Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise., 1938-11-18
CHAPTER XI

nival. Her sister was with Freddie
skimming toward a huge Danger!
Keep off" sign.
She skated frantically after Ber-
nice and Freddie. The latter turned
to meet her, tried to stop her, saying
Bernice was an excellent skater and
knew where she was going.
But at that moment the ice broke
under Bernice and she disappeared:
Ann woke herself with smothered
scream at three o'clock in the morn
ing. The luminous hands of the little
travelling clock on the stand between
the two beds pointed to that hour.
She switched on the light. Bernice's
bed was empty.
Ann stole to Claire's room.
Claire was in bed.
Father and mother likewise in their
own room. An eerie stiffness lay ov-
er the apartment.
Where was Bernice? No ball or
big party was scheduled for the past
evening. Nothing, anyhow, that would
go on to the wee-small hours.
Back to bed went Ann, but was
unable to sleep. Bernice was her
charge. Even though she was two
years her junior, Ann was by far the
stronger character, the more resolute
of the two sisters.
At quarter after three, Ann stole
to the cupboard in the entrance hall.
Closing the door carefully behind her,
she lifted the Telephone from its shelf
among the coats and umbrellas, and
called up "The Laughing Pig"
Miss Delafield?" waiter repeat
ed in a foreign voice.
Eyes. My sister. Is she there :?
Please have her come to the telephone
and say it's important"
She had to wait for fully five min
utes. There was confused babel of
sounds at the other end of the line.
"Still making whoopie!" she
thought ironically. Dad had been
right. It was utterly disgusting for
a gently-nurtured girl like Bernice to
be hitting it up till all hours of the
morning in drinking saloon, no mat
ter what you called it!
"Is that Ann" hiccoughed male
voice. "Sure, Bernice's here. She's
tight to the gill's, my darling! Come
on right over and join the party!''
Click! The communication was cut
off.
Should she telephone again? Try
to locate Freddie?
She did so, but with no results. The
noise was apparently so loud inside
"The Laughing Pig" that the ring OF
the telephone was drowned.
Ann padded softly back to he1
room and got into some clothes.
She would go and get Bernice and
bring her home. If her sister were
in the condition indicated by the mes
sage, her return solo, or even accom-
panied by Freddie, might arouse the
household. On the other hand, if she
were really drunk, anything might
happen to her, for Freddie, tight him.
self, was no protection. Quite the re-
verse.
Very quietly Ann let herself out of
the front door.
She walked half a block to Lex
ington Avenue, and hailed a passing
taxicab.
The so-called smart cocktail rem
devious was not nearly so crowded
as she had imagined.
In one corner, however, five couples
of her acquaintances were gathered
about table which they had just com
mandeered for very late snack.
"Bernice? You were to meet hel
here? But she was here-she may
have gone to the ladies' cloakroom-
she was pretty we'll lit" said one of
the girls in an unconcerned voice.
But Bernice was nowhere to be
found Ann felt relieved. Her sister
had gone home.
But return to the apartment height
ened her worry, for Bernice was not
there!
Back to the cocktail rendezvou:
went Ann.
Her departure had not been noticed
She joined the party of ten at their
table. Hilarious now, they were ar
guing over their next move
Let all dash up to Freddie's."
very pretty widow made the sugges
tion.
"Swell ideal"
"Okay with mel" from another
"Freddie's drinks ret. N. T."
"Dynamite!"