The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-09-11

kissed by him than by any other man on earth.
 And that was the way things stood with Elaine Chalmers at the moment she was handing her best friend and dearest enemy, Hortense Stokesbury, a cup of tea that Octo- Der afternoon at Graycastle.
 What about your plans for the Ohio campaign?" asked Hortense casually.
 "Pve put things in motion," Elaine told her. T wrote to the old caretaker-Penny, we call her and told her I wanted to come on for a weeks rest. haven't written to the victim himself"
 Can't you ask him on here for house party instead of going out there?" suggested Hortense.
 i've considered that" Elaine an- swered, but don't think could swing 1t. This chap must be all of "A years old now and is prob ably tied to job. In a letter Penny wrote my mother last year. she mentioned that he still lives next door with his mother, so guess he isn't married. His mother and mine were childhood friends"
 What's he like?" inquired Hor- tense, struggling with anchovy paste and cracker.
 Try to remember that I haven't seen him since I was child" Elaine answered grossly, "and that I was too young to be very thick with him. He's apt to be attrac- tive. The virile type. He always liked boys better than girls, I re- call. I must cure him of that" "Oh," said Hortense, lighting a cigaret. She saw that Elaine wished to close the subject. Isn't that a pimple on your nose, dar- ling?"
 'I hardly think so," Elaine re- piled, stealing a worried look in the mirror. i've just been wonder ing, Hortense, why you don't diet. Your figure was gorgeous last year,
 With this exchange of civilities the two friends kissed and parted. | <h lC" iIolllCIt5 ldtSI IldlllC Sd | down at her desk and wrote the following letter which Hortense's s questions had inspired:
 Dear John McNeill: Here's a letter from the pesky brat (you once called me thatD who used to admire you so extravagantly-time out here while you look for my name at end of letter
 ''The idle is this. I'm at college at Graycastle now and am planning to run off during fall vacation for visit to mothers old home which used to be, and I hope still is, the house next door to you. had such fun there when I was kid that I've always wanted to go back. Just a whim, but can't seem to get away from 1t. I suppose it will be disappointing visit since we can never recapture the old childhood spirit, but at least I'm going to attempt it. It would help lot to find one familiar face there besides Penny's. In short, when I arrive will you come through the althea hedge and greet me in the old gar den? I'd adore seeing you again and talking over old times. Youth find me aged though not decrepit.
 Otherwise the same Elaine Chal- mers.
 "P. s. GOT course there would have to be one.) Do you remember how you turned out the entire neighborhood to look for your Eagle Scout badge? Well, had stolen it for purely sentimental req sons. hid it in the old globe in the library. Maybe it's still there. D. c. (unrepentant).
 When she had addressed the en- velope she looked through her desk for stamp, failed to find it, swore softly and lighted a cigaret. Pres ently she noticed the time, picked up her Italian grammar and saun- tered out to her next class. The letter to John McNeill was to lie on her desk for few days unnoticed. Until Fate was ready for it. 4
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