The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-03-05
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 citation.
 "oh I think so?" I know it, you blessed idiot" Vera's flashing smile belied the words.
 "Bert's having the gang at his place Monday night. I wish you could get up there. The Manners people are coming. They'd be use- full" Vera would say with spec ulative look.
 Tom would flush, stammer, get out of it. Of course, Vera under stood. Of course, he was busy. It was quite all right.
 "Darn it all," Tom would mutter to himself later. 'I'd better run out on that girl. This will come to no good"
 Later, at home, he would talk to Gypsy about the Whitman mat ter. T got that soap account I told you about" he would say with be- coming modesty at dinner.
 "Oh, really, dear? Now where did I put that carving knife? Or where did Elsa put it? She's get ting so careless ." Gypsy would put down the platter with the steak. "Sit down while everything's s hot, darling. What was 1t you were saying about something?"
 Tom might sigh a little. It was- n't that Gypsy lacked interest. She had plenty of 1t but she was just wrapped up in other affairs. She might notice he looked bit down. cast.
 '"Tell me more about it, darling" she might urged. You know I'm thrilled to hear"
 And Tom might go on but the first rosy glow of his enthusiasm would be dimmed. He would har- bor the suspicion that Gypsy was more concerned about the sauce for the cauliuower than anything else.
 Hunt Gibson had fallen into the habit of dropping around" in the evening. These were the first warm nights of summer and in the city the spell was evident. Gypsy in thin, many y-times-washed organdies from last season, would sit sewing under the amber lamp.
 Come in." she would say well comingly, T thought you'd be out at the Lido Club tonight. Ronny said you were all going"
 Tom would go out into the kitchen to stir up a cool drink and Hunt would explain lightly that he had changed his plans at the last minute: something had come up. Occasionally he brought Sue with him-Sue, looking unusually pretty and extremely wraith-like these days. But oftener than not he came alone.
 One night after Tom had closed the door after their guest he came back into the living room and stood. thoughtful and silent, for a | moment. His quiet, listening atti- tude gave Gypsy pause. What's up. darling?" He stared down at her. "Ive just ] come on something. That chaps in love with you"
 She burst into a peal of laughter. 'Where did you get that idea?" He didn't smile. Happens to be | true"
 Gypsy was annoyed. "Tommy, you never talk that way. It's it's not a bit nice of you. really. We don't go in for this sort of things. do we?"
 Sorry, darling. Forget it. May be I'm just imagining things"
 They dropped the subject then and there but neither of them forgot 1t entirely. Gypsy had all ways said she despised young mar i, ried women who carried on flirta- tions either openly or behind their husbands backs. It all seem ed pretty cheay, somehow. But she found the thought of Hunts liking her wasn't entirely un. pleasant. Why, when she had beer jealous of Tom. angry at him be. cause he had been seeing Vera Gray. she had ever. entertained the thought of irritating him with ar admirer of her own. Of course tha was as far as she had gone merely thinking of it. All wives she reminded herself. do that a moments: the spirit of retaliation is neither a noble nor a beautiful one and she was ashamed now O I her sentiments.
 Just the same, it gave her small, secret satisfaction to thinl that Hunt admired her.
 Sue telephoned her one day ant asked her to come to tea at tn Vanderbilt, their old meeting place
 "I'd love to-" Gypsy said. "Hoy does 1t happen you're on the loos to-day?"
 But Sue was vague. She woul explain, she said. when they met. It was warm, clear and bright Gypsy wore her new printed silk black with a scattering of fiel flowers, and her wide shallow crowned hat. She felt cool, wei dressed and happy. a delightful combination. Her steps fairl danced along the crowded pave mcnts and when she came into tn deep, high-ceIled hotel lobby witl