The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-03-09
CIIApTE!, XIII

Ellen nuQ upt expected IO eU- joy that afternoon with Larry Har- rowgate. She would have said that her mothers mysteries, her own dissatisfac with the state of af- fairs between them, had spoiled the afternoon. But when at 4:30, only 20 minutes late, he appeared leap- ing up the stairs she saw that She had been wrong.
 I'm a mountain goat" he shout ed when he caught sight of her in the doorway. I'm good for 10 flights yet"
 Ellen laughed, You're pant ing just the same" she jeered. Did you by any chance see Mrs Clancy as you were coming up? She generally opens her door to investigate all callers"
 That the party with the red face and the mob cap I flew past on the second tloor?" he inquired as he reached the landing and paused panting, Sure. She was so interested 1 thought she meant to join me on the last lap"
 You're lucky she didn't" El- len advised him with little gig gle. You'd have had to carry Her, | I'll sure'
 That was a break.
 They stood for moment laughing ut the door of the living room where afternoon sunlight shone mercilessly on the hodge, podge furniture and leveled Its ray as well on the shabby, worn carpet and faded wall paper, Ellen had thoroughly swept the apartment and folded up the Sun day papers but she had changed nothing. She felt an obscure de- terinination that Larry Harrow gats should see them as they were. Now that he was there, as thoroughly at ease as though he were In the home of q million alre, she breathed with relief,
 He was no snob.
 Molly and Mike had disap- pef red but Myra was there. She refused their urgent invitation to join them on the score of some dauaing she must do. So Ellen and Larry departed alone.
 Your sisters swell Larry ob- served.
 "Yes, isn't sheP' Ellen agreed eagerly,
 "she could see that we wanted to he alone" he went on, II bet my hat she had no darning to do."
 Ellen was conscious of not wanting to forget word of all this. She knew she would want to remember often what he had said. It would have been a little better if he had not laughed so. still there 1t was --- he had said they wanted to be alone.
 They glegled when Mrs Clancy opened the door and ,peeped out at tham. Ellen did not speak. That would have been too embarrassing for the kindly neighbor who was pretending she was invisible. Then they reached the street where a collection of grimy urchlns. their Sunday clothes already hopelessly soiled, scrambled over a shining blue roadster.
 What a marvellous car" Ellen breathed.
 What you can see of 1t isn't so bad. At the moment it looks sor.ething like a human ant hill. ' he remarked. adding carelessly Doesn't belong to me. l wish Il did. But I've the use of it till seven."
 Larry dug Into his pockets for change and came out with hand ful of nickels and dimes. For all the world like a pitcher prepar. Ing to hurl fast one. he swung his arm, whispering to Ellen tc watch. Coins sprang from his hand and clattered to the street in all directions, some of then rolling half a block away. Al once the roadster was abandoned by the shouting. shrieking young. sters who bounced after the elu sive coins. Several fist fights hat begun by the time Ellen ant Larry, laughing helplessly. step ped into the empty car and drove ,frn