The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-10-25

Bob asked, veering away from exciting news?"
 while Barbara studied her plate thoughtfully. Outwardly she was calm but in her heart she felt a blind, unreasoning fury. Jealousy of this girl - whoever she was who had made such headway while she, Barbara, had been given only casual. impersonal friendship.
 Then the hot defiant challenge flung to her unknown adversary. "She cant have him." Barbara told herself.
 Raising her eyes to meet Bob's, she said slowly, striving for the wistful effect that always succeed cd so we'll with men, Pm taking this rather hard. You see I am so awfully disappointed. I was sure you would come, Bob, and all my plans were built around your go- ing. Who is she?"
 Joan Waring." He said the name gently. If Barbara had had any doubts before they were swept away now.
 
 decided bitterly. Aloud she said, Joan Waring? I don't believe I know her"
 Well, you've missed some- thing"
 "Evidently."
 Then suddenly she remem- bered. Waring Waring? It couldn't be the same girl. yet the name, Joan," struck chord of memory.
 There was Waring girl at school one year," Barbara said. "The year went away. Molly Davis wrote me about the won- derful voice she had"
 "Joan has a wonderful voice. And Molly Davis is friend of hers"
 Ut must be the same girl! But that's strange"
 What's strange about it?"
 "That you should know her. I wouldn't have thought you would know the Warnings. It seems queer"
 That's what I thought: Queer and wonderful"
 There was another silence. Bar bara was thinking, planning. It was lucky that this other girl was not a member of her crowd, her world. It would be only matter of time and showing Bob. cleverly and sub tly, that Joan Waring was impos- sible for him. Simply impossible.
 Barbara's eyes met Bob's. She thought they were not quite friendly now. AS though he sensed, intuitively, her antagon- ism to Joan. She must be more guarded. The situation was go- ing to require tact. Plenty of tact.
 Barbara telephoned to Carol when she reached home. Bob can't come, Carol" she said. "He has date with a girl Sunday and doesn't feel he should break it."
 That's shame! But you'll come anyway of course. Invite someone else."
 T want him." Barbara added sweetly, If this girl were only some one else I'd ask you to squeeze her in some place if you could"
 ''Why. of course. There's worlds of room. It was stupid of me not to think of that"
 "oh, but couldn't" Barbara answered. Not this girl. It's Joan Waring."
 Never heard of her."
 "No, don't suppose. you have, She was the girl--a complete out sider-that Molly Davis was so crazy about several years ago and pushed for everything even her own sorority"
 Well. she must be all right then"
 But she isn't! There was a big scandal - her father committed suicide years ago. It was spread all over the papers. He embedded a lot of money and a woman was mixed up in it, tool"
 "Oh, do seem to remember It was the classic scandal of my childhood. Are you sure it's the same family?"
 "Tm positive"
 '"roo, bad"
 "Of course" Barbara said, T wouldn't care about that old story myself and from what Bob says she must be lovely. Only I couldn't think of asking you to have her, Carol. What would your mother think?"
 Carol laughed. She isn't as broadminded as I am but she doesn't need to know the whole story. Go ahead and ask her I'd hate terribly to see you turn your handsome millionaire over to herS'
 Barbara flushed angrily. She had no such intention. She said sweetly. q really think it's darling of you. though somehow I'm afraid you shouldn't include her. It's awfully bad to mix crowds"
 Well. I'll risk it. If she doesn't mix she'll be submerged when that bunch begins party ing"
 "Ill sound Bob out" Barbara put down the telephone and sat for moment feeling the leaven of triumph stirring. Her eyes shone. Her cheeks were flushed. 1t was so important to make ex- actly the right moves. There was Carol, feeling that she, Barbara. had been so awfully generous and thoughtful. submerged" Carol had said. We'll. that was exactly the way girl should feel, delib- erately edging in where she had nc right. probably leading Bob on to belisse she belonged to the right crowd.
 Barbara called Bob then and Erga ched the Dlan Ia aunrnvoI