New Britain herald., 1930-11-03

flood of excuses.
 "Ah, yes. The traffic problem is | becoming serious" agreed Ml. ! Pcrle. 'Fortunate,y, l had allowed liberal margin for our talk to- eether"
 He escorted her to a quiet cid ho- tel - Randalson's. For further sc c!usion, he had engaged a rrivate room.
 This is the only place where We can be sure oi remaining utterly urdisturbcd." NIr Pcrle said. Tt is old-fashioned, is it not?"
 "I haven't had q chance of tell ing you yet" Rose said, but I've arranged 10 share Cynthia Diffley's apartment with her. for time, any way"
 Mr. Perle ate cheese and said nothing.
 "Praps you think" began Rose But as it had always been impos- siblc 10 guess what Mr. perle was thinking, she retreated from tha, line of attack. I'm of age and I suppose my money is my own 10 do d. I like with" Shc tried not 10 make it sound imperiinent by add ! ing-''And I'm sure youll be gla l enough to be rid of me. Iv, been al awful curse to you. I'm afraid. It became evident that MT Per. intended to consume the last morsel of his cheese and crackers before l he answered her. Rose twisted her hands togther under the table an ] for the hundradth time adjurcd her i self not 10 ne such rabbit. What did he matter? As soon as she hal arranged all about her money she need never sec him again. ] An ancient waiter entered, cleared the table as slowly as 2 waiter in q slow-motion film, anJ retired.
 T have a great deal with which to reproach myself" said Mir. Perle. as the door closed and the quiet Of the hotel enswathed them.
 Rose furtvcly studied her wrist watch. It Was very tiny, encased ia platinum and encirclcd with small but very pure emeralds. l. ! Lad made a hole in that check. She must find out if there were any means Of getting an advance on the next.
 "I wish 10 tell you a little story
 Rose sighed. That didn't soun3 a. though she would get away within ten minutes, as she had hoped She looked again at her watch, openly this time, but NJ" , pcrle completely ignored the ac- uon
 ! Tt is 9 strange story and one 1 based upon human weakness" Mr 1 Herle rolled the syllables round his tongue as though they were a sec ] ond savory. He had pushed his ccffoe-cup aside and now leanel i his crossed arms upon the tatic. some twenty-five years ago 2" said A1r. Perle, "a young man. 1 descended from -T belic,c-an old . Irish-Fronch family. found himself so miscrably unable to make head . way along lines that were con- genial 10 him that he was forced 0 earn his living in a manner he de spised. This young man, Whost name was Clement Conaldmc, was cook"
 Rose, at his first words, hal bracEed herself for the name.
 He was, in spite of his prfvate likes and dislikes, a very gool cook. We first hear Of him as one O the assistant cooks at the Par nassus. Nest unfortunately his ca- reer there was short. His worN gave satisfaction but hc-ah-aI- . lowed his private and working life to-ab-overlap. In other words he became associated with a wo- man called Margot Muir who hal been dismissed from the Paruassu staff or-ah-reasons Ii is be- leved that Muir was also associat cd with q man named Bolt
 Rose knew now quite definitely that she did not want to hear this story. Also that Mr. Perle would make her hear it 10 the end, "Conaldine shared with Bolt I passion for invention. The nature Of their inventions vas invariably