New Britain herald., 1926-08-09
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CTS. A year later Sne marrleS MT Hefflinger. With her stepfathel ruling the roost," the house Is nc longer the pleasant place it once was to Merry.
 She meets Les Purcell, a hero ot her high school days, and goes out with him, more to escape from the house than for any other reason She does not know he Is married until his wife threatens him with divorce and then tries to kill herself Morley's sister. Muriel, tells Bill Erskine the story. He goes to Flor- ida, when Iiis father dies there, and writes Merry telling her that he is sure she is the wrong girl for him Mons promptly announces the en- gagement and writes Bill letter to let him know that he can't jilt Merry in that fashion. One night Merry goes out dancing with Jimmy and Derrick's crowd" and finds herself wall flower for the first time in her life, She flirts with a man at the next table. to amuse herself. (NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY) CHAPTER u
 Merry gave the man at the next table a swift, sidewise glance from under satiny lids and dark curved lashes, Then she looked quickly away.
 She took out her little vanity case. and as she powdered her short tip p-tilted nose. she could feel his eyes on her, still watching her. A dimple flashed In and out at the corner of her mouth.
 She turned her head and looked at him again. He was a dark, heavy set man with intent brown eyes and bulldog sort of face. No one to wave flags over, as Merry remarked to herself,
 "Here! What are you doing flirting with that man." Jinny's high voice asked suddenly, just be- hind her.
 she and Derrick had stopped dancing in the middle of the dance and she dropped down on the char beside Merry, still flushed and panting.
 "No. I'm not exactly flirting with him" Merry answered with a toss of her head, T just happened to look up at him. and he smiled at me. But who could blame me If l DID flirt with him? I'm not having much of a time sitting here by my self, you knowl"
 Jimmy turned her head and spoke to her husband. "Go and bring Angus back here where he be- longs" she said sharply.
 Derrick started off but Merry call ed him back. NO, don't take hlm away from his blonde. You aren't doing me any favor by bringing him back to mel" she said. "Pll tell you what you can do for me, though get me taxicab. I'm going home.
 "Indeed you're not" piped up Jimmy. "You'te going to stay right here, and Angus Miller will just have to come back and dance with you, I wonder what he thinks he , is, ditehing the crowd this way! 1 But Merry wouldn't listen to her, Nothing, she declared would make her stay at the White Peacock a second longer.
 "I have beast of headache anyway" she fibbed. and really I'm not having a good time. don't know your crowd, and - well, I'm just going home, that's all" She swayed to her feet. little faint and dizzy from the "juney" she had had in her ginger ale.
 Jimmy and Derrick took her to the door. arguing with her all tho way. Insisting that she stay. she kapt shaking her head, even after she was inside the taxicab and on her way home.
 She never remembered the ride. But all at once the cab stopped. ana looking out, she saw that they were fin front of the Chester street house The headlights hit path before them on the rough pavement. The driver sprang out and opened the door. He had the slip in hls hand, "A dollar ana Hoii' io said, peering at it.
 "But haven't any money, Mer- ry answered stupidly. Her head was going around and around as the cheap liquor she had drank. began to take effect.
 There was a light in the sitting room of the house. Mons must be waiting for her.
 Walking as if she were very tired ar very sick, she went up to the front door and rang the bell.
 "Got a dollar fifty?" she asked, when Mons opened the door, look ing startled and puzzled.
 How did you happen to come home so early?' her mother asked taking her old brown purse from inc pocket of her apron. Aren't you wellp"
 She paid the cab man and tollow- ed Merry into the house.
 A little wood fire burned in the erste, for the spring night was raw and chilly. Merry sank down into chair in front of it, and began to laugh.
 "T'm we'll enough, but - I'm old, guess" she answered harsnly. "oio at twenty-twol Try to figure that