The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-06-20
CHAPTER xI

CHAPTER XI
 Though it was Monday, and she had recklesSly splurged SIP on a dinner party for her friends Satur- day night, and Bart had worked at the shop all day Sunday, and Sum- day night until long after she slept, Iris left the office with clear plan in her busy mind. She had taken the mink coat at noon, and hidden it deep in one end of her clothes closet back of her last winters coat, her raincoat, her summer sport coat and the long, furred tweed coat to her wardrobe suit.
 Now, at four thirty, she bought a steak, bought everything for a grand feed. The way she used to do before they were married. When she was trying every vile she knew to en- chant Bart and make him propose to her.
 Now, she haggled over water creSs - it wasn't fresh enough, it was bruised, it didn't look good She bought four big baking pota- toes, and a dozen home baked rolls at Mrs. Kembgle's Home Kitchen She bought peaches and heavy cream for whipping, and pound of butter, and lima beans because Bart was crazy about them Stewed in rich butter sauce.
 She squandered 50 cents on Ben Whipple's taxi to take her home with all her parcels, and hurrying out of her office clothes, tied a cute printed house-coat about her slender waist and started the meal.
 At six. everything was ready and waiting, even to the iron skill let smoking hot, ready for the steak the minute Bart appeared The salad was on the ice, and shortcake, also. And in the glass coffee-maker, amber brown brew murmured contentedly.
 At six-fifteen, Bart came in tired, dispirited and silent. Iris flung him radiant smile and started the steak She took the potatoes out and popped cubs of butter into each yawning seam where the scored place had burst a few minutes before The lima beans oozed yellow butter as she poured them into the dish, and the hot rolls were just right - crisp. and not dry.
 Still he didn't notice. Still he just came in, pulled his chair out and sat down and began scooping his potato out onto his plate. Iris passed him the platter of steak and he helped himself to it. By the time they reached thei short- cake, Iris was ready to scream. She watched him cut the cake, watched his fork travel from the plate, ladden with cream topped peaches and cake, to his mouth, and back again, and the awful silence was too much. Abruptly, she pushed away her untouched dessert Desperately, she faced him across the little table laden with the remnants of their lovely dinner.
 "Bart, what is it2" she asked shakily.
 Duly, he looked at her. Wearily, as if trying to brush away burden he could not bear, he plowed tense fingers through the thick wavy brown hair. Then lighting a cigaret, he started splitting the match a dozen ways with nervous thumb nail.
 sWhat's it to you, Iris?" he asked bluntly.
 Bart, you know anything that concerns you, concerns me, tool"
 Don't worry, I'll manage to supoprt you in the manner you're determined to enjoy, Iris"
 "Bart-please!"
 aAll right, you asked for it. The bank wouldn't give me any more time on my notes, so they took over my insurance as forfeit
 "Bart-why how could they? If you paid the interest and met the payments"
 T didn't pay the interest, Iris. I couldn't. And I couldn't borrow any money anywhere. Not even from loan sharks. So they took my policies"
 ''How how much had you paid in, Bart?"
 "Over a thousand on all of them. ! had only four years to go on two of them, and I'd had twenty live hundred on each"
 'sBart, did you try the Finance Company that loans on furni-