New Britain herald., 1929-08-30
THIS HAS HAPPENED

make her miserable IS experimenting with a trial engagement. Bob New ton. the man on approval, is making highly satisfactory fiance, but Mol ly does not really love him. She IS considering marriage with him for two reasons. First, he is the father Of little girl whom she adores, and wants for her own. The second req son is Jack Wells. Molly loves Jack with all her heart. But he has told her flatly that he will never marry her. Molly, you see, is rich and famous. And Jack is not, He declares that he could never bear to be known as Mister Molly Burnham.
 Then one day Red Flynn, who also loves Molly. telephones to say that Jack Wells is in town. Red is going to meet him that evening, and asks Molly if he shall bring him out to her flat. But Molly has a dinner engagement with Bob. She has promised to marry him, if the en- gagement proves a success. And she means to play the game, and abide by all the rules. She tells Red that she does not want to see Jack.
 Bob breaks his dinner engage ment. Feeling very lonely and for saken, Molly decides to see if she can reach Jack by phone. If Bob breaks his appointment with her, then surely she has the right to ask aQ old friend to call. She is crying with vexation and grief, when the bell rings.
 NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
 CHAPTER XLV
 It was Red Flynn, and he was alone. Characteristically, he wasted no time.
 s"Good Lord, Molly, what have you done now?'
 q don't know" She rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. What have I done?"
 ''You don't know." he exclaimed. What are you crying for then?"
 Me? Oh--I don't know I'm just -crying-that's all. What did I do?" II
 'Nobody's been up here yet?"
 She shook her head in bewilder- nlent.
 r''No nobody's been here. Where's Jack? How does he look? Do you think he loves me a bit, Red? Just the littlest bit? What did he come to Boston for? For goodness l.. answer me-"
 .,"One at time" he begged. And you'd better leave Jack out for a while. He's at the Copley now. But hell probably go back to New York, when he sees the morning papers. Sure, he loves you, Hes cuckoo over you, that's what he is. Cuckoo. . . And now will you tell me what's the big idea of getting yourself engaged to guy like Newton?"
 "Engaged?" repeated Molly stu pidly. "Me-engaged?"
 -e"Sure. You heard me the first time. Come on now, let's get this straight, Molly. Didn't you tell Newton you'd marry him?"
 9''Yes," she admitted. T did-sort of" + What do you mean-'sort of ?" 4f''Well, it was a sort of trial en- gagement, you see. We're trying it out, kind of. Bob's nice for three months, then-if he still loves me it's secret, you see. . Nobody knows about it.
 ,a"Nobody knows about it. Say. the whole town knows about it. New tons been drinking all day in one of those speakeasies on Stuart street, and talking his head off. It's CO., educational speakeasy. There were some show girls from Hello Mike and naturally they spilled the beans There are flock of reporters ont now, looking for Newton. He drifted away from the joint where he's been making speeches, and they haven't located him yet. It's won- der they haven't been here to get a story from you"
 "Oh, dear. Oh dear."
 "A hell of a mess," exploded Red irritably. 'Imogene Starr says he showed her the diamond he has for you. Seems he's been carrying it around in his pocket. Maybe he's lost it by this time"
 ''What can l do, Red?" T. ne ''Deny the engagement. Say it's a darn lie. The gang will be out here pretty soon. I'll duck before they get here. Tell them there must be a mistake. That you and Newton are only friends-you know the gag. No romance at all. Say there's some un- fortunate misunderstanding Don't let them kid you into making any speeches, Just play dumb. If you say too much. you'll antagonize Newton. And you know what he is when he gets started"
 I'm awfully sorry, Red, It's pret- ty much my fault. Bob's wretched 10 drink. I'm not blaming myself for that. But I think it would be pretty unsporting 10 deny the engagement. You see, We are engaged, only, of course, it's supposed to be a secret I'd he letting Bob down pretty badly if should call him a liar II would be rotten trick"
 Serve him right" insisted Red stubbornly. Serve him darn good and right. What business has he shooting his head off about you 10 q lot of buns in a speakeasy? Flash ing a diamo"1 I, and all that stuff. I've warned you before. Molly. You never should have got mixed up with a guy like him."
 "But there's Rita" she moanod.
 "Yes. And there's Jack. too. Didn't you ever think about him I'told you before Ritas not the only cute kid that's ever going to get born. Haven't you any ambition yourself? Don't you want a kid of o,,-r,