The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-10-17
GUIL TY@lIp'\' LAURA LOU BROOKNAN Atss ss st sAp %s l.J MARRAeE M

make your cnarBeb m tHe propeI way?"
 Stone smiled contemptuously. Because realize how much good 1t would do. Cromwell here can tell you how much is common gos- sip"
 "There is nothing to be gained Travers interrupted. from any more talk of this sort. I am sorry to have troubled you, Hollis. Don't let us take more of your time" The younger man stood his ground. shouldn't have lost my temper" he admitted. "It's be- cause I know this girl you're talk ing about and because know she got a raw deal that said what I did. She's she's fine girl!'' "Oh? suppose you know exact ly what she's been doing ever since she left Mount Florence?"
 NO, as matter of fact I don't. I only saw her a couple times be- with Mark at Blue Springs. If genuinely in love I'd say it was that pair!"
 Travers nodded. He appeared to | again. Thank you, Hollis," he said. 'Thank you for coming over. l Drop in at the house and see us some time soon."
 It was dismissal unmistakably. Stone nodded a curt, Good after noon," and turned toward the door. As it closed behind him Trayers arose.
 "We1l," he said with sigh, "that seems to be all for this afternoon. You'll let me know, will you, Me- Cormick, how soon you can start for Paris? Make it day after to- morrow if you possibly can."
 "I'll telephone" the lawyer prom ised.
 | That night Travers said to his wife, "Wel1, my dear, the news is too good to keep. Mccormick s sailing for Paris Friday. He says the case is perfect" You mean-a divorce?, But what if Mark refuses?'' ! Travers pursed his lips. Its an unpleasant story," he said. q don't | think you'd care to hear it. Mark: nor any other man would want such g. wife when he knows the truth. Besides Mccormick is clever. I've worked with him along while and he never fails." Divorce seems so wretched!' Mrs Travers protested. T hate to think about 1t"
 You needn't. No one in Marl- boro needs to know a thing about it until the matters settled. That s the beauty of handling the whole thing abroad. When Mark hears what Mccormick has to tell him, when he learns how the girl ran away he'll be reasonable"
 T do hope so! But suppose she's | been writing to him?" Travers' smile was unpleasant. of course she has," he said. How ever-that little matter has also been attended to. Jules has been mailing the letters back to me. Three arrived the other day. No Mark hasn't been receiving any word from her.
 Mrs Travers clasped her hands together. We can onIy pray that our dear boy will be in Gods care." she said devoutly. ITO think that this should happen to me-a Ran dolph!"
 There were 28 crosses on Nor mas calendar. It was not the calendar adorned with the head ot the fiirtatious young woman in I red. This was 8 new one, quite fresh. and the month was not De- cember but January. A new calendar. A new year. And 28 crosses to show that Mark Travers had been gone nearly eight weeks.
 Norma was alone in her bedroom. She did not look well. There were dark shadows under the girls eyes and her face was colorless. She sat on the side of the bed, one foot tucked under her, mending a run ner in a beige stocking. She went about the task fumblingly, as though she could not see the stitches.
 There was a rap at the door but the girl did not move. The rap came a second time, louder.
 Who is it, please?" Its Mrs Bixby, Miss Travers. Can come in?"
 Norma went to the door listless- ly, drew 1t back. Come in," she Saiu lo tHe idnulduy. w nat IS II you want?"
 The woman thrust a letter for ward. For you" she said, smil- ing. Special delivery! I thought I'd better bring it up to you. My that's the first letter you've had since you came here, isn't it? It must be important"
 For me?" Norma was studying the address on the envelope. It was her name all right. Mailed here in Marlboro. Three little wrinkles creased the girls brow.
 Aren't you going to open it?" Obviously the landlady was waiting | to share the news. Norma turned and tossed the let ter on the bed. "Oh, yes," she said, "I'll open it after while. Thank you for bringing it up. Mrs Bixby!"
 'Well-good night" The land- lady disappeared, disappointment written sharply across her face. Norma sat down then and picked up the letter. She held it for sev- eral moments. Slowly she tore the end from the envelope and drew