New Britain herald., 1929-07-19

dear. l nope you're both hungry. Wouldn't it be a joke on us if poor Willis was in the same fix as o. Henry's Thanksgiving martyr found himself?-forced to eat a second holiday feast. while still in the agonies of indigestion from the first"
 No. really" Willis Todd denied quickly. T was exactly the sad young man that Mr. Morton de- scribed. In fact, l was trying to decide whether to eat my lonely Christmas dinner at drug store fountain and be wholly miserable, or to pay three dollars for a hotel dining room table d'hote and ac- ouire an attack of indigestion as tormenting as my regular Christmas blues"
 T like that"' Nan protested. "I suppose you've forgotten what you said last Christmas?-that it was the happiest Christmas you had spent since you were a child. Re- member how greedy We were and how nice the funny old waiter was, especially after you'd given him a five-dollar tip?"
 "I remember" Willis Todd agreed, his mouth and eyes tighten ing with pain.
 I'm being beastly." Nan re- preached herself. I'm making John remember his last Christmas when Iris sat where I'm sitting now. And I'm hurting Willis too. I didn't realize he still caTed-so much"
 But there was in unworthy con- solation in the evidences of his pain and in the occasional puzzled glances from her husbands eyes.
 Although the three of them had talked emphatically of how hungry ther were, Maude O'Bren in the kitchen glowered resentfully at the returning dishes. There was little reward in cooking for love-sck people who pecked at their food, with no more appetite than ca naries, as she grumbled to Estelle.
 "Remnds me of last Christmas, when that Crawford man sat there and made eyes at the creature who was Mrs. Morgan then,' Estelle whispered. This Todd man is nuts over Miss Nan, and the poor dear mister looks like he's wonder ing if he's going 10 lose this missus. too.'
 That was an eXaegoration. but certainly John Curtis Morgan did not look like happy man, be- tween his odd bursts of forced volu- bility. Nan, with an impishness she had not suspected herself cap able Of. flirted openly with Willis Todd and the burden Of her con- versation was, And. oh, Willis, do you remember when-?"
 Immediately after dinner Nor gan called for Curtis tray and trudged heavily upstairs with it. The sound Of those slow, heavy footsteps-almost like those of ar old man n's-echoed in Mans heart and brought tears into her eyes.
 " iIhA tlIf ildNltlt ->ou " liilf' asked anXiously, as he dropped down 10 the couch beside her and laid trembling hand over here. "ls it-pretty bad, honey?'
 Nan made no pretense Of not un- Gerstanding. She nodded miser- ably then dashed an angry hand at the tears. Iris has come back,
 
 got divorce and-and married me"
 Good Lord,' the young man calculated. You poor kid No wonder. Can you tell me what hap pened' Did she come here?" Nan nodded and Willis frightened his clasp on her hand until the pressure hurt. But it was a sweet pain. Stumblingly. intetrrupting herself at times to choke back sob, Nan told him the incredible story of Iris return and of it's dew astating effect upon John Curtis Morgan. She concluded by rapidly repeating Dr. Blacks warning that Iris intended 10 fight her successor Hith every weapon she could lay ! hands on.
 Then you'll need a weapon, too, Willis Todd said grimly. And I've got dandy l can place in your hands right now
 Nan's ear-drowned eyes stared increduously into his steely gray l ones.
 No, I'm not talking through my ! bat he assured her. i've got ] facts and proofs which you're vel come 10, I was in New York in November on a buying trip for my i firm and one of the big wholesale men took me 10 a night club. Sure ] fire entertainment for us out-of- town hicks. you know," he grinned i ''Wcll, it happens he was right this time, for I wouldn't have misscu a show I saw there for month";. ] pay. And the show was extra, en- ! tlrely imprOmptu, no' a part of tho regular cabaret at all"
 You saw Iris and-Bert Craw- ! ford ?' Nan whispered.
 "Of course you'd be two leaps ahead of me-" Willis growled Al most the first person my eyes lit
 on when We took our table was Bert Crawford. He didn't recognize me, Of course-We'd never met. With
 hlm was a stunning brunet-an act
 ressy sort Of person. made ID to look
 like spanish heartbreakcr. lace mantilla, jeWelod comb. Spanish shawl ana "hatnot. They were thick
 as thieves. The description fits our
 blond villain at any ratc.'