New Britain herald., 1926-08-05

looked at married man yourself, I suppose!"
 Why. of course not -" Merry began innocently, and then stopped, as the thought of Les and Nonie Purcell popped into her mind.
 That's not what Muriel Kauf- man told me tt night" Bill told her bluntly. "She told me some wild story about you and that bird Purcell getting tangled up together. She said his wife tried to kill her self - or kill him - I've forgotten the details, But you were mixed up in 1t, all right. all right!"
 Merry knew then why he had dragged her away from Che partyi She knew then what Muriel had been so busily telling him while she danced with him!
 "Muriers a cat!" she said evenly "A jealous little cat! l didn't even know that Les Purcell was married until I'd been out with him couple of times and then'I never went out with him again"
 Bill laughed an ugly laugh
 That's a lie. too" he replied. "Muriel saw you with him only a couple of weeks ago, in a Ford. You sure do know how to juggle the truth, Miss Locke!"
 Why. Muriel doesn't even know Les Purcell!" Merry blazed out at him.
 Hush, not so loud" Bill begged her in a smooth. calm voice that made Merry want to slap him. She knows numbers when she sees them, though. And she looked up the number on his automobile license"
 "The rotten little sneak!" cried Merry. furiously. T told you I wasn't with Les Purcell after that time you saw him at my house and I wasn't"
 That's your story and you're go- ing to stick to 1t, eh?" asked Bill. It was plain that he did not believe the story she tcld him - and that he did believe Muriel Kaufman.
 Merry did not see him again during his visit.
 But a week after he went away he wrote to her to tell her that his father was dead. She answered the letter, and he wrote another to tell her that he would be coming north again, soon. to see her.
 "So I guess he isn't very peeved at me, after all," she said to her self as she folded it up in its en- velope and put it away.
 But January went by and he did not come.
 On the second day of February Bill Hepworth had to go out of town on business and Merry went over to Wandsworth Road to spend the night with Helen. Helen was expecting to go to the hospital almost any day now, to bring home the new baby that was | coming.
 She was pale and tired and list | less. But in spite of her weary look. there was certain peace and beauty in her face that made her look like one of the madonnas that Raphael used to paint, so many centuries ago.
 q should think you'd go crazy doing nothing but housework all day in this little house" Merry said to her when they were getting supper together in the little blue and-white kitchen that was the pride of Helen's heart. | Helen gave her a slow, contented i smile.
 "Housework is dull - unless you're doing it for the man you love-" she answered quietly. "l never enjoyed taking care of Mons house. but this one is Heaven tc me"
 But are you really happy" Mer' ry persisted. Tell me the truth - the absolute truth!"
 q have" her sister replied. i've told you I am - and l am. Wha' better thing can any woman have than what have - man like Bill and his home. and his babies?"
 She really wanted to know wha else there could be.
 It was plain to Merry that she wal sure she had the only worthwhile thing on earth. A little house, ant a, family to live in it.
 (TO BE CONTINUED)
 Bill tells Merry why their mar riage would be impossible. A trag edy overtakes the Locke family Il Chapter 49 of "The Pettcr."
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