The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-01-14

"YouH have to let me Ill. l-I came without my key"
 You wouldI Janet thought. The room was uninvitingly cold after her snug bed.
 Aloud she said, All right; but step on it. You just wrecked a swell dream. I'd like to catch up with it again.
 q won't be more than five min- utes. Wait for me at the door. But please don't turn the lights on, and - Jan, muffle the telephone bells, will you? I don't want Grams wakened if - mean, some one might ring"
 What did you think would hap pen when you called?"
 "Oh-that once she'd just think I it was Lance calling you after his party It's important, Jan - about the telephone. Please do it."
 Listen, Cyn, is this some kind of new gamer" Janet demanded, Like Treasure Hunt or x Marks the Spot'?" Nevertheless she did muffle her own bell and the one in the hall. There was no instrument in Aunt Mary'S room.
 To reach the hall door, Janet must cross the living room and pass the small corridor which led from the entrance hall to Aunt Mary's room and bath. She nego- tiated the passage in total dark ness without incident except for the minor one of pumping her bare shin against the coffee table, and silently turned the night latch of the door.
 It seemed ages before Cynthia i slipped through the open door like ghost. Janet shut It silently pe- hind her
 At that moment there came a faint stir down the corridor to the right, and a ray of light from Aunt Mary's opened door; and Janet felt | Cynthias warning hand on her arm as Aunt Mary called, "Who is that?"
 AS the two girls clung together in the darkness outside the ray ot light, Janet called, Its just me, Aunt Mary. IT went to the ice box for cold drink; and heard her own voice unnecessarily loud and cheerful.
 T thought I heard your tele- phone awhile ago."
 You did. That's what woke me. It was"
 Lance Cynthia whispered.
 Tt was Lance. He wanted to tell me about his party"
 Tt must have been right smart of a party if he had to wake you up at this hour to tell you about it." observed Aunt Mary Well for pity's sake go back to bed. It's as cold as a stepmother's breath
 She shut her door with decision.
 Janet felt Cynthias slight figure quivering against her in what she took for silent mirth; and she want ed desperately to shake her.
 A moment later she was thank full she had not. By the light in Janet's room, Cynthia was paper white; her slender brows were drawn up at the outer corners as | if with pain, and her whole body shook in a convulsive chill. Janet took her hands between her own and found that they were like ice, "Cynthiar Janet cried. 'Cyn- thia, my dear! For Heavens sake what have you done to yourself?"
 Will you be quiet?" Cynthia whispered angrily through chat tering teeth.
 Janet threw down the windows, turned on the steam heat and talk ing tn fluffy coverlet from her bed, tried to wrap it about her cousins shaking shoulders. But Cynthia'S brushed it aside. Then with one hand sEe Sketched brief gesture indicating the black and silver dinner dress.
 Well, darling" she said, twisted smile Writhing about her lips, tits paid for I made the sale"
 what?" Janet said, think thinking, will you never stop play acting? Cynthia, have you gone completely crazy?"
 Tt was all so ridiculously easy, Jan" Cynthia said. T shouldn't even have needed the new dress"
 This isn't play-acting, Janet de- cided.
 Cynthia" she said gently, "sit down, dear .. Try to tell me what you're talking about"
 She drew the trembling girl down beside her upon the edge of the bed
 Yes" Cynthia said between chattering teeth. Of course. After all, that's what I came for, isn't it? I wanted you and Grams to know before the morning papers came out - or the reporters began to call the apartment. They're sure to. Some of them saw us. That's why I asked you to muzzle the telephones. Tell her the first thing in the morning, Jan after shes had her coffee.
 Tell her what, Cynthia?" Janet asked as quietly as she could, her own hands beoinninp to shake a