The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-09-29
Author of MzAD MARRIAGE

He had set his bare foot on a sharp object and quickly with drawn 1t. Norma hurried to low CT the window shade.
 "Here are your slippers" she said, handing them to him. T didn't sknow you were awake
 "Well-maybe I'm not! Certain tainly don't feel much like it" He blinked his eyes, started to shake his head and then grimaced pain fully. "Oh, what a sweet, sweet headache!''
 Norma E Suggested. sor would you rather have aspirin ?"
 "N'mind. Is there any bicarbon- ate around here" Mark was on his feet nova rumpled, drowning, altogether unengaging figure.
 Norma volunteered to go down. stairs for the soda. She had not vet reached the stage where a word over the telephone was the automatic answer to every prob lem. Besides a bell boy would re- quire tip. Tips for such ser- vices were not included in the neatly -tabulated row of figures over which Norma had been study ing for the last hilf hour.
 When she returned Mark, vast ly improved by a cold shower and shave, had nearly completed dressing. She opened the box of soda, measured out the dose for him and brought glass of water, He guIped it down.
 Browning faintly. Mark said, T seem to remember from last night that the Travers finances are ra- tlier less than low. Wiped out, as it were. Right?
 Let's not bother about that, Mark shook his head. T think Id like to get out of this place" he said. Little air percolat. ing through this numb skull of mine might do it some good. Sup pose we walk over to the coffee shop?"
 The coffee shop was an inexpen- sive restaurant a block and a half down the street. It was open day and night and the food was excel lent. Norma agreed to the sug- gestion and pulled on her hat.
 You're certainly looking o. K. this morning." Mark told her a little later when they were out on the street. Never guess you were awake until the wee small hours!"
 She frightened before his com pliments. What if she had tossed sleeplessly long after Mark had been asleep in slumber? What if for two hours that morning she had been scheming and studying over pencil and paper trying to find the answer to their difficult ties?"
 They entered the coffee shop and found e table withdrawn from its neighbors. Mark ordered to- mato juice, black coffee, eggs and toast. Norma choose an omlet, rolls and fruit. When the waiter disappeared Mark looked across the table at the girl.
 Well" he began, "why don't you say what you think of me? Tell me I'm nine kinds of an id- tot and good-for-nothing to boot!"
 "But you're nothing of the sort!"
 "Go ahead and say it. I've got it coming to me and I'd feel bet ter if you bawled me out"
 "There isn't anything to bawl you out about. We went over all that last night. Don't, you remem- ber?"
 Say, with a head like mine Fin stein wouldn't remember his own theories. I know this much, though"-he leaned forward and gave her hand a quick pressure "I've got the prettiest, gamest wife in the world-!"
 After the food was served and they were drinking second cups Of coffee, the discussion of finances began in earnest. From her purse Norma produced the slip of paper with it's rows of figures which rep resented a mornings work. Here was what their fare back to Marl- boro would cost. There was the lowest estimate for a weeks board and room for the two of them while Mark was finding q Job. A modest figure for incidentals.
 Mark glanced at the sheet care lessly. ,,
 70. K. baby" he said, but all that's ahead of the story. What we've got to do first is actually get cash enough together to get our luggage out of that hotel. It would be good enough for Dad if we jumped the bill and they went back on him"
 "Oh, but you wouldn't, Mark! You wouldn't do that!"
 He grinned at her horror-strick- en expression. "Well, no. Not un- less the situation was a real emer- gency. Anyhow, it won't be neces- sary. You're to sit right at this table and not move until l come back. Those are orders!" Mark had swung to his feet and was reaching for his hat. T won't be more than 10. minutes" he prom ised.
 It was a wider margin than he needed. In little over half that time he was back at the table. smiling, the entirely, self-confident Mark whom Norma loved.
 "What's the secret?" she de- manded. You're like Q cat licking cream from it's whiskers!"
 "No secret!' Mark sat back ana helped himself to a lump of sugar; But I'm predicting you and VIII be in funds again before sunset. Sooner than that probably"
 "But what did you do?"
 "Oh. wired Mother the usual dis tress signal. She'll come back with a thousand berries by return teie. gram or I'm a blue-faced baboon!
 He was as pleased with himself as if he had just earned the $l,ooO. Norma, noticing this. felt a twinge of disappointment. But of course they must have the money. Prob ably it was better to borrow from his mother than anyone else. Nor ma did not like accepting favors from the Travers family though.
 All afternoon they loafed about the hotel waiting for the telegram. It did not arrive and as the hours passed Mark grew increasingly restless. By evening. when no mes sage had come, he explained the situation by saying his mother must be out of town. Of course the message would be forewarded. The servants would see to that. The money would probably reach As-4 l-