New Britain herald., 1926-06-22

pold or not. She didn't care whether he told the truth to Aunt Agony or to anybody else! Nothing mattered very much to her just now but the little baby that lay, breathing so loudly in his tiny room-the little baby that was her flesh and Rannys, her spirit and Ranny's.
 "Oh, you don't think he's going to die?" she aaked piteously of Aunt Agony and threw herself on that narrow, virginal breast with a half smothered sob.
 But it was Fanny who answered her.
 "Of course he's not going to die. Control yourself. Sylvia" he said. gruffly. You're just nervous, that's ! all. Better come to bed"
 He went there himself.
 Presently Aunt Agony stretched her thin body on the davenport and dozed, too.
 But Sylvia sat all night on the elge of the baby's small bed with one Of his hot little hands in hers. l Toward morning she fell asleep.
 When she woke up it was lIgn..
 The baby was not so feverish as he had been. and he was in what Aunt Agony called "a beautiful sleep" when she tiptoed in to look at him.
 Your husband just left for the office" she added bitterly, T sup pose he didn't want to see me again this morning! Well, it doesn't hurt my feelings q bit to have him out of the house, not a bit"
 At nine o'clock Fanny telephoned. 'I left my watch and a lot of im- portant papers on my chiffonier," he told Sylvia. Get a cab and bring 'em right down to the office. will you?"
 Sylvia tore herself away from the baby and went. To leave the tiny thing was almost like leaving part of herself behind her in the house, he seemed so much a part of her. And his sick little voice said nothing but "Mother-Mothcr," over and over
 She found Raany in his fathers old office,
 He looked very fine and import ant sitting behind the broad mahog- any desk, when she went in. He was talking over the telephone, and he put one hand over the mouthpiece and whispered to her to sit down.
 Sylvia sank into the chair beside his desk, and it was then that she noticed for the first time that girl sat at another desk in he corner. She looked up and grinned at Syl- via with teeth that were startlingly white in her brown face-the brown, gipsyish face of Elsie Leopold! "Why, whatever are you doing 1 herc?" Sylvia found herself asking, before she knew that the words were out of her mouth. For Elsie seemed very much at home, here in Ranny's office! Her hat and coat hung on the hook be- hind her, and there was a potted 1 flower on her desk. NIlt lduSutu outright al SSINldb question. NOW, looky here, don't you start to be jealous of mel" she said in her impudent, brazen way. Your husband is simply letting me use this desk for an hour or so every day until I get my own shop. so don't misunderstood the thing!' Sylvia gave her long, still look from those deep eyes of hers. It was q look that made the girl at the desk feel guilty and common and cheap, all at once a look that made her blush under her thick 1 layers Of makeup. NO. I don't misunderstood any ithnc." said Sylvia. turning away. "I think I understand some things, too we'll"
 She laid Ranny's watch and papers on his desk. As she went 1 through the door of his office he called 10 her to wait, but perhaps she didn't hear him, for she went straight on. The door closed slowly 1 behind her and clicked shut.
 (TO BE CONTINTED)