The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-09-09

dofng!
 Farrell grinned. "Oh, rubbed the dust off some filthy old vol tunes in Kemper and Kemper's law library. I've been looking up references for a suit over some property. Spent most of yesterday at the same job. Better order, hadn't we?"
 and departed. Farrell studied the menu. There was nothing what ever about this young man to sug- gest the youth who had aided Nor ma in the dogs rescue. Bob Far rell was not so tall as the other, squarely built yet not with excess poundage. His tweed business clothes made no pretense at ele- gant tailoring. The suit was as casual, probably as inexpensive as Norma Rents.
 There was a friendliness about the young man that to a degree redeemed unsymmetrical features.
 His eyes were gray, his hair
 brown--rather light-tossed back from his forehead with a look of perpetual disarray. The line of
 his chin was forcefu1, even stub-
 born perhaps. When he smiled the generously cut lips took slightly
 Farrell would be rated by any un-
 prejudiced group to be likeable. good-natured, dependable.
 Well, what's it to be?" he asked
 after reading the suggestions on the menu.
 The restaurant was a modest
 place, neither large nor given to
 impressive decoration. Most of the
 tables were filled. It was an eat
 ing place offering a table d'hote
 dinner of well-cooked food and
 half a dozen special dishes night
 ly. Its clients reapared with
 regularity.
 Tonight Norma chose the table d'hote dinner and Farrell seconded
 her selection. As the waitress
 turned away after writing the
 order Norma said:
 How long has 1t been since we
 found this place, Bob? I like it
 more every time we come"
 "Why, don't you remember? It was that Saturday last June when it rained and we spent almost the whole afternoon in the second hand book stores up the street. We came in here to get out of the storm"
 "Of course. How could I have forgotten!" She smiled at him. The blues eyes were wide and in- nocent again. In the fiattering candlelight Norma Kent presented an attractive picture.
 There was no doubt that the youth across the table was aware of this. For nearly a year Bob Farrell and Norma had been
 spending occasional evenings to- gether. They read the same books, ] usually liked the same plays. Nor ma. who spent five and one-half days each week at dictation, typing and the comlex duties of private secretary in the offices of Brooks, Welliver and Brooks, attorneys at law, felt a high respect for Bob member of the bar of two years standing and employed by the legal firm of Kemper and Kemper. , Norma wasn't in love with Bob . Oh, dear, no! Whenever she felt a conversation was drifting toward
 the perilous rocks of romance she
 brought it back abruptly to prac' tical subjects. That tendency to- 3 ward the romantic was the flaw 1T s what had otherwise been a perfect friendship from Norma's view f point. She was 20 years old and / oh so very sure that love and marriage were to play no part ir her own life. For others if they wished. For herself, no thank , you!
 This is how matters stood that | cN pnh Nat . rell and Norma Kent dined in the little restaurant, the mongrel pup. py sleeping contentedly on the 1 floor beneath the table. Bob, dur ing the 12 months acquaintance ship, had twice asked Norma to , marry him and had both times been refused.
 He asked for the full story oi , the dogs rescue. The girl told it . making the barest mention of the , stranger who had braved the rusr 1 of traffic to bring the pup to safety
 "A man ran out and picked him up," Norma explained. She did |. not add that the man was youth , ful, attractive, and that he had , wanted to take her to dinner. Farrell began to talk of other things. He mentioned Norma: roommate. Christine Saunders. an1 was told that Chris" was working late that evening. The two girls ! shared what was known as "one
 room apartment" in section re- , moved by 30 minutes street cal
 ride from the business district. The l department" consisted of large ? living room, tiny sleeping alcovt , and bath on the third floor oi } what had once been an impressive r residence. Norma and Chris were ! quite comfortable there. Behind |; l screen in the living room was , shelf bearing two-burner gas plate on which it was possible t.
 cook an entire meal. The girls al.
 ways breakfasted at home anC quite frequently prepared dinner ? there. Bob Farrell had sampled l Chris Saunders inspired cookins on the two-burner gas plate. II . was through the other girl tha
 Norma had come to know Farrell Two minute creases appeared IT [ Norma Rents forehead as they , spoke of the roommate. You know, Bob," she confided l I'm worried about Chris" ? Why? Whats the trouble?" l "Oh, nothing-only, we'll.
 guess it's just nothing" Thougt she said no more the troubled look . remained in the girls eyes. ' Don't you worry about Chris, l Farrell said heartily. That gir |. has a level head if l ever saw !. one"
 S The dinner had been appetizing t There had been a roast served witf
 vegetables, hot rolls, and salad O
 greens with the dressing seasoned D exactly to Norma's taste. Desser X was a mixture of chilled fruit. t They were having the coffee nov
 and Farrell had lighted cigaret 2 He blew winding wreath O
 smoke, withdrew the cigaret iron t his lips and stared moodily at tn
 glowing tip. The silence becam I awkward. Norma felt she shoult