The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-11-18
CHAPTER TX

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 CHAPTER TX
 T certainly feel as benefac- tor = bringing four presentabie intelligent unattached men. The women will mob me-"
 Linda looked around the large. fow-lit room opening on the broad veranda-broad as the room it. seif--which in turn hung over the twinkling lights of several little boat landings and one long i'm pressiye wharf at which fine white yacht soberly swayed under the pull of the tide.
 The words were hardly spoken before events justified her belief In the predatory instincts of her sex. Coming firmly toward them was one of the clubs most deter- mined hostesses and convcrging on the party from different sides were two equally militant mann mas. while a soft delicate Burgle of laughter just behind- informed Linda that as usual " Fleur Stoncr had outgenerald them all and reached the goal first.
 It was hard for Linda, honest as she was, to decide just what she thought of Fleur Stoner. AL ways she admired the girls beau- ty--and sometimes her nerve. Frequently Linda was exasperatcd enough to box her ears and on rare occasions, when some auda- cious bit of selfishness completely outraged her, she could have seen the beautiful Fieur torn limb from limb without a tremor. This was one of the times when Fleur mere- ly amused her, It was so like the clever, calculating creature. to conceal herself on the porch--not to hail them as they entered but to slip smoothly into the group so that to the. approaching hunters she actually seemed to be Q part
 And her strategy (Linda knew that Tlepr would regard recogni- ton of 1t as q compliment) brought her, with her low. de- liciOus gurgle of laughter. at the elbow of the Belgian but also near enough to shaughnessey and Pratt tl cast each a glance which seemed to contain some special, personal message. Just what, neither could have said but both Immediately reflected their fattered pleasure. Only the completely sophistlcnted ; Belgian greeted her with the same even. guaye courtesy. If his eyes rested on her n second longer than necessary. with a look that poss,Sy Ysss@ s on,S Tn p9ss,sy soma personal eon recognition, Linda could not say. She did think that 1t was only fair the Fleur should be forced to give someone the same tribute of slightly breathless expectancy which her technique clicked from other men. Yes, here was one that was moro than n match for Fleur.
 Linda's original group dis solved rapidly. The Belgian moved away beside Fieur, stun nlng in that curious olive green gown that by all laws of Justice should be so unbecoming to her. Marvin disappeared with the daughter of Mamma No 1 - T young lady who for all her appar- ent artlessncss needed no mater- nal maneuvering to aid her. Mir Statlander surprisingly disc0v- cred to be very fond of dancing indeed solemnly foxtr0tting with q charming little widow; and Lian Shaughnesscy -- just what had be- come of him lin the shuttle Oh. yes - Ella Mondell who should have been his weekend hostess full prey tiust like Ella, having ducked the responsibilities. to claim her guest when he. could be usefuli) and led him out to the porch where her own party was assembled. That accounted for all of them. With the pleased sensn- ton of a very young mother hen who has just successfully launched { her first brood of chicks. Linda dropped them from her mind and whirIed of on Toms willing arm.
 The dance floor was not as crowded as she had anticipated. The cooler, comfortable porches; the long, silent wharf; the lan- tern-lit grass and clusters of shrubbery. each with it's hidden bench and lawn chairs; even the ears and few tied-up launches and other craft proved more ai- turing to many than the amuse- ment for which they had osten-
 s Save for an occasion '.duty dance'' Linda saw little of her Win Pratt succeeded in finding her slome ertarily alone --- he evidently preferred not to cut In on Totn-- but he very soon yielded her to q snelghbor with no such tnhibi- lions. At any rate, dancing with Marvin was no great pleasure. He sWaa conscientioua but not a natural dancer and this evening his formal politenesg tried her very soul. At intervals she saw him with Dolly Alger, with Flour and with different damsels Of the peighborhood. They seemed to Ind him an acceptable partner, # not a thrilling one, and Linda was as well pleased that his few dances with her were of perfume tory shortness.
 The surprise of. the evening was the midwesterner. For all his somewhat forbidding exterior, there was no doubt that MT Stat- lander was really fond of dancing. His sense of rhythm was perfect; he indulged In nogtunts or flights of fancy. Dancing with him was utter smcothness ana deigiht. Not caring much to talk when she danced, Linda welcomed the un- broken silence, statlander seemed to put his mind entirely on what he. was doing and certainly the re- suits justified. Nor when they danced tagother did sbe detect that aura of disapproyai nc usual-