The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-07

the finished half to make some measurements. and in the bedroom I found-oh. God!" he groaned. and pressed fist against his trembling mouth.
 "You found that Dexter Sprague was staying there, was using the bedroom that used to be mine didn't you?" Penny helped him at last. in desperation.
 How did you know 2" The boy l stared at the girl blankly for a mo- 1 ment., then reemed to crumple as if from a new blow. "I suppose 1t was common gossip that Nita and sprague were lovers. and was the only one she fooled! My God! To think all of you would stand by and let me marry her---a cheap lit- tie gold digger from Broadway liv- ing with q cheap four-flusher she couldn't get along without and had to send for"
 Did you = want to kill her, Ralph?' Penny whispered hoarsely, touching one of his knotted fists with trembling hand. | "Kil her? Good Lord, no!" the boy flung at her violently. I'm not such an ass as that! You girls are all alike! Polly had so little sense as to think I'd want to kill Nita and Sprague both! She couldn't see, and neither could Give. that all I wanted was to get away from everybody and get so i drunk could forget what fool I'd been"
 What did you do. Ralph?" Pen ny asked urgently.
 l Why. | got drunk, of course. :" the. boy answered, as if surprised at her persistence. Darling, you wouldn't believe me if I told you how much rot-gut Scotch 1t took to put me under, but that filthy boot logging hotel clerk would have I charged me double if he had known how much good 1t would do me-"
 "Hotel" Penny snatched at the vital word. Where did you go to get drunk. Ralph?'
 1 T never realized before you had so much curiosity. honey" the boy grinned at her. After I shook Give = Polly went on to Nita's bridge party, because she couldn't throw her down at the last minute |-I wandered around till l came to the Railroad Mems hotel, down on State street, you know, the other side of the tracks. It's n miserable dump, but I sort of hankered for . place to hide in that was as miser- able and cheap as I felt"
 l Did you register under your own name?"
 Ashamed of me. Penny? No. I registered under my first two names-Ralph Edwards. And the clerk turned out to be bootlegger l.. Well. when I woke up about II this morning l give you my word wasn't sick and headachy, though God knows I'd drunk enough to put me out for week Penny. woke up feeling-well. can't ex. , plain it but to say felt light ant , washed-up! At first l thought my
 heart was empty-it felt so free O
 pain. But as 1 lay there I fount my heart wasn't empty at all. I was brimming full of love- Gosh
 honey! I sound like a Laura Jeal , Libby hero, don't l? But be fore I rang you from the lunch . room where I ate breakfast I wrot
 Nita a special delivery note. tellinl her it was all off. I had to be ire
 actually, before I could ask you IT,. You will marry me, won 3 you, Penny honey? I kney l this morning I had never reall
 loved anyone else"
 , Penlope Grain remained rigi
 for a moment, then very slowly sh 5 laid both her hands on his head | for he had knelt and buried his fac
 against her skirt. But as she spoke , her brown eyes, enormous in he 5 white face. were upon Dundee, wh,
 had stepped silently from behin, the portieres.
 ,l "Yes. I'll marry you, Ralph You may come in now, M ? Dundee!" ) .(TO bc COntinued.)