The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-01-24

A score of problems, not the least of which was the importance of
 this sudden visit or Bills boss to Bills future.
 1 Would Bill, away from the grind
 of the under-staffed office, have the courage to present his plan to his l chief? Marjorie glanced at her husband. Brown he was = that came of cultivating the thrift gar den behind the house-but thin thin with the work and worry of an underpaid branch manager forced to follow a routine he had
 no faith in.
 It was wonderful plan, this one Bill had originated-built up, detail on detail - it would revolu- tionize the selling methods of their l commodity assure them a na-
 tional market. But Bill wasn't aggressive enough. Wonderful
 Bill, too, ambitious, hardworking
 loyal-and as big and blonde above
 his tan as his Viking forbears.
 Marjorie's heart quickened its
 beat as their glances met. His
 only fault, she felt, was too
 modest opinion of his own ability.
 "Ten drops only -" MarJorie's | feeting attention caught MT Ben-
 nett's words-still on the subject
 of remedies - well, who wouldn't
 be, with cold like that = he'd
 been a sport to come all the way | out to Clifton between trains on
 a sleety night like this.
 THE DOOR INTO THE
 PANTRY SQUEAKED
 The door into the pantry
 squeaked. Selena was peeking in
 over MT Bennett's head. That | meant the broilers were done and | if kept much longer would be as
 dry as chips. Marjorie was forced | to smile at MT Bennett with the lower part of her face, While teie- l graphing dismissal and patience to 1 Selena with the upper part. The | old boys second helping or soup,
 she unused, while f1attering, was delaying the rest of the dinner; Selena would be wild If she missed the second show - would she re-
 member to heat the rolls - had | Billy kicked his covers off again? How MT Bennett gabbled on, what
 q bromide, no wonder he drove Bill frantic at times-a bachelor-al-
 ways a little odd, Uncle Horace the | same way-fussy-doe like
 dogs.
 Fancy having to lock up Mickey
 because he made MT Bennett ner-
 vous!
 Eventually they moved into the
 snug living room MT Bennett
 stretched his legs in front of the l friendly fire. Enjoying himsef ne was evidently, but his cold was worse, if anything. Two of Billy.s I handkerchiefs had been requlsl- toned. Nevertheless, the atmos-
 nhere was genial, if the conver- sation was still punctuated by | sneeZes.
 However, Bill had not presented the pIan. It was in his side coat
 pocket. Marjorie saw the edge or
 the familiar yellow paper stlcKine out.
 chair. Marjorie watched her nus band nervously finger the precious
 paper but she clearly saw tnat
 poor, diffident Bill could never slein the tide of "reminiscences. MT Bennett was still talking or HIS | childhood illnesses.
 | Suddenly she heard the snap | ping of MT Bennetts old goio tlins piece. He and Bill were poth staho-
 ing up. |, c,;caeo in the
 noorninp or I would not continue
 the trin with this cold" the oider
 man was saying" Now, I've Just afteen minutes to catch that tram lyon get that whole office 1orce m it's toes, my lad-and lets naVe
 different statement at the eno
 4hn naxt ouarter. Now, let me
 have my coat" -
 dwarfed. beaten down again by the crass. unseeing egotism or ms oh;af executive - his plan still III
 ": Marjorie felt her hand being
 sbaken. "I can't tell you how nice if has been to be in your nome,
 nv dear" the rasping voice was ooing on. "Why, I did not know fhere were such good housekeepers
 among the younger generation. I've rarely been in such a we'll ordered home. I see you've 8 place
 for everything and keep every. thing in it's place. Ho hum, what an admirable plan that - "hat this?" ,. ,., MT Bennett's voice had lost US
 unctuousness and now possesseu inc hardness of well-forged steei drill. Automatically MarJorle looked in the direction of her guests mortified gaze. It was centered on the dejected ngure oI Bill Carlson, who stood Tn the doorway holding up what appeared
 to be the remains of an oid WOOL
 floor mop. ~ ,x.
 jorie.
 "IT,s YOUR COAT. SIR," BATTERED BILL CARLSON
 Tt's your coat, sir" faltered Bill
 Carlson, extending the remnant toward his employer. "Why, don't understand! l put it carefully over the radiator to dry, myself, in the spare bed room!" cried Marjorie. Gingerly
 she held up the bundle of rags. A I mere cobweb of Mir Bennett's I doube- breasted Harris tweed coat remained.
 ' THE CURE .. .... ... : "That's - that's whereS I put | Mickey, too," her husband ex- plained, woebegone eyes on his hoss. Ut seems there were some cough drops in your pocket, sir and Mickey - Mickey likes cough
 drops" - A.. For the first time during the evening MT Bennetts nose ceased to run. But anything would have conRealed in the atmosphere of tho Carlson living room at the mos ment, A rim of frost seemed to en-
 circle the very fireplace. 4. Now I've only ten minutes to catch my train, Carlson" ,The words rang like hail stones. "And
 will you be so good as to leno me IL coat? With this cold, cant very well go out in the weather without onei" s | that moment. In silence, and wear. ing Hills worn, shabby uIster, M | nennatt seated himaolf within ' | and mwiftIy drove away,