The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-02-16

ture of money.
~Now don't be q numbskull,
George" Mrs. Atwood put In.
HALF Of US are French, and half
Irish"
Eyes, but where do the Amer
leans come IMP"
flush your nonsense, amt you
all Americans?" demanded Matt
Flanagan. Besides, Bat may be
askin' others besides us. Kelly
say she has orders to lay IN plenty
of beer and whiSkey."
He leaned over the stove, picked
up q little coal with q pair OF fire
tongs and lighted his pipe. II
hear The Sailors band Is to play"
Everybody was silent for q few
minutes, staring into the glowing
fire in Matt Flanagan's stove. His
barge was the unofficial club for
the crowd. A widower 20 years,
he kept the boat neat as an old
maids sewing box. He had q
place for everything and he
showed his disaproval when callers
disarranged the pattern OF his
home.
In spite Of this he was hospitable
and never happier than when he
had a crowd OF friends on board.
An excellent cook, as well as good
housekeeper, he had sent word
round early this morning that he
intended to have baked beans for
dinner and anyone who came was
welcome.
In return for his hospitality,
they brought him news. Ever since
yesterday afternoon when Bat had
raped at each hatchway and in
vited the occupant Of every barge
to his party for Marie, Saturday
night, Bargetown had been In a
state of wild excitement.
This morning each one who
came to Mats brought a fresh
tid-bit.
Word of the Sailors Band was en-
tirely new. -
How much will that cost Bat?"
inquired George Fontaine.
"Oh,for goodness sakes, shut up
you skinfiint,' objected Mrs. At
wodo. You're tighter than
Scotchman's fist
George ignored her. do you
figure on that young fellow CON-
ing who had his picture In the pa
pers, the one in the hired dress
suit?"
How do you know 1t was
hired?" ragged Mrs. Atwood.
aims all dress suits hired2"
Jaw, 20 on" She waved him
back with her hand. There's
plenty that own theirs, but you've
never been among them"
Member that big sailor with
the loud voice who works on the
McGuires' tugs?' asked Pat
OToole, rocking back and forth
in his chair. well, he's goin' to
announce the guests, SO he told
me this mornin'."
The visitors turned puzzled
faces to Pat. AN how'll that be
done?" asked Matt.
"Oh, he stands at the head Of
the stairs an as we come UP he
hollers our names to Bat an the
Missus."
George snorted. "Ah If Bat
didn't know our names back
wards. HI must Of read that one
In q Sunday supplement-"
A gust Of wind whined. through
the cabin as the hatchway was
showed back. Mrs. La Porte poked
a worried face In.
"Bat says we've all got to dress"
she announced.
George Fontaines m o Il t h
quirked down. Trails or Tux?
Where does he suppose wei get
our evening clothes, Of we don't
happen to have emp"
The others stared at her with
bewildered eyes.
"That's Just It," Mrs. La Porte
drew her shawl more closely about
her head as the snow filtered
through the spaces. Hes goin'
to hire his suit and he thought
you might like to get yours at the
same place"
It was Mrs. Atwood's friendly,
good -natured jibing that stung
the men into going.
Nov this Is O good party" she
said, land you might as well enter
into the spirit of It. A woman can
drape a window curtain around
her an call 1t an evening gown,
but with man It's different"
Across on the La Porte canal boat
Marie was putting on her hat and
coat. She would rather be out than
in. Although Bat had not said any
thing to her about the leak In the
barge UP at Poughkeepsie, there was
a constraint in her manner toward
him because OF It. But 1t was only
one of the many things which con-
tinued to trouble her mind.
Time had not made any differ
ence In her feelings toward Dan.
She knew, no matter what hap
pened, that she would always love
him. She had never felt toward
any other man In her life the way
she did toward him. In the short