The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-03-29


 
 tainty to the handsome brocade of the sofa.
 That settled it. Blue eyes addressed himself to Mrs. Snyder with the charm of A diplomatic attache. eff I were not so selfish, I should make the now impossible gesture of turning the place over to a lady who would lend it greater grace"
 MRS. SNYDER adjusted her laces lVA and her smile. Did you hear that, Henry?" she asked her hus- band and returned to more flatter- ing attention. "Tell me-" she said, "are you by any chance related to the South Orange Van Dusens?"
 Looking exceedingly regretful, he said that he wasn't. We're Vir- ginians," he said. "This is my first introduction to Connecticut and I mean to make the most of it."
 I'm sure you will" she said gra- ciously. Come along, Henry, we've got to be getting back. Anyway, we've enjoyed the visit, Miss Brett. and I'm pleased to have met you MT. Van Dusen. Shall I tell the South Orange that is, my friends, who you are?"
 By all means" he replied with a quick and dazzling smile. I'm Der elk Van Dusen."
 Daphne walked to the road where the Snyders had left their car, saw thtm off with mutual exchange of goodbyS and hoped that Prunella was, by now, in the drawing g-room where the combination of her mothers finest silver and the pres ence of an unknown young man did not make for feeling of security.
 A man who would ask for a hand out at the back door, turn up in strange circumstances four hours later and slip, with such suspicious ease into the role offered him of an impostor, had all the .earmarks of being dangerous character. Why was he hanging around the house all day? He didn't look like a tramp certainly with his fine clothes and manners but after all, the de- pression had turned up strange types. Daphne hastened her foot steps.
 He was, she was relieved to see, sitting in Tom Brett's chair turning the pages of 8 magazine when she entered.
 Well" he said, looking up at her brightly and rising, shall we esti. mate the damage?"
 ''There has been some, hasn't there?" she answered ruefully, and noted, surreptitiously, that all the silver seemed to be on the tray.
 It hurt her eyes to see the spreading grease spot on the gold brocade, the jagged scratch on the satiny surface of the mahogany table. The crumbs didn't matter nor the broken glass.
 Her slender finger traced a zig gag on the table and found com panion in the finger that marked her gesture.
 Tt will be easy to fix that" ne said and for the first time feeling of gratitude stirred Daphne.
 T oughtn't to ask you questions, :" she said when they both sat down. T ought to say thank you"
 Forget it," he said. Mind if I smoker"
 nAPHNE shook her head and D watched the practiced way in which he filled the bowl, tamped down the tobacco and applied the match. No fumbling gestures. She liked that.
 He drew on the pipe for mo- ment and then: Shoot"
 "Shoot?" Daphne had forgotten what she was going to say.
 Questions" he answered brief ly. Lets have them. Or shall l start?"
 Daphne was startled and an- AOyCds WHY oAlOu1d AAC AnCovAOAA AASA
 Did you want to rent to those people?"
 "No, did notl"
 "Just as I surmised," he said.
 "But don't understand F. !"
 He paid no attention. However, you should have, shouldn't youY
 Daphne swished cold tea around in her cup before answering. "No, no really" she said and was elab- orately casual. No need to tell this stranger her business.
 "Goodl I feel better about it now." He didn't believe her but Daphne couldn't have guessed that. Or that he knew that a fragile girl like, her. self did not indulge in the kind of work she had been doing when he had mistaken her for 8 maid, unless she was pretty hard up. Nor did