The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-04-21
CHAPTER x

CHAPTER x
 The rain stopped early on Friday morning, and toward 5 o'clock in the afternoon, when the Empress sailed into the lovely harbor of Ha- vana, the weather was perfect. Mor- TO Castle, 8 gleaming white fortress, stood silhouetted against a cloudless sky of blue, and as the waves dash ed up against the rocks the sunlight was caught in tiny rainbows in the spray.
 Joyce stood at the rail with Dick, fascinated by the old-world picture of the castle. Strong and fearless, it stood guard over the harbor, its lighthouse beacon of friendly well come, it's turreted, shell-scarred walls 8 grim reminder of ugly days.
 Come over to the other side of the ship" he suggested. You can see the Maine monument on the Malecon, with a Cuban soldier on guard "A hours of the day"
 "Are we so popular down here?"
 T don't know about politics, but the average Cuban still looks upon the American as his fine big brother. It was the Spanish Amer ican War which gave the island it's independence you remember"
 Dinner that evening was hurried affair. It was as if the passengers, still smarting at the disappointment in Nassau, were playing game with the weather, eager to set foot in Havana before another of those tempeStuous southern squalls beset them.
 At the doctors table, however, Mrs. Porter set leiSurely pace. ''There is no need to hurry" she explained dozen times. "The cars will not start out before g."
 Tonight Mrs. Porter was more pleasantly agreeable than she had been since the first morning in Bermuda. Even Isobel had aban- doned her perpetual pout; this eve- ming she smiled as graciously as her mother. Nor could Dr. Gray induce her to betray the slight dislike of Havana. She loved the city, she in- sisted; she loved the cruise; she loved every one of the passengers. Everything was perfect, thank you.
 They could not know that her nOther had taken her severely to task this afternoon.
 Remember, Isobel. you ruined everything in Bermuda with your childish tantrum. Richard and Miss NIilner have. been inseparable ever since"
 So it was a changed young lady who came down to dinner, dainty lovable creature, all pale blue and gold and fragile as a Dresden doll. Even Dicks eyes lighted with new appreciation, and whatever the tan- trum in Bermuda, he was finding it easy to forget. Isobel was without doubt the most beautiful girl on En- press, Joyce admitted to herself, and with a quick depair she wondered if Dick were realizing the same thing.
 Here in Havana the Empress was anchored nearer the dock than it had been in Bermuda, and the ride across the harbor was short. They found car Mo- 27, assigned to them, where 8 beaming young Cubano named Adolph offered himself as their chauffeur guide. Dick got in with the girls and Mrs. Porter Neither the doctor nor MT. Gregory planned to join the party, and Joyce wondered absently whether MT. Gregory had been successful in find- ing another agreeable companion.
 T suppose the first stop is Slop- py Joe's?" Dicked asked merrily.
 Of course" Mrs. Porter's voice lacked enthusiasm. That's the first place every American dashes for, as soon as a boat touches Havana. Un- fortunately"
 "Why unfortunately"
 "It makes things SO difficult for me, Richard. The drinks are strong, and Americans must always try new connections which they cannot stand ."
 Adolph drove expertly around the narrow streets, where sidewalks were no more than two feet wide, where every corner was a blind cor ner. But 1t did not matter; he had a good horn and he enjoyed it. So apparently did every other chauf- feur in Havana. The city was a bedlam of auto horns.
 At Soppy Joe's they stopped, and Joyce stared in obvious diSap- pointment. This place was famed from New York to Miami, but ex- cept for its size and its refresh ments, it looked for all the world like an orange drink stand on a Broadway corner.
 "What'll we have, Joyce?" Dick asked brightly, as they found a table.
 Isobel answered for her. Lets all have Planters Punch. They're fine here."
 So Joyce, too, cast in her lot, and four Planters Punches came along. Now other groups from the ship were arriving, and Sloppy Joe's faded into the familiar background of the ships smoking room. It was easy to laugh and forget ones in- hibitions and become a part of this