The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-05-16
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face she ion8ed yet oreaueo 70 see The youth. Dum-Dum murmured. reading her thoughts.
 "Bobby's nearly out. Some one took him to walk around the grounds. He'll be o. k. in few minutes" He seemed to be very Knowing young man but consider ate. susan's eyes thanked him as she went to get her wrap. The face that looked back at her from the dressing room mirror was startling in It's pallor. There were great rings under her eyes. Sonia had followed and stood staring at Susan with frank curiosity.
 Don't take 1t so hard" she ad- vised.
 Anger sfiared up in Susan. q don't know what you mean"
 ''Yes, you do," Sonia adjusted her extraordinary earrings and patted her oily hair with satisfac- tion, "A child could see whats the matter with you" She said coolly. "Buck up and show you have Q lit- tie fight"
 Susan squared her shoulders.
 You're talking riddles"
 "Oh, well. Sonia shrugged. Don't mind me. only meant to give you a friendly tip"
 The warm color had come back into Susan's face and her eyes had darkened. So that was 1t! They were all feeling sorry for her. They knew what this was about. Wen, she'd show them. She threw the shawl about her shoul- ders, linking the picture she made.
 Come along" she said crisply. I'm ready
 She took Dum- Dum's arm. She looked gay, even gallant. Depisc rushing in moment later with Bob Dunbar at her heels started at the transfiguration. They made a great clamor in the hall. Three or four older couples, sedately waltz ing to the strains of an old.fash- toned tune, turned to glance at them disapprovingly. Susan's laugh rang out at something Dum-Dum had said. Ben glowered.
 Hurry up, everybody" shrilled Denise. We want to get away be- fore the air of this tomb gets ua" She linked her fingers in Bobs. Susan managed to avoid his glance. With desperate intentness she an- swered Dum- -Dum's sallies. So they thought she hadn't any fight in her, did they? She'd show them!
 Deliberately, Bob Dunbar de- tached himself from Denlse's grasp and walked over to Susan. He held something out and the girl saw 1t was a flask, incredibly long and fiat.
 Have one?" he challenged. You need It."
 She put out her hand but before she could touch the flask Ben's long said, loudly and forbiddingly, "She doesn't want it-you fool, you!"
 What followed was all a sort of nightmare. There was n tussfe in the course of which the flask clat- sharply, "Get 'em outside" Denise screamed and the boy. Dum- Dunn, pulled the wrestlers apart. A club white face and closed the doors on the dancers.
 Then suddenly they were all out beneath the stars, Susan shak- ihk uIOGo WILL cHnptaob thoh "tesl cold and Ben holding his jaw and looking murderous.
 Take Bob away" Denise or. dered. Hell kill that fool" Sht glared at Ben. "If Daddy henrs about this I'll be wrecked. 1 won, have a prayer"
 Just a minute" That was Bob oddly sober now. ''I'm sorry. M, l error.' He put out his hand tt his adversary but his look was d. rected at Susan. Ben, after an in stant's hesitation, took the hand The crowd melted together again moved by a common impulse of re. lief. Denise was issuing voluble directions. Arnold and Sonia and Dunn -Dum in that car. She would drive with Bob. She looked around , Dunbar had melted into the shad. ows. And where was Susan?
 The youth, Dum-Dum, lifted his eyebrows and put hand under Denise's elbow.
 "Where are those two?" Denise demanded, icily regal and clutching her white fur wrap around heI slim figure. The boy shrugged Denise stamped her foot and some one in the big car sounded n horn sharply in the night stiffness.
 Let's move," Dum- Dunn said easily. "I hear Bob's enh'ne down the hill. They'll be trailing us."
 There seemed nothing else to do Denise, her head high, stepped in and raced the engine. They roarcd away.
 Meanwhile Susan sat still and cold in the roadster's front scat. The man at her oide cupped hiA hand over n clgaret. In the match's flare she could see his stern young profile.
 How did l get here?" she asked. "I feel as if--as If a hurricane had picked mo up."
 "I was it," Bob Dunbar supplied easily. He seemed quite sober now and there was q steely glint in his eye. "I kidnapped you. Now we're going to drive around a bit while find out what this Is all about"
 Susan felt unaccountably happy. T don't know what you mean" she told him.
 "Yes. you do." His voice was grim. "I want to know if it's true --that you're engaged to this lad who just walloped me-" "Who told you that?"