The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-03-21
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| AEOUu uBO AAI I Inside the restaurant they were greeted with the strains of new fox trot. Reigals' boasted dinner music and dancing. The dining
 room was large square with walls intended to initiate Spanish tiling. There was an abundance of dark red and pale green in the decora- tions. There was a dark red car pet, red leather chairs and red glasses on the crisp white table, cloth.
 Four musicians, on raised plat form at the far side of the room, were beating out their meticulous rhythm, swaying as though hypno- tized by the blatant melody. About a dozen couples were dancing in the square, uncarpeted space re-
 served for them. Only about a third of the tables were occupied.
 Al had reserved a table and the | headwaiter led them toward 1t. II
 was near the orchestra - too near JdAeL lIIOuShI OuS AhOhiS "oo SD-
 viously pleased.
 "Some class to this joint!" Null lins commented enthusiastically. A waiter presented menus and Janet studied hers. By the time the shrimp cocktail had been set before her she knew the evening was going to be an ordeal. It was all right to remind herself that she was doing this for Mollie who was generous and kind-hearted and
 deserved to have her good time unspoiled. It was all right to listen to Frank Mullins telling stories he had heard at vaudeville perform ance even though he laughed at them more loudly than anyone
 with him and narrowly escaped tripping due to his awkwardness. it was too much!
 Mullins seems to regard the epi- sode as a joke. Janet was sure the men must have started the eve- ning's festivities with a few drinks. Al Schildner seemed quiet enough but Mullins was both garrulous and apparently deeply attracted by
 Janet. He leaned near to her
 whenever he addressed her. H had told her already that she looked
 like "a blue-eyed baby doll" and twice he had called her Sugar" He kept repeating that tonight was going to be large night. Oh, boy. yes!
 The second time he asked her to dance she refused. Then she decided that sitting at the table alone with him was worse than dancing. She didn't have to talk to him when they danced and per- haps he wouldn't be 50 awkward another time.
 Just as Al and Mollie returned to the table the waiter appeared with the food. It was an appetizing dinner but Janet was not hungry. She was spared listening to Mullins because Mollie immediately took up the conversation. Then Al inter- rupted to tell something that had happened on his last trip out of town. Janet gathered that Al spent about half of his time in Lancaster and half lon the road" Mullins remembered having seen a friend of AIS at the convention that after noon and so the talk moved on. Absently Janet glanced about the
 room. Yes, 1t had been a mistake to come but she must endure the evening somehow. There were
 some nice-looking people at the next table. Two men and a girl in
 black. It was the sort of smart, expensive-looking black dress Janet
 wished she could afford. 2 Suddenly Mullins loud laughter rang out and the girl in black looked at him. Janet caught the disapprova1 in that glance and turned away, her cheeks flushing. Well, there was one thing she could be thankful for. No one in the restaurant knew her. A Later when the orchestra leader raised his baton to signal the be-