The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-21
NOW co ON WITH THE STORY
. CHAPTER xxxIx

CHAPTER xxxIx
 steyne and Clarissa Morley had fixed a day in September for their wedding. chummy hardly knew how 1t had come about. They seemed to have drifted together again. Alan took up painting once more, and often came to her for hints and encouragement.
 The month of August was won- derful. They seemed to be alone in New York. Even the inveterate habitues of the Cafe Turc had gone on . holiday. Judy was still in Scandinavia.
 Dumont had been to Toulouse. to visit some of his French relatives. He had come back bronzed by the sun and full of energy; but they saw litle of him because he was in the frenzy Of creation, working like a madman on great symbolic canvas which he called "Life's Chop House."
 Chnmmy and Alan had their meals together. as of yorc. In the evenings they drove up the river in Alan's two scatter. Sometimes they took q day off and drove to some quiet little place by the sea. One moonlight night---a night of enchantmcnt--Alnn asked ClariBsn whether she would not change her mind and marry him, after all. She was living on her emotions all that time. Being with him dny after day in this lonely intimacy had broken down all her defenses. Life had become like dream. and in dreaulland she always imagined herself 10 be Alan's wife, /, So on those moonlit sands she opened her soul to him, and they went back to town bcthrothed anew. 1t was after midnight when they reached New York. She ran, up her stairs, locked her door and threw herself on her knees beside the bed.
 Then came the last days of Au- gust, and Il great black cloud suddenly descended and enycloped all the little band.
 Chummy and Steync were in the Cafe Turc one night. Michael Stone and Tony Leigh were also there. having returned from their hOli- dnya. Iastlen came in. white and dist aught.
 Fave you heardY' he cried. "Iiave you heard 2"
 lIe was so wildly ngitated that his words tumblcd over one nn- other.
 No! What? Is it bad news?" camo from the others.
 Judy"
 The one word came from Bas. tien's lips like n wall.
 chummy'a eyes sought Steync'B face instinctively. She saw it get and hard. like n mask. ilo clenchcd hia hands.
 Judy" A grent cry went up from avery corner of the cafe. Has something happened 10 Judy?"
 Haven't you hcardW Dumont went on. "It's in tho papers, The theatcr where she was dancing was burned to the ground. There was a panic"
 Chummy could not take her eyes from Alnn's face. He wns not look ing at her. lie was not looking at anybody. or nt anything. TO her he seemed like n dead man.
 Chummy herself. strangely enough. felt no emotion. She Just listened io what was said
 Was Judy--hurt? asked Mich mel Stone rather hoarHcly.
 "she was frightfully burned" Dumont went on He talked me- chanicnlly now, like Il man in n trance. "Thcy don't think she'll die. She could have saved herself easily enough. na the flrcproOf curtain was lowered 10 shut off the stage, but she saw an old man and Jurpcd down from the stage to help him. Sho was caught In the crowd--'
 Don't, Bastein. don't" said Tony Leigh fin n voice that posi- lively nched. "Judy--Judy caught In pnnicky crowd -- tiny little Judy"
 Then everybody began 10 talk at once. Emotion looHcncd all their tongues but Alnn's. Alan continued t0 sit there, looking like man who has ceased tO live.
 chummy was very quiet. All her faculties were taken up in Hchool- ing herself so that Alan should not know. She had seen that he still loved Judy, and he must not know it
 IL began 10 be intOlcrablc to Ehummy that Stcynn should Just sit there, sayinR nothing. doing nothing. The other men did not ap- pear 10 notice him. She felt angry 1u n dull kind of way Somcm one must notice him soon, and must realize that his llge had come to