The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-06-13
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER XXIII.

signed over the task as she put the | satin mules away in the closet ant hung up the crumpled neglegee that had been left on a chair. Maybe she hadn't been as stric with Irene about the care of hel room as she should have been. bu Irene was such a pretty little thing. It had been hard to scolG | her.
 She was carrying the damp tow. els-left from the hair drying-tc | hang them in the bathroom when Beryl called to her. Gracious. was it time for her medicine already!
 But Beryl was not thinking of medicine. She noticed as her moth CT came into the room that Mrs Everett looked tired and worn be- heath the makeup she had hastily applied when Irene told her to "do something to herself" shortly be- fore Prentiss came, adding with the brutal frankness of undisciplined youth: You look like something the cat dragged in."
 ''Sit down a minute" Beryl said motioning toward the chair at her bedside.
 Mrs Everett shook her head Its time to start dinner,' she said wearily. What is it you want?" Why Beryl tried to speak calmly, but her voice would show a bit of eagerness, II just wanted to ask if Tommy is coming to din- ner?"
 NO. he isn't. thank goodness, ' , her mother replied. This is his night to relieve the operator at the theater. I'm so near played out don't know what I'd do if I had company to cook for"
 You can give me some milk with a raw egg in it. 'Beryl said. of fact she was feeling hungry having eaten little or nothing all day, but she hadn't the energy for helping her mother and did not feel like asking for a special din- ner. The regular fare, she knew. would be beefsteak and potatoes and it did not appeal to her appe- tite.
 "All right" her mother agreed listlessly. "Is it time for your medicine now?"
 Not yet" Beryl said. Don't bother about it. I'll take it."
 Her mother departed then and Beryl was lot alone to wonder if she were pleased or not because Tommy wasn't coming to dinner. She wouldn't have seen him if he had come unless she'd risked over- taxing her strength to go down. stairs and that she did not want to do the night before her radio hour. But 1t would have meant a great deal to have him in the same house under the same roof-now when Irene was away.
 Still if he came tonight the prob ability was he would learn that Irene had been out with Prentiss Gaylord-might still be out with him in fact. Poor Tommy-how much would Irene hurt him!
 Had she gone with Prentiss be- cause she knew Tommy wasn't coming back that night, or would she have gone anyway? What was she after with Prentiss Gaylord just a good time - or would she throw Tommy over for him If Pren- tiss wanted her?
 As Beryl asked herself these questions flood of rebellion against the situation swept over her. For a moment she could have cried out, "I hate them all"
 Here was her happiness fin the hands of a selfish, greedy girl who never thought of anyone but her. self and Reryl was utterly helpless to do anything about 1t but hazard guesses and make conjectures.
 Her hnppiness--yea For Tommy'ss ha ppiness was her happiness, And shc couldn't even know -- couldn't decide which was best in her - 10 pray that Irene wonlud break hls heart now or later, That shc would break it was to Beryrs mind m. ovitnble. Would he he thankfui Tor every year, every day, every hour of a fools paradise that Irene gave him? Would he say somc day, "Weli, I had Rt least that much out of ilfe?" or would lt me. "i wish I'd known before"
 Living there worrying. Deryl was fast undolnE the good her days rest had d0nn her and might hhve fretted herself Into . fever had not