The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-06-09
CHAPTER VII

talked.
 BrldRie, Deborah realized, felt that the current Lovett hostess was letting her down; and she was rallying all her own conversational arts to uphold the hospitable tra- diticns of the Lovetts. stephan listened 50 appreclatively, and ccanpllmented her 50 charningly upon her cooking that he had her eiggiing like c Mustered colleen.
 T can't have you bedazzling my poor old Bridgie this way, Ste- phan," Deborah protested when Bvidgle went to bring the coffee.
 It was with the coffee that Dridgies really notable contribu- ton to the conversation came like . thunderbolt.
 'They do be sayin" she an- nounced, unctuously setting before Deborah the silver service which had come over from England in 1TO3, that the crew of a schooner than run in out of the fog are thin turin flghtin' chips skulkin' tellin' how they sighted wan of 0fy the coast"
 "A fighting shlp2" What do you mean, Bridgie2" Deborah de- naanded.
 wan of thin diabolic under- Wathsr craft, 1t was Miss Deborah .-an' . German at that. Mither of Hivini Wad thin haythen be ahtartin' that tip all over agin-- an in our own waters2 Bad cess to thim murtherin' Huns, say IT" T think" Deborah said hastily, after . glance ct Stephan's express sionless face, that we'll have the coffee before the living room fire. Dent bother, Bridgie we'll carry the tray in"
 When stephan set the tray on the table before the fireplace, she said, trying to give it just the right ring Of deprecatory amusement, This isn't c conspiracy, stephan. Angle well, Angle just likes to hear herself talk And poor old Bridgle certainly never dreamed you were wan of thin murtherin' Huns. Any enc would think you were Eng fish from your speech"
 And knew that she was saying all the wrong things.
 "You don't imagine" he said toa Carelessly, that haven't found @ut Chat Germans are not inordi- nately popular in this country just nowe"
 Crossing to e window, he raised the shade and stood, looking out. Deborah went to stand beside him. Through the fog they could see Che long luminous finger of light from the beacon on the Point, eirciing and pointing-circling and pointing. And just inside the curve of the Harbor, rebulous white blur flared in Staccato dasfes and dots. Then further to the right - over by the Boston dock, that must be = Q second pale blur answered.
 "Tliose signals must be from the Coast Guard cutters I saw come in this afternoon Deborah said. T wonder"
 She broke of. seeing that he was not listening.
 In . moment he said, "oh, yesl .. I see now"
 And yet she knew that all along his entire attention had been bent upon those signaling lights.
 I've always had a great inter- est in your Coast Guard. It would be interesting to see them work i: but imagine that would not be permitted to q stranger"
 "Oh, we're a big g-hearted, trust 3ul lot over here. Perhaps if I introduced you"
 But mol" he interrupted swiftly. T couldn't think of that"
 "Youre not, by any chance, afraid of involving me in an in- *srnational scandala"
 Again Deborah tried to speak lightly -- as she might have done last summer Stephan changed Che subject abruptly.
 But you did say something about 6 fire, didn't you?" he asked and turned to stoop over the un- burned logs on the hearth.
 80 you really imagined this was the way to build & fire?" he grinned. "You had better take notes, for now you are about tc watch . real artist at work"
 He was the cen who was making talk now, with kind of doggeo cheerfulness. as if to make tho best of Q bad business.
 Building a fire" - he knelt or the hearth while she sat dowr niseyably, the forgotten coffee or c table beside her chair "is { business demanding finessee anc the most exquisite tenderness anc patience. Like this" delicately stick by stick, he began to rear range the charred kindling.
 "Now that I think of it." h, went on without looking up 'building a fire is not at all unlik, making love. To get satisfactor. results in either case, you mus be willing and able - to pu everything you have into the busi ness" He stopped to place a 10, very gently upon the top of tn, structure. And if you cannot, Is much wiser to leave both alone There, you see?" he broke of as the fire burst into a compan ionable cracking.
 Deborah wanted to cry out ';stephan. my dear, what is it yol are finding so hard to explain Surely you didn't drive all the wa, down here just to tell me how t. build . firel"
 When he did not go on, sh, asked. "Why don't you use som of the driftwood. Stephan2 II the basket at the left. It makes much hotter fire"
 "Oh, but I know all about drift wood, tool At home, our land raI down to the sea. When I was { boy. I used to imagine that eaci piece had its own strange - per Aana aVaTa tssafR hinff.,rxy Assl