The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-11-11

 in this here party! Tommy, I'm all tangled pull it down gently - that's a dear! I'll put, your studs in"
 Even the layer of chiffon seemed | to add to the heat and suddenly Linda was not only hot but hor- ribly distressed:. so heavily con- I scious of the weight Of air upon her and of some distant lowering as of unheard of thunder that she fell silent and her fingers moved mechanically.
 "I wish this weekend were over!" she said to herself, and then Wondered if she had said 1t aloud. A glance at Tom reassured her. The old darling was giving that ir- repressible lock at the exact cen- 1 ter of the back. of his head final stiff brushing down and whistling soundlessly in serene concentration. "I'm ready, angel, and I'm start ing" she said. "I,want 10 slip down the back stairs into the kitchen a moment. Kiss me, Tom!
 He came back from his struggle to peck at her cheek with abstract ed affection. "All right. Binks?" rFine!" she answered. and man. aged to put into her words ring of conviction. But 1t did not dispel | the lurking ineasiness within her. Tow explosive the elements she | had mixed within the house, her prophetic soul had lamentably fall ed to inform her.
 Going down the front stairs only a moment later, Tom was first to meet the long-unseen former suitor l,bending attentively over the lower shelf of a bookcase in the pig cen ! tral room.
 .'You must be MT Pratt"
 A startled face, with pronounced ly undershot jaw below an iron gray pompadour, turned quickly at | the words ana the man seemed for | a second to recoil against the shelves of books, one hand behind him. Inwardly Tom was thinking, ."And you must be darned quick | mover - last to come and first down. n-stairs!" He finished the sen ltence audibly with the warm smile whisf was among his best assets. Recovering from his momentary surprise, the other gripped his hand so firmly that for all his own l muscle Ayerill almost showed his discomfort.
 "And you're Tom Averill!" A voice deep and resonant. The voice I of an accomplished public speaker | and a smile which, though humor- l ous, relieved and frightened Q face too heavy in repose.
 Il The greeting over. the two men stood a. moment awkwardly, then
 each broke the short silence with lshasty speech.
 H aYour wife's all. right-'' N s.Isafida's coming light down. \ They laughed with 3 little con. straint and this time Averill took
 the lead more naturally.
 "Sit down, won't you and have 9
 cigaret"
 The other walked over to the I long windows.
 '.Thanks-I don't smoke any I thing but a pipe-and that out doors. But, I say, there's a fat l white dog out here" he gestured I toward the screened easement. I Seems to. want to come in. | didn't know whether you permitted I dogs in the house." l "That's Bupty. Sure. let her in ] please. She has the run of this
 house, all right"
 I None too rapidly, Marvin Pratt unlatched the long screen door
 and pushed it slightly ajar. In- stantly there was a scuffle of paws and a black, rather porcine nose
 appeared urgently in the crack. |.With another scramble and push
 the door was opened wide enough
 to admit the white, puffing little
 dog, who came up to Averill wag- ging apologetically, though with q I sharp sidewise glance at the stran-
 ger standing by the screen door. As
 Ayerill patted Bunty absently, he
 saw Pratt fling the door still wider
 and Cousin Amos came in from the
 terrace.
 "Ah, Thomas-Mr Pratt!" Ac-
 knowledging the introduction
 Thomas, am sorry not to have
 seen you sooner. have been down
 stairs for some time-some little
 time. I thought 1t would be pleas
 ant to stroll 8 while down towards the water but this-this small but
 determined animal thought other
 wise. I have been occupying that
 marble bench halfway down the
 path for some moments-in consid- erable discomfort considerable.
 exclaimed Cousin Amos, warming \ at the thought. But as his voice
 rose, Bunty, who had kept her ear
 cooked in his direction, advanced
 stiff-1egged toward him, the ghost \ of a growl in her aged throat. Her
 manner indicated that for, all she
 was an old lady, she was still guar dian of the house.
 l Here, old dog! Stop that!" Tom
 Ayerill could not completely hide
 his amusement. Sorry, Cousin Amos. The dogs been trained to
 watch strangers. We leave her with
 Bingo lot. She wasn't properly
 introduced and I'm afraid she's q
 little crotchety." Cousin Amos sat down in a well-
 cushioned chair
 "You should reprimand her." he
 observed. Dogs know the differ N ence between - ah = wandering
 tramps or ruffians and --um-gen- tlemen and ladies. A sound re-
 primapd should teach her to- to-" ssShe shall be reprimanded-to- \ morrow" promised Averill. And then. perceiving that the little dog,
 unusually suspicious, was now
 sniffing about the trouser-cuffs of
 the other masculine stranger. "All right, Bunty! Another visitor and
 no enemy!"
 | With a pronounced sniff, Bunty
 ignored Pratt's extended hand and, \ trotting over to the easement win
 dow, dropped. heavily against the HI screen. \ sshe isn't even chummy." apolo-
 gized Averill, noticing the sudden tension of Pratt's pugnacious jaw.
 Evidently he was one of those men
 who pride themselves on being
 liked by animals and therefore SCI.
 sitive to the old dogs snub. .Bu
 we encourage 1t. There've bee burglars-daytime ones. too--oper- bE Ating around here this summer. I And then, too, there's the. kid."
 Your small son is in bed. take Hit ?o inquired Cousin Amos blandly
 recovered now that attention was shifted iron. his own discomfiture, N five heard no childish voice this