The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-24
CHAPTER XIX

Twill you do thatP Boy, you're a swell kid!" He patted her hand Rppreciatively.
 Sybil came into the office Thurs day morning. She descended upon it with breath h-taking glamour, striking the impressionable young office girls speeches. with awe and admiration. The eyes of the new receptionist popped as she looked up.
 As Sybil sailed past her, the girl recalled strict orders that all v1s- itors were to be announced. Hastily she jumped to her feet and placed herself in Sybils path.
 Whom do you wish to see, please?" she stammered, apolo- getically.
 Sybil raised her eyebrows. MT. Hendry, of course" she said with hauteur. "I am Miss Hendry.'
 oh" The receptionist stepped aside. "Then I guess it's all right for you to go in" She smiled, un- disguised admiration shining in her bright eyes.
 Sybil hesitated, On second thought" she said. T believe l shall see MT. Andrews first. Is he in?'
 I'll see" The girl phoned Bob's office and announced his visitor. ''Please go right in, Miss Hendry, " she said immediately. Do you know which is MT. Andrews oftlce?"
 "Yes," indeed"
 Ten or Is minutes later. Sybil and Bob entered Joan's office to- gether. Joan was surprised to see Sybil, but she greeted her cordially
 "Sybil wants us out for dinner tonight, Joan," he stated, question ingly. .,, V, .o,,oo4oa u.oraor ing if he had already accepted the invitation.
 "Yes. I explained that I'm leav- ing for Washington at midnight
 "You can come. nevertheless. ;" Sybil interrupted. Its just quiet family party, Joan. Just the three of us and my uncle. Thursday, you know, is Abrahams regular night out, and I like to have Uncle John dine with me. He dislikes restau- rants.
 MT. Hendry, however, pleaded a dinner engagement with his friend Norton, and Sybil insisted that the date stand, just for the three of them-Bob, Joan and herself.
 "I know you aren't keen about it." Bob apologized to Joan after Sybil had gone, but there just didn't seem any way out of it."
 ~I don't mind at all" Joan as- sured him, smiling. But she re- membered Dorothy's words about Sybirs feeling for Bob, and she felt vaguely uneasy. It was peculiar that Sybil should have gone to Bob's of flee first, to invite him before she had spoken to the others.
 "Well, I mind" Bob said hearti- ly. I'd rather have you to myself tonight. I may be gone two whole days"
 TWO whole days!" Joan laughed, treasured.
 She promised herself that she would not be intimidated this time, It would be different, with Bob at her side. She would have to be on her guard, of course. If Dorothy's suspicion were indeed correct, and Sybil did love Bob, this might be more of her subtle strategy to make him see the diff ference between herself and Joan before it was too late.
 And Joan realized, only too well. that in any social struggle with Sybil, she would come out very much the loser.
 The dinner, of course, was per feet. Joan wondered if she would ever be able to do as well in her own home. She doubted it. There was Jennings, for one thing. She knew that there would never be a place for him-or anyone like him in their future home. Bob would agree with her in that. Rather for them, 8 genial black Abraham. or a homely, hearty Mrs. Mcdonald. And upon neither of these could one depend for formal perfection.
 "You dinners are always perfect, Sybil," Bob commented, as they fin-