New Britain herald., 1930-08-06

drawn into a heated argument at the big table opposite, where the eager faces of the disputants were all but plotted out by clouds of smoke.
 Chummy suddenly asked the young artist question.
 "Bastien, l wonder why I should remember you best Of them all during these years, You have all ways seemed q real person 10 me"
 Dumont did not think the sub jtct a safe one, so he brushed the question aside but in doing so he mado an unfortunate admission.
 My dear girl, you cant account for these things. When you come to think Of il. why didn't you know Alan when he first came back"
 The moment he had spoken, Du- mcnt realized his mistake. CIarissa stared at him with large, uncom- pretending eyes.
 Didn't know Alan, Bastien, Of course I knew him."
 He tried to cover his tracks
 Yes. Of course, l didn't mean-' But he was not dealing with an average intelligence, The girl saw clearly that he was trying to get out of what he had said. You said when he first came back, Bastien." She spoke kindly and gently, and as if II were a very ordinary matter. Please tell me what you mean"
 Nothing my dear girl -noth- ing"
 Dumont was not versaa in diplo- macy.
 "Bastien," Clarissa went on, you must have meant Something. You were talking about my condition. You said I didn't know Alan when h. first came back"
 "Oh. ask AlaQ himself' pleaded poor Dumont
 Chummy shook her fair head
 NO. Bastien -ha would hate it. r. would he painful 10 him. We 1 try 10 forget all that he and l. And I must know Think. Bas-ien. ! hcw # would affect you f you thought you had behaved in some strange way that you don't remfm- hcr. Please tell me the truth"
 He was caught. and could not vtsgle out. H. told her about that first meeting, when she had not rec . oInized Alan when he was brought . up to her room. H. skerched the whole episode in very light colors: 1 hut her swift questions brought out .the reluctant admission that she had several times iinei and gone 10 the play with Alan before 'he day on which she had first understood that 1 h, had come back.
 ] She took it very naturally. smil- ing. and looking across 10 The table where Alan sat in g cloud ot smoke. His delightful voice rang out. little raised in argument. H. was evidently getting the better Of his adversary, who was growing eX- cited and almost incoheront,
 How very curious!" she said to RasrIen. "Of course you can see Alan wouldn't like 70 speak ot jt- or Judy, either. Thanks for telling me. Bas,ien. ! shall never mention ir. but I had 10 know. The hraln can play pranks cant ro Fancy my being with Alan and not know ing him"
 Chummv's manner quite deceived the young arc.sc. H. thought she took it as mater ot course. whereas in realty she was trem- bling with a great fear and q great horror.
 She had been win her beloved in the flesh. ard zra had ror known him, She lad talked with him, graspad his hand. eaten ar the same r,hle. looked ir-o his eyes-aud no- known him, Sha had regarded him as a new fr.erd-a very pleasant one, Basren had suggested, but her h.art had not beaten out 'ha glad news 10 her tha. i- vas AlaH--hat ha had come hack
 t gave her d new outlook and a new insight. She realized that she had been out of her senses All else might have seemed dim and n~bu- lous. but rhat she should not have