New Britain herald., 1926-06-26

ideas and a little time. you would have made yourself the biggest architect in the country. I'm sure of it."
 Sylvia could have laughed. Ran ny an archi oct?-Why. Fanny .couldn't draw one straight line after another. And what he didn't know about houses would fill a Look-a whole library of books.
 It was all Father Phelps could do Ito mako Ranny get down to business long enough to sell houses, let alone plan them. Ranny's laziness was a by-word in the Phelps family.
 If Sylvia were -- Well, if Sylvia were d different kind of wife than she is, shed make you do the thing you want 10 do," Babs' smooth voice went on. She wouldn't insist upon having this house and an automo- bile. If 1 were married to a man like you Ranny-"
 Her voice died away on a melan- choly note, and Sylvia found her self grinding her teesh together in silent rage.-To think that Babs would slam her like this here in her own house.
 But she was smiling when she stepped into the room five minutes later and greeted Babs and Fanny.
 well, I'm back" she said gaily "For goodness sake Ranny what are you doing home at this hour Of the morning? You had an appoint ment with Tom Boyle this morning at ten thirty you know"
 He looked at her drowning for minute, and then dragged his long body up from the chair
 Afraid I might miss a dollar If ] didn't go 10 the office on time for oncc?" he asked. and inwardly Syl- via gave q little gasp, It was more than year since Fanny had used that kind of tone 10 her. When he had gone, Babs asked for a cup of coffee. Sylvia brought h . some on a little tray, and found her cigaret.
 Here's the paper. too. l thought you might want to look through the ads for a flat" she said bluntly, T know you're not g.ry comfortable, here"
 Babs flushed, but she took the pa per and began to hunt through it's For Rent" columns
 'I think I'll have Ranny take me 10 look at couple of these places this afternoon" she said easily, when she had finished with the pa per, and was drinking her coffee.
 She got up and went out into the hall 10 telephone Ranny.
 Then she came trailing back into the room where Sylvia was brush ing up the ashes that she and Rannv had dropped on the carpet, during their heart -to-heart talk.
 I'll be glad 10 get back to work" she said languidly, q don't see how a girl Of your intelligence can stand just four walls all day. I used to wan 10 get married-but now I'm thankful that l didn't Why be a wife? Wives get the little end of everything" She looked soulfully ou' Of the window.
 What do you mean?" Sylvia ask cd
 Babs laughed. "Oh. they learn to think about nothing but bread pud- dings and babies" she said. "They don't have their husbands con- fidcnce. They don't share his dreams, even though they share his house with him."
 Sylvia gave her a keen glance with those blue eyes of hers.
 Don't be silly Babs," she said sharply, "All you see is the outside of marriage. Wait until you're a wife and you'll know more about it." Babs smiled mysteriously under her lipsticS.
 Sylvia, take your own case" she drawled. You don't even know that Fanny is an artist. You don't even suspect that he longs 10 plan won derful buildings-poems in steel and stone. YoU don't know that he hates the sordid part of business, the money-grabbinG part of it.
 Sylvia felt like telling her that Ranny didn't mind the spending part of it, though. She might also have toldher that Fanny hated any kind of work, having the sunny, lazy disposition of a happy -go-lucky hobo Why, Ranny couldn't have planned q building. if his life had depended on it.
 Look here, Babs," she almost snapped at her. Don't you start putting wild ideas into Ranny's head. He's just beginning 10 settle down to his job. He's just beginning to make something of himself-He'd never study architecture, or any thing else. He never reads anything but detective stories and the sport page of the paper. He's about as ar tistic as Jack Dempsey
 Babs gave her pityiug look. "You don't understand Ranny," she drawled, You don't know him like I do."
 Sylvia gazod after her as she went upstairs dragging her co1fee-staincd morning dress after her.
 Well" she breathed, "I certain ly will be jiggered."
 But that vas only the beginning Of the thing.
 Fanny took Babs driving that aft ernoon and they found little fur nished flat on Hester street, two blocks away from the library.
 May l s-&y here with you people few days longer. until I buy some cushions and things 10 brighten if up?" she asked Sylvia that night when she and Ranny returned an hour late for their supper.
 "Of course you may, Babs!" Syl- via answered cheerfully. She was so glad that Babs was really leaving at last that she didn't mind having her around for a day or two more.
 She carried out their dishes and washed them, and when she return ed to the Hing room, they were
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