New Britain herald., 1926-10-18

that she would not quarrel with Ann, no matter what she said.
 "Oh, what has all this to do with
 the price of popcorn?" she asked impaticntly. Give me Grumpys letters, and let's not talk any more"'
 She heard someone come up the iron stairs and open the door of the office behind her.
 The other girls will hear us" she went on very quietly, and there's no use giving them a lot of scandal to spread"
 Ann tossed her vivid red head. You can't shut me up." she re- torted. What do I care what they say? They know that you stand in with all the men around here because you vamp them,-Don't fool yourself that l didn't see you kissing Joe Meadows goodby the day you left here, the last time because I did."
 Her words took Honey Lous breath away. She could only gasp and stare. She had never dreamed for an instant that anyone in the world had seen Joe Meadows give her that brutal, bruising kiss, weeks before, on the narrow dark staircase behind the shipping room.
 "Well!" she said at last. We'll" She turned. She made up her mind that she would say nothing moro to Ann. She would simply do what she ought to have done in the first place-go into Grumpy's office and take the letters.
 The door with the word "Pri- vate" painted on it in large black letters stood ajar. And the sec ond Honey Lou stepped ir.o Grumpys office she knew who had come up the stairs a few minutes before.
 Jack Wallack, In his blue denim ovcralls, was sitting at his fathers desk, reading a letter.
 He did not look up when she came in.
 He said shortly: q get my mail here, too." Then he showed his fathers letters across the ma hogany surface of the desk, toward her.
 Honey Lou knew in flash that he had heard every word that Ann had said to her. His face betrayed it. Set and grim and cold it was.
 You heard what One-Armed Annie said to me, didn't you?" she asked. almost without knowing that she was asking it.
 He did not look up. "What diff ference does 1t make if I did?" he asked in a dull cold voice. None at all, as far as I can sec"
 He showed his letter into q pock ct f the overalls that so became his tall straight figure, looked at her as if he didn't sec her. and went.
 The door of the office squaaked on its hinges, as it closed after him.
 Honey Lou stood against the desk; her whole body sagginG. Then she squared her shoulders bravely, and walked out of the office.
 Grumpy had finished his break fast when Honey Lou arrived at the white house that stood next to Angela Aliens great stone house that was a copy of a Normandy chateau.
 He was sitting up In chair be- side his bedroom window when a little housemaid took Honey Lou to him.
 h5 soon as Honey Lou looked at him she saw that he was in a towering rage. He had on a pur- pie silk bathrobe, and his face was almost the color of it. IA break fast tray stood beside him, un- touched.
 He glared at her when she opened the door.
 Orange juice and gruel! That's q fine breakfast for a man, isn't it?" he snorted at her. His glare took in the breakfast tray.
 That's what they give me every he explained to her, Pap and baby-food! If they'd feed me a good porterhouse steak for q change I might get bet He put his hand, to his back and winced with sudden pain.
 The door of the room opened, and Mrs. Wallack came in. She had on q white muslin dressing gown, and she looked prettier than Honey Lou remembered her.
 Good morning, Miss Huntley," she said with a tiny smile, and gave Honey Lou her hand.
 Then she bent over her husband.
 Papa" she said in the wheed- ling coaxing manner that she might have used to troublesome