The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-06-29

form PrentiSs how she has acted. Irene promises, then slips away and marries Prentiss. They telephone the news.
 Beryl develops a serious throat malady and a noted specialist ad- viscs rest and extreme caution. Beryl disobeys when she hears that Tommy has joined Q gang of bootleggers. She slips out of the house in all kinds of weather to beg Tommy to break away from the gang. Her throat gets worse and she learns that her singing career is over. Beryl goes to tell Tommy her trouble and to beg him for the last time to leave his unwholesome associates.
 NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
 CHAPTER XXXvI.
 q should have ben in bed when I was chasing all over the country looking after you," she declared. And now, Tommy, it's show down. I've paid a big price to help you. I'm not going to cry any more but I can't endure it unless you make it count for something. If you do won't care. I'll even be glad"
 Tommy stirred restlessly. What can 1 do?" he asked vaguely.
 "You can be yourself now and quit the Larkin gang. You know you can't stick with them forever, Tommy. I'll bet you're, sick of it already. They know how to take care of themselves better than you ever will, but they'll slip you some day. You're not a fool, Tommy. You know that. Come on back with me now-come to our house. We owe you lot-our family--but you owe me more. And I'm licked. if I've got to admit that all I had to hold to on this old earth has gone down before the viciousness of Pol Larkin.
 "Think of it, Tommy" she hur- ried on, "my whole future-every- thing that has given me 8 chance to lift myself out of the routine oi working in a grocery store. I'll have to go back to that now. and I loved singing. love the luxuries I never had before. It's horrible 10 think that I lost all that just be- cause certain men are crooks! But | won't mind if it proves you're what think you are. You've never been a welcher or a double-crosser, Tommy. You've always been regu- lar. And now it's up to you 10 make good. I've bought your re- lease from the Larkins with every thing I had. Will you take It, or will you let me down?" :,
 'All's right with the world Beryl turned swiftly to Tommy |. Isn't that 8 wonderful liner" she exclaimed rapturously. Look at that harbor! No, don't, for you a surely drive us straight into the sunset. You couldn't take your eyes from il"
 Tommy grinned and swerved the car, pretending to lose control or IL. Beryl laughed. Ut knows which is its sunny side," she said. l never knew a nicer brought-up car, did your"
 time 1t sese Q Lincoln"
 "So much better behaved than its new brothers and sisters Beryl said smoothly.
 "Better get your nose down be- fore some bee mistakes it for a 
 And SO they drove along, care free and merry. If each had a dark cloud in memory it was kept for private viewing and never brought out to spoil the sunny hours they spent together.
 Beryl was particularly happy this day. It was Sunday and the gro- cery store was closed. Tommy too was released from his labors in a garage. And tomorrow he would re- turn to college--to night classes, keeping the new job, making his own way and proving to Beryrs entire satisfaction that he always paid his debts in full.
 It had not been easy for him. Pol Larkin had given him nasty beating but Tommy considered him. self lucky to escape without a cracked head. And his uncle's atti- tude when Tommy went back home had made 1t impossible to ask help of him. Tommy had stayed one night, refusing to accept Beryls offer. The next night he slept at the garage. In fact. he slept at the garage until he received his first pay. Then he took cubby-hole In d nearby rooming house.
 Like many Q person who seems negative at times Tommy could see a thing he believed in through to a satisfactory conclusion. And he was determined now to be his own man.
 Beryl loved him deeply. She wondered at time if Tommy re- alized this. She'd tried to place all that had passed upon a basis oi friendship. Tommy wasn't con- ceited, She had that to count on' He'd always accepted her in a mat ter-of-fact way. Of course another boy but she'd always been in Tommy's life. Just like that wart on his thumb" she thought whimsi- cally.
 It was true. Tommy had moi questioned her motive for salvagins him, It seemed the natural thing for Beryl to do. Neither had he delyed into or sought to analyze her need of him. It seemed the natural thing for her to come to him when she was in trouble. He did not think about eBryl.
 It was Irene who occupied Tommy's thoughts. She was Q sweet fragrance in his memory. He did not blame her for discarding him.
 Beryl, hopeiessly in love with him, lied about Irene. When he asked for news of her sister and there was no news she invented some. Oh yes. they'd had Q ieteti from Irene on Tuesday (but il might have been two Tuesday' past).
 she could trust her mother not te give her away in this practice foi Mrs Everett said little Of lreno'i Evarett was less retieent, but Tommy rarely encountered him, foi Mr Everott was working late Al inc store these days. Ills helper had been let out for lack of funds and work that Mr Everett had done in ths dag time he was deing now al ..a Ina. a.athan snAdA thf