The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-05
CHAPTER XIV

Outside the city was changing. A soft and smothering blanket of snow was overlaying familiar scenes with , white.
 Shining motors met the chal- lenge of the snow with superb mechanical indifference. Moving one by one-an endless procession of them-to the storm entrance. Just outside the great doors waited liveried servants with sil- yer trays. Cards were an unneces- Sary formality in most cases as trained eyes swept the entering elite. Familiar faces to socially conscious buffers.
 In the drawing room which flanked the ballroom, Jill was re- ceiving with William Whitman, standing by her father and mother.
 Barry, who had been drinking, Jill saw, came close to her. "Youll stand all of 'em on their ears. It's what you want, gorgeous gal, isn't it?"
 Please, don't be silly, Barry" Jill said. She saw his face redden angrily, as he turned away.
 And now here was Milo, cold and angry looking, also; his eyes lighting up suddenly as he saw his flowers on Jill's left shoulder.
 "1'm sorry I wore them," Jill thought. Its just like Milo to think is means something" s "What dances are you saving me?" Milo asked, strange new intensity in his manner. An al- most demanding way.
 "The third and fifth, to begin with Jill answered sweetly Nothing could ruffle her now.
 The first with Bill. The second with that new Englishman, Vic- tor Ainsley, who was leaving the party early, and wanted to meet her, according to Elise. The third with Milo, and the fourth - the fourth! By that time, Alan would have arrived.
 1t was while she was dancing with the Englishman that some thing happened that gave Jill a qNeer feeling of apprehension.
 Perkins was entering the ball. room, trying to look as though he were not doing something that was distinctly irregular. He was making his way to her father. Jill, dancing nearer to the group where her father was standing, saw him look up blankly as Perkins spoke. Then, she was positive of 1t, her fathers face looked white and startled. He turned and walked from the room.
 Who had summoned himp What could it mean? Jill heard her partners voice through her troubled abstraction.
 "I'd much rather talk than dance" he said. "Could we?"
 Jill led the way to secluded place. A small enclosed sunroom that led into the first room Of her fathers double study.
 'This is jolly" Victor Ainsley was saying. May I smoker Thanks?"
 He lit a cigaret and watched the curling smoke. I'm afraid the technique of the dance was not stressed enough in my education" he said. "I much prefer this to Q crowded floor" He liked the in- formality though of even the most formal parties in America. English people weren't able to break away from their natural reserve. Even when they played, 1t was Q sort of polite playing, lacking the gay casualness of the American parties.
 "There are a great many Eng fish people in town Jill said. T wish you weren't leaving early. I'm expecting an English friend soon. Alan Jeffry. You probably wouldn't know him, though"
 Allan Jeffry! But of course I do, Grand chap, who uprooted himself and went wandering"
 You know him!" Jill's tone was
 eve were at Eton together as small chaps. Alan was the star of the school. Headmaster's favorite and all that, which didn't inter fere with his popularity with the students.
 "Later he was a great oarsman. An all-around athlete really. Yet he never seemed to put his heart into sports. On a day a big game was coming of, you might ind him of painting a picture"