The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-05
CHAPTER %LVII

"I suppose if leave you two young idiots alone you'll talk all night" Kathleen Avorill, standing In tho doorway, surveying hor son and his wife with marked disfavor, Tom looked away guiltiiy and Lin- da. sitting up in bed, smiled diS- armingly
 we will" sho said. "But. Kath- leon, don't you sec Two got to It's tho one thing need' I'll burst 1T I don't"
 And you'll bo sick if you do, Woll--l've nothing to say about it' Tom won't be turned out and once you get him alone he hasn't the backbone of jellyhsh. :"
 hlm," cried Linda indignantly, "go- ,.sr,S's ,"s off %anI %ll Hy himself wit" that
 "Don't!" under her delicate, be. coming rouge Toms mother turned white. "I Bhan't sleep n wink to. night and you're a--a monster U you do,"
 "All tho more reas0n--" "fhere's no reason in y0u-elther | of you" Ashamed of her momon" tary weakness, Mrs Averlll spoke sharply. Ut was crazy things 10 ! d. and It's a wonder you're both alive to tell tho tale. Now don't argue with mo. Noslo's fixed mo a shake-down in the nurBory and IT you have mysteries or any Of tho things you should have after such m experience, bang on tho bath room wall and I'll wake right away. hastily. (which l doubt l shall be- uood night"
 And she firmly closed tho door behind hor, leaving neither of thom at all mIaled as to her real anxiety and affection.
 "Shes a lamb, isn't BheY" com" m0ntod Linda, settling horsolf lux uriOusly among the cushions. "But, oh, Tommy -- thought l never would have you all 10 myself! Now, for heaV0n's sake, talk. I'm frantic to know oil about it,"
 "Are you sure you 0uRhtY'
 Don't bo m absolute goat! Do you want me just to curl up and di0Y' -
 "Heaven forbid!" lIo still found it difficult Co do anything but look at her rathcr hungrlly' Where shall 1 start?"
 "At the beginning. That is, VIC l MNtlL VWilThbiIb hil' hiihN bhbN lander man caught you and you went off to tho garage. What ] don't see, Tom, is how you know because 1 found out while you were gono-and you thought it was poor Marvin"
 | "P00r MarVln-p00r mol l was having fits talking tennis to that man and thinking you'd got tho goods on him somehow 'nnd that ] hnd to leave you and drive DdVoa to the StQners. How dld you md
 "ono of those little things stat lander was rambling on and sud- denly he said something about tho nursery. l was W00l'R1therinR, but 1 made him repeat what h0 Haid and in that humorous, careful way ho went over it again. About how curious it was that when eol' iapsed in Cousin Amos room, MT DeVOS appeared from the other end of the hail--our end. never dld know how he got on tho subject, That hit mo, Tom, just like a real blow. couldn't got my breath. There it was--tho small thing we'd been waiting for. thought ! must get Co y0u--and then dinner was ready and Marvin came down and Mr Htatlander had Q sudden iit Of manners and went off to get you. i vas so full Of excitement and sus. ponse I thought I'd popl While you, poor dear"
 "oh, I had Marvin pIckod for the guilty one, all right. was afraid to look at you and all the lime you were waiting to set me light if ] didW
 "That meal was RbaatIy ! kept waiting 10 hear---his steps-iD tho ana stood behind me-. But then. Tom, something bit you. You start cd Co get ID perfectly ehoorfulIy and naturaliy-"
 "BInks--it came over me and nearly gave the whole show aWny right tfiere. He stood thers sBiU- Ing, with his eyes sort Of dr0Opy'r' you kBOW---and c little mOcItlng, {. ..lehew, .if he know something