The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-10-03

had never met him. They had read, too, about the notorious dancer, Illah, who had come in on the plane. They wondered if shhid be at the party that night, hoped so, and whispered about it eager ly.
 They all came. and they were on time. Toward 10 o'clock the three roos:.3 which had been thrown open to guests were filled and people had begun to take pos- session of the porches and even the kitchen. Some of them in- vaded Dickie'S nursery and woke him up. Some playing piggy-back with him, long past his hour for sleep.
 Ted was 8 little bewildered al the sight. He had come home late for dinner and found that the guests had already begun to ar- rive. The members of the army crowd were strangers to him. Mo- body bothered to introduce him but he supposed they were Rays friends.
 He was tired and sleepy and, al last, retired to his den, but some of the men had already taken pos session of it. They were shooting ! craps on the floor and didn't even look up when Ted came in. A woman hurried after him and caught his arm.
 'Ted Grahaml" she exclaimed breathlessly. Do tell me about that fascinating creature you brought in with you today on the plane. We read about her in the papers. Is she really Eurasian?' P
 Ted laughed. He felt certain that if Illah had been there the woman would have lifed her lorg- nette and stared, as at a monster in the zoo.
 i've seen her dance," Ted said And she dances remarkably we'll"
 Then I'm sorry she didn't come to your party. I came all the way from San Francisco just to see her!" Pique was written on the wrinkled jowls of the dowager's face.
 The whole evening, to Ted, was as grotesque as this one incident. The gaiety of the crowd was exaggerated. Some of the guests, disappointed be- cause Illah wasn't there to dance for them, soon departed. There was continuous talk about going on somewhere else.
 Ted sought refuge from the brit tie chatter at Rays side, but she was in the center of an admiring throng and he couldn't seem to get in word. She was wearing a slinky white evening gown that he had never liked to see her wear. When he came close to her she was listening attentively to Monte Blaine and did not even see Ted.
 He went upstairs again and, finding his den empty. locked the door and went to bed. He was tired-dead tired. He had impor- tant work to do next day and in less than minute he was sound asleep.
 Kay had seen him go upstairs and she followed as soon as she was able to slip away. Finding the door locked, she knocked. There was no answer from within the room, which was dark, she knew. She tried the doorknob.
 "Locked!" she thought angrily. He's asleep. The idea - insult ing me by going to sleep during my party. While there are guests in the house!"
 Ted's apparent indifference en- ragged her. "Asleep!" she stormed inwardly. But he wasn't too tired to go out with Illah and that Rosalind Kruger in Honolulu. All right!" She shook a small fist at the door, trembling with rage and disappointment and defeat. "Al, i right, I'll show you. I'll go out with that crowd downstairs and stay as late as I please!"
 She went downstairs again, joined in the fun even more gayly. Rays adventurous spirit had finally broken its bonds and Monte Blaine shared this mood. When it was proposed that they all go somewhere across the bay to con- tinue the party, Kay was among the first to agree.
 They went to on night club and then another. Gradually the crowd grew smaller. Couples be-