minutes
 afterward. She looks too much like
 cat to suit me. And I'll bet you a
 hat she is One!"
 Jane Bracket did look a bit like
 a cat, Her grey eyes blinked under thick brows and lashes and her long
 white fingers suggested claws, some } how. Her ways were kitteniSh. q haven's had a home-cooked meal for ages and ages" she said pathetically to Sylvia, taking her
 hand In her own, and l just know !, we're going to have beaten bis , cults and all sorts of lovely things ! you cooked, yourself, tonight" ) I'm sorry, but we aren't" Sylvia answered with cheerful bluntness.
 we're having a cold supper. Moth ing at all but deviled egg and an
 occasional sandwich" Don't believe her!' Fay broke In. I've been out ia the kitchen l and'
 ; She broke off and winked delib- erately, first at Sylvia and then at , Peter. For Mrs. Jane Bracket was looking up into Rannys face with 5 a lang fishing look. "Oh. do miss my own little home" she was signing, holding
 his eyes with hers, my own little kitchen where l used to cook!' She l sighed again, wistfully. Sylvia missed the rest Of her re- , marks on her own little home. For
 just then the door bell rang and ? she went to Jet in Lolly and Thomas and little Puss. , She nerer forgot the look on Fuss : March's impudent little face when she caught sight of Fanny bending , over Mrs. Brackets chair and look 7 ing down into her eyes. She stared ? at him with her little pink mouth
 half op ned.
 B Then she crossed the room and took hold of Ranny's arm.
 Hello. you!" she said. Didn't | you see me come in? Stand mp and
 
 ) manners? Where were you dragged . up?" She tweaked him playfully by l one ear, and lie stood up, looking l very annoyed.
 Hello, Fuss" he answered, as h.
 might have spoken 10 a child. = But Fuss was not going to he r treated like a child that evening" As l soon as she and Lolly had taken [ off their wraps she returned to
 Ranny's side, and there she stuck 0 for all the word like burr. r When Sylvia and Fay put the sup T Der on the table, she took Ranny 2 by the arm and led him out into X the dining room as if he had been
 a blind man.
 g Here, let's sit here together" she = said, and pulled him down beside q her on the window seat under Q iTetrazzini's cage. Maybe the bird
 will sing l like music with my c meals How about you?" He didn't y answer.
 c Sylvia went quietly to Peter and 0 asked him 10 look after Mrs. y Bracket, who was sitting staring
 stonily ahead Of her and paying no " attention to what was going on e around her. Only now and then she <. shot Ranny and Fuss a look of dis is gust and indignation. n Peter obediently got up and filled e two plates.
 e But l thought I could sit with I, you and hear how you're getting J. along" he said to Sylvia. There was
 look in his eyes that she couldn't Il make out.
 k Then he crossed the room to Mrs. 1T Bracket. May I sit here with e- you?" he asked, politely. ,e Sylvia, watching her, saw her pull {. herself together and give him q @ brilliant smile as she took a plate if from him.
 ss I've been hoping you would." le She laughed into his eyes and then 1t glanced across the two rooms at IS Ranny. There was a sort of chaI- .d lenge in her cats eyes. t. This" Sylvia said to herself, lis as sickening, really. To watch two
 women make fools of themselves a over the man who belongs to me! If le I had any brains I suppose I'd v- take the baby and go away fo'
 good"
 o. But she knew she wouldn't. even or while she was thinking it. 2" (TO B ECONTINUED)