The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-08-31
CHAPTRR W

CHAPTER VI
 Steve stood towering, still white with rage, while Toby Lynch rubbed the side of his face with trembling palm.
 Bob rushed forward, grabbing Steve's half-raised arm. Good Lord, Stevel Hang onto yourself Toby didn't mean anything"
 Slowly Lynch got to his feet, partly angered and partly fright ened. What's the Idea, Steve2 Looks to me as if three fellows ought to be able to get into dis. cussion without Q brawl,"
 q dicat mind your generali- ties" mentioned Steve Jelly. But when you applied them to Judith and me, you were going Q little { too far"
 T didn't mean anything" said Toby, still rubbing his cheek.
 Bob looked at Steve Fowler, s"There you are. Toby's apologiZed for c loose tongue. Looks to me like you'd better apologize for Q loose temper, Steve"
 There was Q moment of tense silence; and then, slowly, Steve said, "All right, Let's forget 1t, I'm sorry, Lynch"
 "Better go in and wash up," Bob advised Toby, We mustn't lot the girls know about this,"
 Toby nodded and left for the bathroom. When the door had shut behind him, and they could hear the cold water running into the bowl, Bob said, "He was wrong, Steve. I'll grant you that. But SO are you" He held out Q package of cigarets toward Steve, held Q light In nervous fingers. T still think virgie and I are right"
 Steve shot him . sour glance, 'Now don't you start, Bob"
 "I'm not starting anything, Steve. I've a right to defend my position, haven't I2" Bent grinned up at the other. gwen at tho risk of . poke in the nose9"
 Despite himself, Steve had to smile. T guess my nerves have been jIttery lately. Go ahead Bob"
 "If Q man can't support girl on his own earnings--and the girl has c job of her own-then think it's okay for them to marry, If 1t happens to be agreeable to both o2 them"
 T know" said Steve. gazing at the glowing end of his cigaret. 'That's the modern idea. But I'm just old-fashioned enough to bee lieve-"
 ';Moderni" exclaimed Bob in disgust. Listen, Steve. My grand- father and grandmother were mar ried at the agesN of 10 and l6, rec spectiVely. The old boy had 0 farm, and when my grandmother married him 1t was with the understanding that she'd have COWS to milk and butter to churn harvest crews to cook for and wash dishes after fruit to put up and quilts to make. Work? Say, my grandmother did more work in Q day than Vir. gle has to do In Q month at the ofiicei"
 Tn his excitement, Bob Bent pac- cd across the room. At the other end he turned suddenly and poked his cigaret toward Steve. "There's nothing modern or revolutionary about what Virginia and are dos ing, Steve. It's old as the hills"
 
 Steve grinned. But 1t was q stub born, sober grin; and 1t was grin at Bob's enthusiasm rather than an agreement with his principles. "eure, Bob. But girls were different in your grandmother's day. The whole world was different"
 "Ali right. You're entitled to your opinion, and I'm entitled to mine, My idea is that the world isn't SO much different now from what it was then. Certainly people aren't any different"
 The argument might have gone on, but just then Toby emerged from the bathroom looking quite rocovered-but none the less sheep- 1sh. He walked straight toward Steve.
 "One of my many failings," he said slowly, extending his hand, "is that I shoot of my face too much"
 With genuine sincerity Steve Fowler took Lynch's hand. Forget at, Toby. I've been overly touchy on the subject lately. I'm the one who should apologize"
 There was on awkward silence, broken fortunately by the return of Judith Howard and Virginia Bent. the latter bearing Q huge plate stacked high with sand- wicheS. With gesture of formal ceremony sbe Set the plate upon the table in the center of Judith's room. "We're women," she said im- pressively. But you can't say that