The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-07-14
iM@Rasm.

mortar, too, made him nervous and he thought: No record to-day. He fell off his bicycle into c slap heap and a sharp stone was left sticking to his elbow. He tried to dig 1t out and then let 1t be and went straight through the labora- tory back to his mother. Boom boo-boo went the pestle and nor tar.
 A.machine that was constructed all wrong produced non-inflam- mable film. The strips rolled them- selves up and got mixed up with one another in great heaps. The laboratory was full of them, and his mother did no good pounding in the mortar. Suddenly there was a rerding sound, and the non-in- f1ammable film caught fire. It burnt bright and hot and glowing. and Martin was hurled to the ground by the explosion. He opened his eyes suddenly and felt hls heart pound- ing and stared senselessly at the parafiin lamp which he had not put out. It was still alight flaring with b1ackened wick and smell- ing horribly.
 Martin assembled the various selves into which delirium had split him up and sat a few minutes with his head hanging heavily forward over his tumbled bed. Look out, he said to- himself. Where am |? What's up with me? scratched myself on a rusty nail and my arm is giving me trouble. am not right. To-morrow I'll go to Dr May reder.
 There was a knock. Martin pull ed himself together with a great effort.
 "Yes? What is it? Who's there ?" he shouted.
 "It's me, Puck. open the door," came the answer.
 This seemed very surprising. In his dazed state he could not under stand it. He put his feet to the floor and crawled out of bed. It seemed to him that the walls for a second went completely black and then became visible again in the light of the smoking lamp. He grasped hold of the back of his chair and gave a Then he said: Come in. The doors open"
 The door opened and in came 0Shs 0AtC AONhVo J0Ck 1S DIV Aio0 the first time he saw her; she wore the same rough cloak with hood, the cotton dress, and rough boots; and she was wet through. A rush of cold air and moisture came in\with her. Rain battered, too. on the roof.
 "Oh, so it's you. And what do you want? You haven't come for a bath in the middle of the night ?" said Martin. He steadied himself on his bare feet and confronted Puck quite calmly in the pajamas he had mended himself. Puck did not look we'll. She looked as if she too was in fever-pale, tremulous and with bright, sunken eyes.
 I've rowed over. It's not one o'clock yet. We have lot of peo- ple-theatrical people whom mama invited. I bolted," said Puck. She pointed vaguely out into the rain and darkness behind her. Tiger is here too-in the boat" she added. She sounded helpless and as if seek ing protection. Shutting the door, she leaned against it with an ex- hausted and resolute air that pen- ertated Martins consciousness through a veil of fever.
 q see, And what do you want me to do?"
 T simply couldn't stand it any longer. They're so happy. I couldn't stand it any longer. Martin, Mar tin, Martin, Martin, I thought all the time. And now I'm with you, Martin"
 Look here-listen, Puck. You shouldn't pay young men visits at night" Martin remarked sadly. Probably no one has ever told you that"
 "No. And I don't let people tell me anything. I had t ocome to see you. can't bear it. You don't come oyer to see us any more. Papa says you don't belong to Tulip Land. He say you are never to come any more. But, Martin, never that's imp ossible. I'm sixteen and perhaps I shall live to be eighty. Was I never to see you again, Martin |? Never, Martin? So I came."
 "Yes, Puck, that was sweet of you. But what am I to do with you?" Martin let go of the back of the chair and walked unsteadily up to her. You dear little silly girl" he said, stroking her wet hair with his left hand. The right one was possessed by ten thousand demons. Listen. Puck. be a good girl and go home. We can talk in the daytime. Row across tomorrow want to sleep now"
 "Yes, you want to sleep. I want