The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-08-21

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 CHAPTER TX
 Boots tete-a-tete with Hardy was interrupted by the arrival of the Beach Club swimming in structor, Russ Lund. Hatless, look ing by comparison to Hardys lean ness and trimness rather the .sroughneck" that Patty had dub bed her.
 "You forgot something"
 Boots stared at him. Then she smiled. He was holding her vanity case out to her, a frivolous affair fine tortoise shell, flat and thin. She must have left it in the car when he drove her home.
 "Oh, yes. Thanks a lot" She began rather haltingly to make the necessary introductions. "Mr Whitmore . MT Lund ."
 Hardy bowed a trace too stiffiy and said they knew each other. Russ's duck trousers were rather bedragged looking. The virile white sweater, in contrast to Hardy's beautifully tailored fian- nels, looked utterly hopeless
 'Well, I'll be seein' you, Thought you might want the gadget :"
 Boots came out of her trance to thank him again. this time too profusely, because she felt sorry for him and hated to see him snubbed. Who was Hardy-what did he think he was-to go high hat on her all of a sudden?
 Her momentary sense of embar- rassment fled in the face of Hardy's cool arrogance. What if he did assume, quite without War rant, that the Beach Club. guard was unduly friendly with her? It was none of his business. If she were going to be one of Larch- neck's girl outlaws she might as we'll play the role to the limit.
 As Russs old car, parked a few doors down the street, chugged spasmodically out of sight she said coolly. Hes grand person. really" with an enthusiasm she was far from feeling. She knew little or nothing about the square 1y-built, big-shouldered young man with the shock of unruly hair, ex- cept that he obviously admired her.
 A few moments ago she had been considering the possibilities of turning Hardy's object polite ness to good account. She had a golden opportunity. Why not use it? But all at once the thought sickened her. No, she wouldn't cry on his shoulder and tell him he was the big bad man who might | save her from all the village dis ! favor. She wouldn't, either, adopt devil-may-care attitude which often went over famously with the boys. -.F< tftF
 1.-The golden youth beside her looked at her in puzzlement. What hhd gone wrong with the inter- view? He was accustomed to flut- tering interest. He would have sworn this little thing would be grateful for any crumbs of flat tery he might toss her way. But somehow she wasn't playing up. He felt it had been darned decent place. Why. he hardly knew the girl although he had always thought her fyaway yellow hair and big brown eyes a delectable combination. She could be a Knockout, he told himself solmen- 1y, with the right clothes and more sophisticated makeup. Of course she was one of the younger crowd Why, he was two years older. That made lot of difference. She had spirit though. She threw up her head like young lilly and he liked that husky voice of hers. It had a sirupy undertone in it. You could do something with this girl
 What did she mean by smiling that way at old Redneck from the club? Something ought to be done about it.. He wasn't her class.
 Thus Hardy's thoughts
 He had been relieved, a few mo- ments before, when Boots had as- sured him he had nothing to do with any discomfort she might be suffering at the hands of the good ladies he casually dubbed "the will lage witches" Every woman over 30 was witch to this arrogant. handsome young man. But now he wasn't sure he wanted to have his kind offer so casually dismissed. If Isabel was right Boots was ''in bad" with the witches. He knew the town; it would make her suf- fer.
 Selfish as she was, Hardy was de cent enough underneath to feel slight qualm at the prospect. He had been boiled as an owl the other night, Isabel had assured him. Sylvia had ridden him badly when he had met her and he'd still had the hangover. He hadn't been very nice to Sylvia. He had high hated her all over the place. Sure, Sylvia was oke but she mustn't act as though she owned him. He couldn't stand that. Nothing burn ed him up so much as the inevit- able feminine possessiveness He sfied at the least hint of it and Sylvia had made a fatal error in showing her hand.
 He therefore turned on Boots now his most devastating smile. Older women than she had been known to be stirred by it, and Bots had been hurt and baffled all day. Small wonder she succumbed < to the charm he managed to inject into his agreeable voice.
 Be a sweet thing and prove you're not mad at me. Come out Tonight. We'll go places. Dance
 We'll, why not? She had, she told herself. nothing to lose and everything to gain. Her father wouldn't object. All the young men fn Larchneck looked pretty much alike to him.
 s.sAil right" she said casually She had '.sort of date" with John- Ifv but that could be broken easily It2would be a triumph to be seen rofn9 places with Hardy and as 76ne as the Mrs Fernells of the world had turned thumbs down on her she might as well have some fun out of the situation.
 Hardy went away a bit surprised at himself, if the truth be told at <he way things had fallen out. lie E5dnsf in the least intended to take fhIs girl places. he grumbled. He had meant to do the gracefui thing zay he was sorry for getting her mixed up in something awSwaru <Thich hadn't been her fault. But f<S6neck's arrival had stirred some f6jnr primitive and jealous in him it would be amusing, Haruy re- 8fc1ed. driving away fla cloud or 8usf. Co show the town wnat q t~Es At<sf fa4z[T sxtf1 tn44I0