New Britain herald., 1926-06-28


 nickels. Fanny was broke" as us.
 ual.
 1 With a sigh Sylvia went down the stairs again and out into the darkness Of three o'clock of rainy winters morning.
 II was a long way 10 Bleak street and it was a little after four when
 Sylvia rang the door of Aunt Agony's house.
 Shell think it's telegram, and be scared to dcath!" she thought, as she stood waiting for her aunt to come down to the door.
 After an eternity the hall light flashed on, and through the window of the door Sylvia could see Aunt Agony coming down the stairs. wrapped in a black kimono that made her look like a deaconess.
 Well, for the dear lands sake." she cried when she saw her niece standing on the porch. Where un- der heaven have you been? Have you lost your mind, walking the streets al this time Of night?. I never even knew you were out of the house."
 Sylvia gave he a little white tipped smile as she stepped into the house. The sudden warmth of the house made her dizzy and faint. She had never fully recovered her strength after the coming Of Sylvia. the Second, in November
 She tottered up the stairs, hang ing to the banisters for support as she went. And 1t seemed to her that she would never reach the bed on the far side Of her big. bare-looking bedroom. Ii seemed a mile away.
 Then she felt Aunt Agony's hand seize her, under one arm. and she fell back against the pillows with q singing in her ears and the world going bla k all around her.
 "I think I fainted," she heard herself saying, after | long time had passed, did I faint, Aunt Agony"
 There was no answer. She opened her eyes. She was still lying on the bed. fully dressed. But a blanket had been thrown over her.
 The clock on the table beside her was ii ing away. She looked at il four! She had been un- for nearly half an hour.
 The door of the room opened and Aunt Agony came in. She was still in her gloomy-looking kimono, and she carried glass of egg-nog on a lit tie tray. 1t smelled of whiskey, and clouds Of steam came from it.
 Here, girl, you drink this" she said. briskly slipping an arm under Sylvia's shoulders. 'Jt'n chirk you up" whatever that meant.
 Ther2 was no ill of the flesh or spirit that couldn't be helped by strong tea or egg-nog, Aunt Agony believed. She believed in national prohibition, but that didn't prevent her from keeping a bottle Of brandy in the house all the time. However, 1 she nevc- touched it herself-tea | vas all she ever needed.
 Ter eyes narrowed with suspicion 1 IS she began to undo Sylvia's wet 1 slippers. She took them off and felt | her damp feet. "Where have you l oeen"" she ask, q. and then answer 1 ed her own question.
 "You've been to see Fanny, ! haven't you? Did you walk home? | You wild child!"
 Sylvia nodded, drowsily. The hot ! had begun to take effect.
 Yes" she said drowsily, "I did 1 put st don't let Ranny know it hats all l ask. He'd have fit If he lnew I was out alone on the street | tt night"
 Aunt Agony snorted. T should hink he would have one" she said harply. "The very idea of your do- ng such a thing! Why you might lava been murdered and your body hrown into the river"
 Drowsly Sylvia wondered what Iunf Agony would say if she knew hat Fanny had sent her out alone nto the darkness at three o'clock in he morning.
 IL was just as we'll that she didn't snow it. Ihe would only pan" him f she knew it. And she knew too much about it now, as it was, too much,
 Winter sunlight lay on her bed md warmed her face with Its ra- Iiance when she opened her eyes gain. The clock beside her told her hat it was nine o'clock.
 ofa WI,tr thnT F. ! would be telephoning her pretty oon. He got up at nine o'clock on 'unday.
 As Sylvia sat up she heard the telephone downstairs ring, and a minute later Aunt Agony carrying he baby, came into the room.
 That was Ranny on the wire. les coming over here to see you" hc said laying the baby down be- ide her mother. "Now, Sylvia, don't Q too soft and easy with him! hats your trouble--you spoil Ram y. If you treated him the way you hould, he'd be q better husband to ou! I wish he was my husband for bout two mnutes-Id tell him 'here 10 head in"
 (TO BE CONTIUED) Far from repentance for his harsh ttitudc. Ranny takes most ex- ! rcne step. On the heels of the | demand he makes on Syl- ia comes a call from Babs.