The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-01-15
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Snap out of it," he urged. Say. listen, baby. We wouldn't be kiss ing if we wasn't friends already,
 Mary-Frances pondered that for a moment. "Well-no," she ad- mitted. "I guess what I mean is that so many things are so much more interesting than kissing"
 It was Earls turn to ponder, and he did so for a moment before he produced his first sincerity of the evening. "Cripes!" he said. "If you aren't the darnedest funny little kid!"
 Ermintrude must never know. No one must ever know. It must be kept always a secret smarting ip her breast like that old Spartan fox. Dignity softened with coy mess? Mary-Frances had no pres ent disposition for coyness.
 Well, Mir DeArmount, I must say! If that's what you think about me, I'm glad you told me before it was too late and we'll part for ever right now. I'm going straight into the house. But I will add, Mir Armount. that 1 don't think that is a very nice way to talk to girl who is IS years old, and you knew how old I was, because l told you this afternoon in the drug store, and now I'll say goodby."
 He took her by the shoulders and held her, gently enough. Leave me explain, hon." he said. T didn't go to make you sore. On the square I didn't-see? Wait min- ute. Give me a break"
 Funny little ktd'," mocked Mary-Frances. "Well 1t may be yours, but it isn't my idea of a nice way to talk"
 "Say, listen. hon. I'm sorry. hon. est. didn't mean anything like you. think-see? I like you. On the square I do. I like you a lot better than I thought I was going to-see? I mean to say, you being so--so, well different and innocent seeming and all, you've kinda got me going, in a way. See ?"
 "Different?" she questioned with a note of hope.
 "1'll tell the world you're dif- ferent. Say, listen. hon, and I'm talking on the square to you now see? No line or anything like that see? I'm talking like pal. straight goods. You're as different from the run of girls as-as-well, say, if you'll excuse me getting kind of flowery, you're as different as Q little innocent violet from one of these here big gaudy cabbage roses-see
 "'You are as different as is a modest violet from a Haunting crimson rose'." Perfect material for Ermintrude.
 Howsosomeever," said Earl and from where in the world he dragged all that word 1t is hard to tell. "1 got to say, in justice to my self, Frankie, that ain't altogether to blame for kind of getting off on the wrong foot, as the saying goes. Listen, hon. I'm a man of the world, myself-see?" GA man of the world! Mary Frances breath ed deeply over that.) "And-well, that's what I kind of am. A man of the world. Now, there's lot of things you wouldn't understand. know that now-see? But 1 wasn't sure of 1t before, and that's why I'm going to say something to you I may not get thanked, but just the same think the world and all of you" (The world and all! My!' "Ermintrure, he said D. land I'm going to tell you that you're taking chances when you make dates with strangers and al like that. Course, in my case, il was all right-see? Absolutely. Tn a good judge of character and al see? But the next guy nigh be a bad egg or. anything. It sure gets me going, Frankie. a girl oi your type and all taking such chances"
 "Oh, but, Earl, I don't! I never did before. You are the very first one I ever did speak to or any thing"
 (TO be Continued)