The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-07-31

I vet it was impossible to tamper with the truth, Barrett knew.
 once out of the building, he moved swiftly. He was going home to the girl whose face now haunted him everywhere. Home to ask whe- ther he had a chance to be her hus band for all time. Home to say, T want to woo you and win you - if I can! You don't know how I'll try; how much you mean to me. You never will know. l suppose, but I'll try to prove 1t with the years" How could he endure 1t if she should say definitely that he | had no chance and never could have a chance? His heart chilled.
 But a vision of her face that morning, lifted to him, returned to cheer him. His heart had been beat ing unevenly all day with the mem ory of that look and what 1t seem- ed to mean.
 He reached home at three to turned. If she were in Brooklyn with Bessie he would call for her, he decided, warming at the prom ise of the extra time with her and the thought of having her beside him. He telephoned Bessie Thrope and learned that Elinor had left an hour before. "She was only here a little while" Bessie said. "She had luncheon here. E1inor says little Dick Radnor is so sweet, Barry! She saw him have his bath this morning"
 He answered vaguely, adding, "Do you know where Elinor went?" Bessie did not know. T had the impression" she said, "that she was going straight home" His elation was strangely ex- hausted. He said thank you" and then "goodby."
 Elinor might have stopped to shop or see some friend, he req soned; yet suspicious that had been sleeping were suddenly aroused. He settled moodily in the draw | ing room by window to smoke continually and to frown. A French clock that stood on the mantel struck four. From the hall came the quarter hour - a full day later 1t seemed! She was usually in by four.
 He rose and stood by the win dow. The lengthening chime that | told half past four came from the hall.
 He crushed the last of his many cigarets and dropped 1t on a silver tray. Higgins appeared to ask whe- ther Mrs Colvin would be home for | tea.
 Barrett began a muttered af- | firmative response but the words broke in the middle of it. A motor car had paused outside = a low, open sport car. Bobby Tel fair stepped from 1t and opened the dor. Elinor, smiling, descended. Barrett moved back from the window. So this was the explana- tion of her delay! This was the reason Bessie had thought Elinor was going straight home!
 She came in quickly, her step eager. She was late and she had particularly looked forward to the quiet tea hour with Barrett who had kissed her that morning be- cause he wanted to!
 She had gone from Bessie's to see Philip, who was i'll. She wanted to tell Barrett about Philip. She had not as yet. Elinor dreaded his censuring Philip for taking as much from her as he had and she had not been able to nerve herself to combat with Barrett nor to threaten, through any confidence, the growing peace and happiness of their hours together. The fact that she had not told Barrett about Philip weighed her essentially truthful mind.
 "Barry!" she called eagerly from the doorway. He turned stiffly.
 "I'm so sorry to be late" she said, moving toward him. Would he kiss her again? "I was de- layed. I wouldn't be here now if Bobby Telfair hadn't met me and picked me up"
 The words stopped. All too evidently Elinor could see in the mans stony eyes that he did not believe her.
 (TO Be Continued)