New Britain herald., 1926-08-02

i't'' oNiSh6 Souil5 anu RlSSe y her.
 s Then, as he let her go h l laughed. There! l got that, any
 way, didn't l" he exulted. 'If there :. a Dick around this afternoon, tha
 should give him a thrill" S Merry looked nervously over he ? shoulder. but there was no Ford ca following them. She settled hersel l in her corner. and thought ove what she was going to say to tn, [ little wife that Les called "Nonie, , when she met her.
 "Nonie" was still living in the lit.
 tie flat in Adams street, where she
 and Les had set up housekeepins two years before.
 Her card was tackled up beside
 one of the six bells in the vestibule
 of the building-"Mrs. Nora Field
 ing Purcell.
 Les put his forefinger on the bell
 and pushed it five or six times. .
 Merry could hear it ringing some-
 where in the middle of the building. 1 Then came the sound of running
 feet on the stairs above her.
 She braced herself. Les" she
 said breathlessly, 1T may as we'll tell you that I'm going to tell your wife the truth-Tm going to tell her that you never told me you were married until that last time I saw you" as
 She'll never believe you!" Les had time to say before the door in front of them opened and a woman stood there looking at them. 'f
 But it was not the woman whom Merry expected to see. She knew. at a glance. that this woman was 1 not Les Purcell's wife Nonie. This woman was big and sumptu- ous-looking. But she was plainly middle-aged woman, for all her sumptuousness and kind of coarse prettiness that she had.
 Tt didn't take you long to get here!" she remarked, looking from Les to Merry.
 ITO get here?" Les repeated. Why, what do you mean, Margie?"
 Didn't you get my message at your office?' the woman named Margie asked him. My message about Nonie?"
 She turned suddenly adn beck oned them up the stairs. A door at the top stood open, and they fol- lowed her into the room beyond it.
 It was pretty little room with bright chintz curtains at the win dows, and bright wicker furniture On table between two lamps stood a large framed photograph of Les, i himself.
 Merry had not been in the flat | for more than minute before she 1 noticed the queer smell that was in | the air smell that made her think of hospital.
 Then she saw that a sheet had | been spread over the davenport at | one side of the room. There, were acid stains on 1t.
 The woman Les called "Margie' l. whipped the sheet off the couch i and carried it out of the room. She came back immediately.
 "Js Nonie-has anything happen ed to Nonie?" Les asked. Where is she?"
 The woman turned and looked at the silver-gilt clock that was tick ing away on the mantel piece.
 Well, she's probably in the hos pital by now" she answered in her rich, brisk voice. T made her swal low all the white of egg and milk hat I could, right here. while I was waiting for the doctor and the po- ice to come"
 THE POLICE?" Les broke in. in . loud hollow tone.
 Why, certainly! The police were he first thing thought about when came in here and found Nonie ying on the floor with that bottle n her handi' answered Margie. with wave, of a plump, bejeweled hand, I came in through the kitchen. ! wanted 10 borrow some butter" And so she went on, unfolding the hameful pathetic little story of Sonie Purcell's attempt to end her 'wn life.
 Merry sat mute and motionless. .nd when Les turned to start off or the hospital she followed him I lowly down the steps. He was out ( f sight by the time she reached the pen air. - The sckening smell that was in | he flat seemed to cling to her { lothes and her skin, as she walked ' long the familiar streets. I Her nostrils were full of it still, I then she unlocked the door of the T Id house on Chester street and | ,alked in.
 There was a light in the sitting oom, and Mons was sitting under c he green-globed lamp, darning 2 fir. Hefflinger's socks. She looked up as Merry came into n he room. a Aren't you home early?" she n sked, running her bright needle in t nd out of the hole she was filling i I. "Lillie's not here yet. Tn "How can l tell her about Les urcell?" Merry thought, full of r ar own dark thoughts. r 'I'm glad she's not here" Mons n ent on, biting off piece of mend a lg cotton, because I want to tell S ou something-Mr Hefflntger and e are going to be married next tl eek"
 (To BE CoNTINUED)