The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-10-03
BLUE DOOR
r. Rachel Mack ~'s hEA s."iss Iss

him in the newspapers. remem-
Der when Miss Florence married
him, too. I was about years old
that summer and went to the
wedding at st. Stephens church
with my grandmother. It was the
first wedding ia ever SEEN"
Susie was charmed by these rec
objections, and continued to be
expansive. "Mrs. Mcneil done say
in her lettah she think Mr.. John'll
be comm home any day now. Mr..
Johns a mighty smart business
man, Miss Elaine. When he was
jus 81 yeahs old he finish college.
For three or four yeahs now he's
been helpin' to run his papa's fac
tory an dom fine with 1t. Seem
like he 'herited his papa's 5udg-
ment."
mo wonder you're proud OF
him." Elaine said. AS she talked
to Susie she strolled about the wide
hall and living room, casually
glancing at book titles and framed
photographs. She noticed that the
McNeills read the same books and
magazines which people in New
York were reading. On one of the
bookcases was a silver-framed pho
tograph Of the most interesting
young man she had ever seen. She
knew at once that 1t was John Nc
Neill. Her heart beat rapidly. She
remarked, with a confidential smile
UT fhfxI hato n ~
now than he used to be at 16,
Susie!"
Seem like he think the same
thing bout YOU" Susie stated.
Elaine said, I'm awfully re-
lieved to hear how well things are
going in Washington. Have Mr..
John come over to see me the min
ute he gets back. will you Susie ?"
When she entered the Hunter
hall she saw q telegram lying on
the table. 1t was addressed to Miss
Elaine Chalmers.
She opened It and read Johns
message, intended for Ruth.
Elaine's emotions were mixed.
She was elated to know that she
would be face to face with him in
the morning, yet she was angered
to think of him sending an affec-
Tomato telegram to that nervy lit
tie tramp"
She sauntered into the dining
room and was surprised to find the
table set for two. Chrysanthemums
were in a vase in the center, and
at each end of the table was a
cover, neatly laid for a three
course meal.
Penny" she called, hearing
her moving around in the Kitchen.
"Have you invited somebody to
dinner with me?"
There, was no answer from the
kitchen, but behind her someone
entered the room from the hall.
Elaine turned and faced a tall, dis
tinguished looking man of about so
whose lean face wore quizzical
expression. They looked at one an
other:
"Uncle Duncanr' Elaine said in
a queer voice.
elaine" he replied, taking her
hand and patting it.
He said, DINNER isn't ready.
Come with me to the library. We
can talk there"
He led the way and she followed.
This took a certain amount Of
courage, but no one had ever ac-
cused Elaine Chalmers of lacking
courage. Having 80 recently heard
Duncan Hunters story from her
mothers hysterical lips, she did
not relish this unexpected encoun-
ter with him.
They sat down and faced each
other. The girl said to herself.
STEADY, Elaine. Maybe he's not as
normal as he looks. He tried to
kill a man once. He's been locked
up. They're looking for him now"
He seemed to read her thoughts,
for he said, you've heard about
my walking off from the asylum,
of course. It's not been in the
newspapers, but I suppose they in
formed your mother
YES" replied Elaine.
He said. II pulled 1t off rather
neatly. Since I've regained my
sense of humor I've had some good
laughs over it," /.
Elaine smiled sympathetically.
"They told Gwen about it in the