The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-10-01
Author oF MAD MARRIAGE" @Iq3l BY 1iEA SERVICE INs

mind"
 He took up his hat, kissed her Tn the doorway he turned to say over his shoulder, If you want lunch before I get back just go down stairs. I'll probably want tc scout around" For half an hour Norma was busy. She unpacked the bags and hung garments away. No use letting clothing acquire wrinkles even though their stay here would be brief. Then she undressed, took warm bath and stimplating shower. Trains, always made Norma feel untidy.
 | As she emerged, fresh and glow ing from the tub, she caught a glimpse of the tower clock in the Madison building block away. The great hands pointed to quar- ter of 12 o'clock.
 No use to expect Mark for lunch. She had known that when he left. Mark might be anywhere. She could not make demands on him now because he was trying to find work. That in itself was job. Thinking of lunch gave Norma an inspiration. She would call Chris. The thought enveloped her in a warm radiance. Dear Chris! There were a thousand things she had to tell her!
 Norma picked up the French telephone and gave the number. There was delay and then she heard Chris voice over the wire. Its me, Chris-Norma! We just got in this morning. Can meet you at your lunch hour?"
 You don't mean the Bride-!"
 "We got tired of Blue Springs. Oh, Chris, I'm so anxious to see you! Everything's been wonderful but it's good to be back. Where shall I meet you?"
 The appointment was made quickly. Forty minutes later they met in hte lobby of the building in which Chris Saunders worked There were happy, excited greet ings. They crossed the street and entered a tea room favored by feminine shoppers. It was a place with oak paneled walls, tasteful heavy silk hangings, noiseless ser vice.
 This is party!" Chris insisted firmly. "No, don't make a prae- tice of coming here daily but we can splurge once"
 They were seated at a table now. Imagine" Chris went on, 'how it woulud sound in the newspapers. She quoted mincingly: Miss Chris tine Saunders entertained at a post-nuptial luncheon honoring Mrs Mark Travers who has recent ly returned from Blue Springs"
 They laughed gaily.
 Honestly, Chris. you don't know how good it is to see you! Tell me every single thing you've been doing. Just think, it's nearly three weeks-!'
 Almost every speech was inter- rupted. Chris praised Norma's cos tune. She wanted to know all about Blue Springs. What was it like being a young society matron Where were Norma and Mark liv- ing? Question followed question. The other. girl tried to answer, piled Chris for news of mutual ac- quaintances. Each breach was filled with tributes to Mark.
 "He's-he's wonderful!" Norma said, lifting shining eyes. "I can't think why I ever hesitated a min- utc dOOuL iidtiyiIS hiiii' :" ny might have lost him! Oh, Chris even to say those words terrifies me! I wouldn't want to live with out Mark"
 Aren't you the model wife!' Chris patted Norma's hand. Her tone was teasing yet just for an instant Chris Saunders had seen something in Norma's face that ef Cor, at hino t,bnt rified her. The next moment Chris was chiding herself for imagining things.
 The conversation took a matter , of-fact turn. Guess who I ran into on the street yesterday" Chris challenged a little later.
 "The king of Siam!"
 Foolish! It was Bob Farrell. He asked me about you too. By the way, they say Bob's coming along in great style in Haskell g office. Selby knows him and he was telling me about a case Bob ham, dled."
 But I thought Bob was going away?"
 Must have changed his mind. He didn't say anything about it yesterday. Selby said Bob managed to get a settlement in some land deal after his boss-I mean Bob's had practically given up the at- tempt"
 "That's fine" Norma said. She added slowly, " hope Bob will be big success some day. He ought to be. Bob works hard and he's so-so on the level"
 Thav falked 0f fha a pa If m ent fhe girls had shared. Chris was still living there. There was a new girl, Dot Phillips, working at the Hart Advertising agency. Dot was anxious to move in with Chris but 1t hadn't been definitely settled. Chris said she liked Dot but liking person and living with them were two different things. Before they knew it the lunch hour had sped. The two parted with promises to see each other soon.
 Those promises were fated to be broken. When Norma saw Mark again late in the afternoon he was in the highest spirits. A new musi- cal show had opened the night be- fore. A knockout according to the fellows at the club. Mark had tick cts. He and Norma dressed, dined and rode to the theater. Afterward they went to a supper club and danced. Mark confided he had several lines out" for jobs. Next day he did not rise until noon. He left the girl alone, re. turning at six with news they were to join friends of his for the eve ming. Just little party. People Norma. would like.
 | She didn't like them or theii ideas of a good time. When Mark announced similar plans for ths following evening she begged off spent the evening alone.
 It was their third night in Marl. boro that Mark and Norma. having finished dinner, stepped out on tho street. Travers paused to touch . match to his cigaret.
 Suddenly across their visior