The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-05-03

uncomfortable impulse. "T'll go." she said. I'd love to-"
 He was so businesslike about 1t all, putting her address down in his small otebook, that Susan ban ished as idiotic the suspicion that for an instant there had been q flash of triumph in his eyes. He was to call for her at seven. Much as she disliked the idea of the neighbors peering at his long, blue roadster with its shatetring horn she insisted on this. For one thing she remembered Aunt Jessie's dic- tum, If q man can't call for a girl at her own home then I say there's something wrong. These fiy-by- nights who meet boys on street corners will come to no good" It was curious that Susan should think of this and be so insistent about it. because she had heard Aunt Jessie say 1t so many times and 1t had always irritated her.
 She rushed homeward, impatient of the many delays. The west bound trolley seemed unusually slow and Jerky. The conductor dropped the token she handed him. passengers fumbled their transfers, and at every cross town line there were maddening waits.
 Why she was so excited at the prospect of an evening with Waring Susan could, not have exactly said. Perhaps 1t was his reputation as a lady's man, gleaned from hints dropped by Pierson. Perhaps it was the memory of the dozen and one daily telephone calls which he received. Most of the voices were provocatively feminine. Susan could not help hearing Warnings part In some of these conversations. He called all of them "darling." She knew that and was a little con- temptuous of 1t, believing In her young arrogance( and who shall say not rightly?) that he charm Ing English term of endearment should be reserved for the chosen one instead of scattered to the crowd. But ever since the day when the man had shown such sympa thetlc understanding of her position--the day Mrs Heath had so unmercifully snubbed her--Su- itable view of him. After all, she argued, men couldn't all be alike. She began to feel that she had mis- understood Waring. Pierson said Jacks wife had given him "a dirty deal" Maybe that was true.
 It was at this stage in her re. factions that the car, jerking, wheezlng, and grooming, reached her corner and she was glad to allght, finding the air under the locust trees of her own block much more agreeable thnn that of the trolley.
 In her own room, she wrlggled out of her clothes and ran the tub almost to the brim. She was glad Rose had given her those geranium scented bath crystals for her birth day. It was her fnvorite scent. If everything had irked her on the homeward ride now everything seemed suddenly right. How lucky it was that her lowered chiffon. her only "pnrty" dress worthy of the name, had been returned from the cleaners the day before! How lucky 1t was she had washed her hair Monday night! How lucky she was to have a natural wave, in- | tensined by the summer heat so that all she had to do was press her fingers Into the little ridges to make her head q dark, shining, cap of undulation!
 She was ready long before seven o'clock. While she waited she be- gun to feel the agitation of q diver about to take tho great plunge. Her mind revolved in busy whlrliglgs. What if Aunt Jessie should happen in without warning? :? What If Mrs Mcleod who always watched the goings and coming of | the neighborhood from behind her starched curtains should spread the rumor that Susan Carey was be. coming fast? Susan shuddered, TO be "fast" in tho litle com munity where she lived was to be quite beyond the pale. Although Chicago is a metropolis, In It's neighborhood groups there exists much of the spirit of the average small town.
 susan's reverie was interrupted by the sharp penl of the door bell. Shc caught up her gloves In a furry and for the hundredth time wished | sch had a proper summer evening wrap instead of the wretched old | DInck coat IrOfn Iuht SehhOn. DIV opened the door with fingers that shook n little.
 There he stood, seeming taller than usual, and, as always, per. fectly turned out.
 Susan closed the door of the cot tnge prlmly behind her. Aunt Jes- sie had always told her that n lady never receives n gentleman at homo alone. Warlng smiled suddenly. at if he caught the reason for her abrupt gesture.
 "I won't bite, you know" he said with mild ralllery and Susan went scarlet. lt was annoying to be NC trn nsparont.
 As she ran down tho steps witf her escort she forgot everything IT her sudden surprise. There Jnunti- Iy perched in the rumble seat. faded looking young man nt hei side. snt Ray Flannery.
 "Hello," chirped Ray. "Tm starv' Ing. Let's step on it!"
 (To Be COntinued)
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