The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-01-21

AlnOuBn the auCLuuu SIlOulu have been in its first glory, recent winds and rains had beaten down much of its fire. Only occasional brave patches of crimson and gold and mahogany stood out among the stark gray and black of bare limbs and branches and the som- Der green of junipers and rhodo- dendrons.
 Janet swung briskly along, mak- ing a circuit of the trails she liked best, until she found herself back ol. the bench on which she had sat with Lance the day he had told her about his salary cut.
 Now a long figure sat Cn the bench small, rather crumpled old man, with @ tired face and dropping shoulders, cane be- tween his knees. When he glanced up at Janet, however, she saw that his gray eyes, like Aunt Mary's eyes, were keen and live A half dozen squirrels were grouped about him, and he was feeding them nuts from a paper bag on the Dencn DeSlde nm.
 Janet slackened her gait for fear of frighteneing the squirrels away, and the old man smiled up into her glowing face.
 Docs me good to see a young creature swinging along that way" he said. Most of 'em nowadays dawdle as if they were afraid of lifting their feet Have peanutp"
 Janet laughed and took one, and when he moved the bag hospitably to make room for her, she sat down beside him, noticing as she did so a roll of blueprint that protruded from his coat pocket.
 My wife and used to walk like that down here years ago - when this city was a pup the old man said; and suddenly his bright eyes were very gentle. Nov, I just come here to sit sometimes. It's the only place I know where people who want something from you never think of looking for you"
 T like to sit here sometimes, too," Janet volunteered. "It's so 50 restful"
 Didn't know young people ever thought of resting. They seem always to be rushing around in cars from wheer they are to where they aint."
 Now that the foliage was less dense, the white house on the op- posite hill side stood out in all its beautiful symmetry across a ra- vine ruddy and gold with fallen leaves. Janet looked over toward 1t little wistfully. The old gen. tleman followed the direction of her glance, and observed, Mice location over there, isn't it?"
 T like it," Janet said. What do you think of the house?"
 Looks as If 1t had grown there. Just the way a house should look. As a matter of fact, young lady, when you came along, I was sit- ting here, admiring that land over there and wrestling against my better Judgment like Jacob against the angel"
 You didn't look 1t. You seemed absolutely wrapped up in letting the squirrels pick your pocket"
 "Hm! Well, there are squirrels and squirrels most of 'em trying to pick somebody's pocket. At least these are open and aboveboard about 1t have a plan for house that would be ideal for that empty hillside. I'd like to have house built from that plan"
 Janet sat very still, 8 little pre- monitory bell ringing in the back of her mind.
 The old gentleman carefully cracked a peanut, and offered the meat to a squirrel that was cling ing to the leg of his pants.
 Like to sec the plan?" he asked.
 He took the blueprint from his left pocket and spread 1t out be- fore her.
 Tt would be charming" Janet said after a moment.
 She had learned something about architectural drawing from Lance, and knew that it would be.
 Exactly When I decided that wanted new house, I went to a well-known firm of engineers. They turned me over to young architect they told me was their best man. Nile showed me several sets of drawings none of which