The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-01-26
of name would suffer Ii she learned

or name WOulu SulIeI II Suc lcdIAcu the truthl
 "Tt all right, Anna" Janet said quietly. But we-the family don't want my aunt worried about-un- necessary details. She's rather old, you know. Of course you won't men, tion this to her or to any one who might?"
 "No, ma'aml" the girl promised devoutly.
 It was several minutes before 1t occurred to Janet that she, too, was beneficiary of Timothy Benton's generosity.
 After that interrupted dinner at the Italian restaurant, Janet did not see Barney Mcknight until early in November. He drifted into the apartment one evening as casually as if he had left it only few hours before, leased Aunt Mary, for a few minutes, and asked Janet If she would like to go for ride.
 Don't worry if we're little late, Aunt Mary" he said when Janet agreed.
 "Worry!' Shifted Aunt Mary, to whom the word was like red flag. "Neurotics worry. shall go to bed with a good book and forget all about you"
 But Janet, who knew that Aunt Mary did worry, was conscience stricken when, miles out along the road, she glanced at the clock in filling station before which they had stopped, and saw that it was after one.
 Wed better step on 1t, Barney" she suggested. Tt will take us over an hour the best we can do; and that fraud of an aunt of mine won't shut an eye until she hears the front door open and close
 Nonsense! She knows you're with me-" Barney said, but he did step on it.
 And by the way" Janet ob- served, just when and where do you catch up with your own sleep? You never seem te~be at home when I call up?"
 You mean you've been trying to telephone me?" For moment Barney seemed genuinely startled and pleased. Then he went on al- most brusquely, "Oh, here and there when there isn't anything more exciting to do. I couldn't have got off tonight, but the man I was to see is in the hospital with slug in his left shoulder, and those birds in white coats wouldn't let me talk to him."
 "A slug? Barney, it is danger ous then-what you're doing! I wish"
 Well, it isn't my shoulder the slugs in, if you notice." Barney's tone was impatient. For Heavens sake. Jan, don't you turn into worry wart. You're much more amusing as you are"
 All right, you crazy Irishman," Janet retorted, stick your neck out as far as you please; and if you in- sist on being Boy Scout how's this for an epitaph:
 Here lies the body of Barney Mc-
 Knight.
 AS a sleuth of the underworld, he
 was fright.
 He died with his boots on, as all
 heroes should, Because he forgot"
 ITO remove them that night, I suppose" Barney cut in, which just goes to show that poets are born, not made And don't try to be hard-boiled, either, Jan. It isn't in your line"
 Janet felt snubbed, and somehow litle frightened. Barney wasn't at all like himself tonight. There was no pleasing him. She relapsed into what she hoped was a dignified silence.
 Presently, however, Barney reach ed over and patted her arm briefly in the darkness.
 "Still pals?" he asked.
 "Still pals" Janet confirmed, and laughed.
 It was as near to a quarrel and an apology as they had ever come.
 They had hardly driven a quar- ter of a mile farther when, dipping down a step grade into the flats along the river, they ran abruptly into fog that was like a heavy gray sea, boiling up about them and even into the car. Barney slowed the motor, leaned out of his win dow, and finally stopped.
 Damned if I know which side of the road I'm on," he said, "or even wether there is any road. Take the flash, will you, Jan, and see if you can make out anything that looks like curb?"
 I can't see anything that looks like anything" Janet reported. Let me get out and walk along the edge. Maybe I can guide you until we get out of this"
 They tried it along those lines for a few rods; then Barney stopped the engine.
 Can't dol" he called. This gives me the jitters. We'll have to park till 1t lifts"
 Janet explored for few moments. --------------- ------------------ -