New Britain herald., 1927-01-15

at them. They were so quiet A look over her shoulder showed her Betty, half standing at her end of the di- van, one hand resting on it's top, She was listening helplessly [ o some thing Freddie was whispering and the look on her face should not have swelcd his ego any, was Rusty's inward comment.
 She, too, had caught the expensive odor emanatng from the young man and she was in nowise envious of Betty and her job. But her mind just then was not engaged particu- larly with the present. Her thoughts had leaped ahead twcnty-four hours. Freddie didn't exist.
 The next moment she was brought back to earth with a jolt. Her ear caught the sound of tearing cloth, a little squeal of anger from her sister and a Smothered exclamation.
 Her eyes opened widely and saw the handsome ones left arm en- crcling Betty's neck. His right hand was pushed under her chin. She was bending her head down against his breast, obviously in an effort to keep him from kissing her. Freddie was trying to get even for the kiss he had been cheated out of the night he had laid his little trap and it had sprung on himself,
 Rusty leaped to her feet and look ed around the room. The two were a dozen yards away and Freddie's hand under Bettys chin was steadi- ly lifting it despite her frantic efforts to prevent it.
 A sudden though struck Rusty just as on that day years ago when the fence separated him from the girls.
 Bending swiftly, she slipped off her low, French -heeled shoes and strengthened up. Then her right arm drew back, described a half-arc-no' the over-shoulder throw of a woman that puts nothing into it but the forearm, but the full outswing of q man. . The shoe strealed through the ail straight and true.
 Sock" The metal-weighted hee caught Handsome Freddie full till behind the ear with what is popu. larly described as a dull, sickoning thud.
 His arms dropped away from the girl he had been struggling with, hi: knees caved and Freddie was glat to sink into the softness of the di van. If he hadn't, he most likely would have sat on the floor. | Rusty fairly flew across the room snatched up her shoe and, turning | glarcd down at the man who wa. raising himself 10 sitting position | She lifted the shoe threateningly.
 You just dare, Freddie Law rence."
 Her voice. low but vibrating ant | distinct, cut through the air like tn lash of a whip. She went on:
 You just dare try that again ant sec what you get"
 He eyed fog a fleeting second tn flushed face of the, averaging Rusty Then his gaze dropped 10 tn 1 French-hceled shoe clutched in tn tight fingers of her right hand. Hi | jaw saggcd and he stared, pop-eyed
 Good Lord." he said weakly Good Lord,' and waved his han, weakly. "I gotta 'nough." he whis pered in hoarse, jerliy voice. .. 1 got plenty"
 He managed to get on his fee once more. My hat" he said, "In going.'
 And Freddie went, Not dignificdl, hall and slink away.
 Rusty called after him in sof | voice: The next time you make ; | picture, make a comedy and IT throw the custard pies.' She turnet 1 10 her sister. That" she announced was a close call" and bent dow 10 slip on her shoe.
 As she strengthened up, Bett ! found her voice. It was a shaky lit tie voice at first but it straightene, itself out.
 "Oh--my dear" she gaspod. "T give the world for a picture of i Rusty, darling, if only Jim coul have seen it. That would hay brought back his memory. if any thing could. Oh, you pitching kid. and with that she threw both arm around her athletic sister and wep Rusty accepted the adulation mod estly, as becomes a doer of bi deeds.
 Their uncle appeared in the door