New Britain herald., 1928-02-14

to tn gate. We live on tn old Ky. derton place. yuh know!"
 "Uck-a!" gulped Tony, surprised, almost. into the swallowing of his Adams apple-surprised because he had not thought of 1t himself. But, of course. she could be none other as he should have known.
 "Oh. yes," he managed finally, you are Miss-er-ah-"
 ''Oh. mol" she cut in. not impolite- ly, nor with the least intention of heinz fliprant. "th' Erraghs live down tn river from us. l am Miss Sweeney. Dad leased tn Ryderton place because of it's ghost stories. It is called "The Spooks' Delight" yuh know!"
 Tony recalled the arrival in the preceding December of Patrick Sweeney in Elliston. It had been the occasion of considerable specula- ton on the parts of those who in- variably made 1t their business to know all about other peoples buHi- ness especially newcomers. The specific reason for this special inter est in Pat Sweeney was due to the fact that he had leased ''The Spooks' Delight" an old colonial mansion on the river bank that be- longed to the Ryderton estate and which had gone untenanted for a decade or more because of its ghost ly affiliations.
 Pat Sweeney. q jovial. red headed Irishman. hailing from Chicago. had laughed at the ghost stories installed an army of workmen, carpenters, decorators and furnishers, and when the place was ready for occupancy had moved in.
 That Is, his housekeeper had moved In with two maids, q cook and a houseman. Pat Sweeney came and went as suited his convenience, and his business dealings. He was a widower with durable complex.
 And then one day the gossips of E'lliston fairly squawked with antici- patory delight. Pat Sweeney's housekeeper, Mrs. o'Connor. had broadcast the news; that is. she had told the nearest neighbor that her employers lovely daughter Mary Elizabeth Katherine Janet Sweeney. who had been attending school in the east. had arrived that morning.
 And that. as Tony now recollected, had been the preceding Saturday. just a week before 10 a. day. He looked into the Sweeney eye-gray- ish green, he decided - and smiled his appreciation of her. She came right back with her own smile. and pushed out her hand.
 "Yes," she repeated T am Pat Sweeney's 'dsrter.' I was christened Mary 'Liz'beth kath'rine Jnet. But Dad calls me Mike for tn boy he wanted. What's your name?"
 Nothing backward about Mary 'Liz'beth when seeking information, as her question showed. What she wanted she asked for. No quibbling. no beating about the bush.
 My names Tony" said Tony. his smile widening to grin. Anthony in full, but Tony for short-Tony Justin, born in tn house you sec wonder. 23 years old. and-er-unat- tached."
 The quick. gurgly laugh. impu1- sive. girlish. the product, Tony shrewdly suspected. of quite a num- Der of hours Of indoor practice. re- warded his answer to her question.
 Justin" She spoke the name musingly as one does when putting memory over the hurdles of quick action. T remember now of bearing Father Ryan speak of Peter Jus tin"
 Hes my father" said Tony. a note of pride edging his voice, for he knew that anything the priest had said of his parent would have been to the latter's credit. whatever the drift of their talk when face to face.
 ''Then you have sister. too?" said the girl. tentatively. "a dancer, isn't she?"
 "Well. I-she--" Tony hesitated. at loss on the spur of the mo- ment for just the proper reply. "Shc and I used to tlink We might be dancers some day. Then she went and got married!"
 "And tn husba nd-does he object to her dancing?"
 "Oh. no, Jack doesn't object. It's just that--that-" Again he hesi- tated. fearful lest he say something foolish. ''Th' babies take up 50