The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-15
CHAPTER XI

Bob returned from California the following Wednesday. Joan had re- ceived a note from him that morn ing saying that he would be delayed few days, so it was surprise to pick up the phone and hear his voice. She was in MT. Hendry's pri- Yate office.
 "Bob!" she cried delightedly, forgetting her business dignity. ''Bob!" Then, aside to MT. Hendry, she announced sedately: MT. An- drews is back from California"
 Good" the old man beamed. "Tell him to come right in Er, no, you go outside and wait for him in your office. Get your Hello's over then send him ln to me-"
 A moment later, Bob bounded through the door, and without thought for business proprieties, he caught her in his arms.
 q missed you, Joan! It seemed
 T didn't expect you today. Your letter"
 q caught a special plane Howve you been, darling?"
 "Fine. A little lonely, of course. Did the Bella Terra come up to expectations?"
 Pretty nearly. Is J. H. in? I'd better see him."
 He's expecting you"
 He put her down, unwillingly'
 Have dinner with me?" he suggested.
 with nobody else ."
 They dined early that evening, at 8 small downtown hotel.
 T have news for you," Joan announced, after a while.
 Bob looked across the table, drinking in the exquisite loveli- ness of her - the golden curls pceping out below the pert little black turban; the blue eyes, radl- ant and exciting now; the soft cheeks, inviting a caress =. - "You've found the apartmentP" "No. I haven't really looked for one. I've been too busy nov Don't tell me-" he said in mock distress, that you've deserted the Lovely Ladies' Dodging Club. Where did you move?"
 Green Hills" ITO Green Hills2 Boy. that's hne! With Sybil?"
 Joan shook her head quickly: ''No. With an old friend :" She told him of meeting Dorothy at Sybil's tea, and of Mrs. Downs subsequent invitation. 50" she concluded, Dorothy and I are living alone in the huge Downs house while the family is in Flori- da."
 Bob smiled approvingly. "At Peter Downs, eh? You're cer- tainly meeting the best people. He's one of the leading attorneys in the city. You say you and this Dorothy Starke went to school to- kether?"
 "Yes, in Seattle"
 "seattle?" he repeated in sur prise. You never told me you lived in the West"
 "You never asked me-" Joan countered, smiling disarmingly.
 "No, I guess I didn't. I've al- ways been too busy telling you what a fine fellow I was. never thought to ask about you"
 "Perhaps it's time I told you, then" She spoke lightly, and even Roh could not detect the serious undercurrent in her voice. T was born in Sacramento, and later went to Seattle to live. After left school we moyed-mother and Ito Chi cago. Mother died in Chicago, and somehow I hated the city after that. I came to New York as soon as l saved enough money"
 Bob listened casually.
 'Your fathers dead too, isn't he?" he inquired kindly.
 "Yes. He died when I was very young"
 She was surprised at the calm manner in which she was able to tell the story. Ordinarily she would have flinched at the very mention of the places. But Doro- thy had made her rehearse it, and as Dorothy had pointed out, it was all so very plausible that there was no reason at all to hesitate. There was her background, simple and straightforward, and if people asked any further question, she was