New Britain herald., 1926-05-22

Hello Eddie" Fay's light voice answered. There was sharp edge to it-and Sylvia remembered that 1t was often this way when she had been drinking.
 Overhead a bird twittered sleepily in the unseen leaves.
 The eye of the fiashlight grew larger and brighter.
 I'm sorry we didn't wait for you, now," Sylvia called to the pair be- hind its glow. We just finished supper about five minutes ago."
 Pays laughter rippled up and down in the bright little waves We've had plenty" she giggled as she came dimly Into view, leaning on Ranny's arm, and 1t wasn't food or water, either."
 They've ben drinking!" said Ed die, brilliantly. "Yes-siree! while we've been sitting here, starving while we waited for 'em to come, they've been cozily getting spiffli- cated-well, what do you know about that"
 I'll make them drink some hot coffee. Thatll straighten 'em up," Sylvia answered. For some reason, not at all clear to herself she felt like crying.
 She went forward and took Fay l by the arm. T think you two are horrid-not to get to my picnic on time" she said to them. There's a wonderful New Man here tonight, too, Fay-you'l be sorry you were late, when you see him!"
 Fay laughed again. Al right, I'll take him under my wing when I get there," she replied, and you can have Fanny. All he's done is tell me how wonderful you are all evening lin sick of the sound of your name, to tell the truth-yes. III bc glad to give your new man thrill
 She was as good as her promise.
 She took Sally March's New Man away from Sally in five minutes.
 How does she do it?" Sally asked Sylvia as she helped her unpack q box of marshmallows for roasting. She's not pretty or particularly smart--'
 She's poppy" Sylvia answered. That's why she's fascinating. The men never know what she's going to do next. She keeps 'em guessing"
 Sally fixed ma"shmallow on a stick before she answered.
 Well, I wish you'd get this man of mine away from her." she said. gloomily. I'm really crazy about hi'l, you see"
 In five minutes Sylvia had organ ized a game of hide-and-seek. wen hide in pairs" she told the gay crowd, "a man with Q girl--Fay, you start off with Ranny-"
 Fay shook her red head.
 "I'll be Eddie's partner" she said surprisingly.
 When everyone was paired off Sylvia stood alone in the dull glow of the fire with-Ranny Phelps.
 "I don't know how this happened" ." she faltered. II thought Peter and l were partners. l thought"
 Ranny looked at her innocently. Not until weeks afterward did Sylvia know that he had arranged to be left there with her-that he had worked 1t, shamelessly.
 Well, We may as well start out to hunt the others" he said, that's the game. isn't it?"
 They started out
 The night was as dark as the pit, there Is the woods.
 Every now and then when she looked up through the trees Sylvia could catch a gleam of a. tiny star, but there was no other light Fanny held tight to her arn--not to protect her, but to support him. self. He was, he admitted cheerfully, the least bit ''squiffy." How did you and Fay happen to have anything to drink?" she asked him as they went along, feeling their way through the underbrush. we were-celebrating some thing" he said, thickly. 5 There was a long silence. Say. what's the big idea of this t game anyway" he asked suddenly we could never fNi any of these couples here In the darkness. Why <. it's black as Calcuttal"
 Sylvia laughed. We weren't sup 9 posed to find them" she answered } smoothly. What they want is to b. { let alone--for what you so elegantly 9 call 'mugging" parties!" Q Hmm see," Ranny answered l And Fay?-she's with Eddie Carter :, isn't she-she picked Eddie for he! S partner, If l remember" y He sat down suddenly at the bas' :. of an invisible tree and drew Sylvi; f down on the moss beside him. e What d'you suppose she pulled ol n me tonight?" he asked, after Sylvii q had spent moment or two in pug " zled silence-"says she's made up he e mind not to get married in June 0 after all. That's what we were cele D brating."
 He laughed.
 d In the darkness Sylvia's eye d searched for the white blur that va
 his face.
 I. She was too stunned to speak. sh @ sat, holding her breath while Ram
 hunted for his eternal cigarette, Il "Yeah-the party's off" he wer d on thickly, when he had putfed d into oblivion. q should worry
 But his voice had bitterness in 1t. d Sylvia laid her hand over hi g "Ranny-do you mind-terribly 1t she asked.
 Instead Of answering, he began ," talk about her. You're the only or to of the whole crowd that I'd give yo i'd a tinker's damn for!" he said fore