The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-02-28

murmur rose. If Sisie's features were not perfect, mouth too wide. nose to impudent, no one in the crowded dining room knew 1t. The Harker people had leaned over backward in their make-the-most- of-yourself campaign and Susie was the living proof of their in- credible efficiency.
 They were ushered to an or- chid-banked table, the master of ceremonies lowing from his plat form, the orchestra bleating out fanfare. Susie's silver sandals peeped in and out from beneath the tulle, taffeta whispered, she walked with the confident grace of healthy, exuberant youth.
 Edna and Jeff did their best to appear natural, unconscious of the StareS and curious comments. John Harker was silent and dignified. He didn't like it-didnt like 1t at al. In some vague way he felt his store was cheapened by this par- ticular display of its wares.
 Jeff murmured to his mother, T feel like a monkey in a cage. Wouldn't be surprised if they offer- ed me peanuts"
 She laughed understandingly. 'It,s all right. Watch Susie-she's so cute about it all.'
 It was really Susie who saved the situation. Utterly herself, she placed the party on an ordinary ba- sis. The fact that one of the friends had recently dug her from the deso- late ignominy of unloveliness and set her feet on the primrose path of beauty, she ignored.
 It was after the fish course that Jeff said in a low tone to Susie, "A friend of yours is sitting di- rectly behind you"
 "Yes?" Susie moved her eyes sidewise, without turning her head. Who is it?"
 Dick Tremaine - didn't you say he vas a friend of yours at the University"
 Susie nodded. She neither paled nor caught her breath. In a way she was not at all surprised. It was fate that she and Dick should meet again. It was quite natural that she should return to Chicago for the holidays. Why, then, not the Pump Room?
 He got in this morning." Jeff went on. Sow him at the Athens Club this noon"
 Although Susie had neither gasped nor fallen in a faint she no longer wanted her food. It took considerable self-control to keep from turning around in her chair. Dick sat just behind her. Whom was he with? Had he no- ticed her? Of course ne wouldn't recognize her. She hoped he had seen none of the early advertise ments in which her identity was disclosed.
 Shall we dance, Jeffp" she asked, unable longer to sit still.
 Jeff went to stand behind her chair. No sooner said than per- petrated", he said.
 Susie arose in a swirl of tulle. Rising, she faced the table behind her where four young men dined to- gether. Dick sat at the right, his blond head as shining, the set of his shoulders as unbelievably gorg- eous as of old. Susie found herself looking into his admiring eyes. They were alert eyes, fiatteringly intent. She raised her eyebrows slightly, long eyes that did something re- markable in the way of provoking interest.
 Jeff said, "Hi, Dick and Dick absent-mindedly returned, "Hi, old man." If Susie and Jeff had not gone to the dance floor they might have heard him say to a com- panion, Who is she - the girl with Jeff Bowman?"
 His friend replied, some new beauty busily knocking the eye out of Chicago" which statement proved that the male citizenry of the city had not been following Susie's exploits as religiously as had their mothers and sisters.
 While they danced Jeff mentally put two and two together. The answer, four, came like a shot. With the answer his arm frightened possesively around Susie. He felt dizzied by her closeness, by the fragrance of her hair, the feel of her hand in his.
 "It's Dick Tremaine, isn't it?" he olurted out suddenly. When her