The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-11-22

Diana sat up straighter. stephen Curt was going to offer her Job as she had hoped, but he was going about 1t oddly, As her eyes searched his face he began to speak very slowly as If choosing h!s words care- fully so as to not be misunderstood.
 My father died several years ago, leaving me e very respectable though eccentric stepmother who loves me and whom love very much. My own mother couldn't have taken more tender care of my sister, Adela, and me, But shes willful and domincering--a regular termagant she grows worse as she grows older and unhappily my father left his en- tire fortune for her to administer, My fathers will had several ex- kraor ainary clauses"
 "But what" Diana was think ing, "has all this to do with mep I'm the one who's seeking job - should be giving the refer ences, How strange that stephen Curt should think ought to know thisl"
 stephen Curt went on. Know ing my proclivity to bachelorhood my father made his will to read that If I have not married by the time am 3S, his entire fortune, except for a bequest to Adela, will go to certain charities instead of to me. My stepmother's one purpose In life is to see that I don't try to break that clause. She has the devils own stuhbornneSs and"-he drew Q deep breath -- 'my S5th birthday is approaching rapidly. Tn fact by this time next month, 1t will have come and gone"
 Diana's gray eyes were wide open with astonishment. The waiter set something before her, but ufe had no idea what 1t was and made no attempt to eat 1t, She was staring at stephen Curt,
 'You mean-?"
 T mean that there Is at the mant no one whom I care to make my wife--literally. Neither do relish the Idea of losing ap- proximately two million dollars -- Shoush shall certainly earn enough during my lifetime"
 He paused and Diana waited, unable to speak.
 T was impressed by you as q girl of spirit" he went on. When | came down in the elevator, l was hoping might overtake you"
 He reached in his pocket and drew out a small jewellers box, tnyinR with 1t for moment.
 "I've been carrying this about, hoping I might find a solution to my problem" he continued. "Since you need employment, l am offering you 0 jab os my wife for a reasonable length of time - until al conditions of the will have been complied with, end Q divorce shall be arranged-say SIX months at the most" He smiled briefly. "You see, my father failed to stipulate that there should not be a divorce. I asure you 1t IS 6 Job which will place no require ments on you in any way, except your presence in my house with me and my sister, Adela. And of course you'll be free to come and 70 as you like"
 With a quick twitch of his finger. he opened the lid of the box and thrust 1t into Diana's hand Her amazed eyes beheld two rings one a large, square-cut diamond and the other stone-incrusted we'd
 'i hope you won't think I'm utterly out of my mind" he said with 6 rueful smile, but If you wlll wear those rings for a short time and help me out of this difii- cnlty = will pay you $10,000 al the conclusion of our contract!"
 Ten thousand dollars! It was the most amazing thing she had ever heard. Things like this hap pened only in novels or the movies. She found her voice eholSingly, at last.
 sBut surely you're jokingl"
 T was never more serious 1T my life" he said. "Take @ mo- rnent = get used to the idea There's really nothing alarming about it. A purely business prop Dsition. No sense, because a mar