New Britain herald., 1926-07-16
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 He took his arm down from the back of the seat and lit another cigar.
 There was another long silence. Morley began to drive slowly, with one arm around Cassie. who had fallen asleep on his shoulder.
 The automobile seemed to creep through the hot moist July night, like a giant snail.
 Merry yawned and leaned back in one corner of the seat, closing her heavy eyes.
 She opened them again and started up at the sound of Tony Gaines name.
 Morley. what ever became of that lawyer l met in your office one day last fall?" Bill Erskine was asking. Long, lanky guy named Gaines. We had a drink with him. Rcmember?"
 Yeah. Tony Gaines" Morley Kaufman answered. "Why, some- one was telling me just the other day that he's leaving town. Going out to Billings. Montana"
 Merry sat up straight, one hand cIapped to her mouth. She felt as if she were going to scream, suddenly.
 "To Montana!" she gaspod, and her voice was only a hoarse whis- per.
 "Yeah--to Billings, Montana, <" Morley repeated in his loud voice. Going out there to open law office, I suppose"
 Then, presently he added: That's right, you know him, don't you, Merry?"
 Merry didn't answer. She didn't even hear his question.
 Everything seemed 10 have gone blank in her mind. She felt sick and cold and numb, all at once. She dropped back against the padded cushions, and when Bill Erskine put his arm around her again she did not even move
 WE n she stepped out of the car in front of the house on Chester street, he slipped his arm through hers. Th,y fell behind Morley and Cassie. and in the dripping dark ness under the willow tree, he kissed her, quite as a matter of course.
 "Mr. Brass Monkey!" said Merry giving him a murderous glance that the night hid from him. She his face, and felt his fat cheeks quiver under her fingers Then she twisted away from him and ran up to the house.
 See you later, Little Sister," she heard him call softly to her, as she opened the front door.
 And that was the beginning of the affair between her and Bill Erskine.
 Three days passed, with no word from Tony.
 q won't call him up," Merry made up her mind husily polishing the glass-topped manicure tables in Lillie Dale's shop.
 Hell surely come to see me be- fore he leaves town" she thought at night, sitting alone in the quiet house, waiting for the sound of the telephone or the honk of an auto mobile in the street.
 The Fourth of July came. hot as q fiery furnace.
 Cassie went on picnic with Morley Kaufman. Mons and Jimmy were invited to Helen's new home to spend the day, and they went.
 Merry, sure that Tony would come sometime during the day, stayed at home and waited for him.
 She put on her rose-colored dress, and made a pitcher of lemonade late in the afternoon. It would be nice to have something cold to drink when he came.
 At dusk she went out on the front porch, and strengthened the pillows on the hammock couch. Then she sat down in Mons little white rocker, leaning forward with eager eyes whenever an automobile turned into the street.
 Expecting company" Derrick Jones' mother called sweetly from the porch on the other side of the privet hedge.
 Merry answered that she was.
 q thought I'd come over and sit with you while if you were going to be alone" Mrs. Jones returned sweetly as before. Derrick and his father drove over to Euclid Beach to see the fireworks"
 AS if l cared what Derrick did!" thought Merry. She wished that she had never seen Derrick!
 At nine o'clock she got up and went into the house. It was dark and hot and stuffy indoors. The lemonade on the kitchen table was warm in it's r~. ated slass pitcher. Merry emptied it down the sink.
 The cuckoo clock in the dining room and the occasional squeak of a board in the floor were the only sounds in the house. It seemed to mock her with it's emptiness and it's silence.
 q hate holidays!" she said aloud to the staring walls, and she sud- denly crumpled up in Dads old easy chair, and cried and cried like a broken-hearted child. Her tears dampened the old lace dolly where his head had rested so often.
 "I wish Dad were here" she sobhed. Pm so Ionesome-I'm so lonesome"
 But it was Tony Gaines that she was crying about.
 Another week went by.
 Every morning Merry got up at seven, bathed, dressed, ate her breakfast, and unlocked the door of the beauty shop at eight-thirty sharp.
 By the time Lillie Dale walked in at nine, the little place was in shining order. .Ierry's bedroom at homo Toi,rbt Jool, oq if if had baan