The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-03-06
. SERIAL STORY
 WOMEN WANT BEAUTY ..... LOUISE @ 4o!Mgs :...E


 contented and happy. Hours with Dick were emotional trials, leav- ing her empty and dissatisfied. With Jeh 1t was different The aa- swer being, of course, that she did not love Jeff.
 Under Jeff's merciless eyes Susie ate her dinner, even burying Q pat of butter in the fiaky depths of her baked potato, something she hadn't done in months. She com promised by eating half her por- tion of pie and Jeff finished it. The old spirit of comradeship came back.
 When the table had been removed and they were cozily talking again JeH told her, with poylsh shyness, how desperately lonery he was since Edna went away, how the walls of the flat pressed in on him, how the silence Smothered him.
 And she isn't coming back" he ended wistfully. That's the worst thing about it. I know what it means to be jealous because I'm jealous of the Chief. You see Edna's the only woman I ever loved."
 Susie, wanting to comfort him, searching for the right words, was interrupted by the whirr of the telephone bell.
 She walked to the bed, graceful in her slinky gown, the cloud of hair giving her 6 childish look. Jeff watched her through Q haze of cigaret smoke.
 "Yes?" she said on sweetly rising infection. Almost instantly l her pale cheeks were dyed with rose, eagerness edged her voice. I'm perfect again." she said. "It takes more than a cold to get lit- tie Suzanne down." She laughed exultantly at the reply over the wire.
 She went on. "Only Jeff. He dropped in and we had dinner. when did you get back?" dismiss ing "only Jeff" with verbal wave of the hand.
 Followed an interval of rapt lit- tie utterances, questions and an- swers, soft laughter, intimate un- finished sentences, assenting mur- murs.
 Finally she said, T may get to see your California m the spring Dick. I've had an offer to sing with Ted Warfield's orchestra"
 From where he sat Jeff could hear 8 jubilant shout. It was Dick. Walking to the window he stared unseeingly at the cars, like shiny bettles with brilliant eyes, skimming back and forth on the drive. Susie hadn't told him of the offer - 1t meant she would go away.
 He heard her say, "I'd love to go, Dick. I can think of nothing I'd rather do. Will I see you in the meantime?" Obviously his answer was more than satisfactory. She turned from the telephone with scarlet cheeks and star-f1ll eyes.
 That was Dick" she announced in the time-worn custom, drop ping breathlessly to her chair.
 50 gathered" answered Jeff, dryly.
 "The most wonderful thing, Jeff its like a novel. Dick asked me to drive with him to Rivertown for a rush dance at bis fraternity house. Drive up Tuesday and back Wednesday in time for my broad cast" She was more thrilled than the invitation warranted.
 "What's so exciting about that?"
 "It's simply dramatic, that's all. Dick took me to @ rush party in his freshman year. He was @ pledge then and he has no idea that I am the same girl. Doesn't the set-up have fascinating an- gles?"
 Again Jeff spoke dryly. I might almost say romantic"
 That's what I mean" Susie threw back her head, looking past Jeff with dream weighted eyes. The cozy companionship was gone. After a while Jeff took his departure. Standing at the door he said, That's swell about the California offer. Why didn't you tell me about it?"
 "Oh, there's been half dozen offers. I'm interested in this one because - well, just because -" She flushed and laughed con- sciously.
 T see" Jeff went away and Susie hardly noticed his going. Putting his car in the garage Jeff took long walk before return ing to the desolate apartment. Upon waking in the morning Susie's spirits went into reverse. The radiant aspect of things had changed overnight Go to Rivertown and dig up her past for Dicks en- lightenment? Without doubt it was the worst possible move she could make. Not having been in Chicago during the ballyhoo of Harker's campaign, arriving at the moment of her triumph, he was in ignorance of her colorless back ground. It had been enough for him that she was the rage. At Rivertown this would not be the case. The progress of Susie, the waffler. had no doubt been | watched with considerable inter.