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

TED: Please let us hear from you
 Worried. Kay.
 Kay danced down the dock to the canoe. Joe and Mary were to be marriedl Tomorrow maybe If Ted they could make 1t double wed- ding
 Ted should be waiting for her She had promised herself this last moonlight canoe trip, planning an ideal setting for his proposal. There had been other opportuni- ties, she recalled, but Ted had { evaded them. That last night in the plant She was sure he in- tended asking her then, but she had wanted more romantic set- ting.
 She wondered when Joe had asked Mary. That first night at ] Che lake, or at the dance. She decided 1t must have been at the dance. Mary had adored Joe ever since he came to te factory, she had confessed, but she was will- ing to turn him in as a spy. Kay wondered If she would have pos 6esses such courage.
 And Joe, dear old Joe. If she had had a brother, Kay would have wanted him to be just like Joe Benton. Big, successful, un- derstanding. She owed everything to Joe. If he hadn't spilled that acid, they might never have known all about Wondrosoap.
 Where was Ted?
 Surely he wouldn't break their late date at the lake. He might have been delayed in town, get- ting the car serviced fer the trip home. She would wait.
 Flynn called her outside early the next morning. Just what did you say to that boy last night, Kay?" he demanded almost sternly. You've been leading him on, mak- ing him think he had chance. There was no cause to hurt him that much"
 What are you talking about, MikeP I didn't see Ted last night. I waited on the dock until after midnight. He didn't show up. He's the one who will do the apologizing."
 You didn't see himp" Flynn was bewildered "He stormed in the house about 10, packed his things and left, before I knew what he was doing. He seemed sore about something"
 "Hes gone2 He didn't say goodby?" Kay could hardly be- lieve 1t. Not Ted. He couldn't leave her like this. Without word of explanation. Without asking her.
 The final blow came later. A couple of youngsters, swimming near the diving raft, saw gleam of shining metal under water. But the treasure they retrieved was not the gold they had imagined, but a shining doorknob
 Kay heard them yelling outside the cottage, ran out to see for her. self. She recognized 1t instantly.
 He took 1t from the plant = he kept it--now he's thrown 1t away" She ran back to her room, threw herself on the bed. T never want to see him, or that doorknob again." she sobbed. "Neverl"
 But she took time to hunt up the youngsters and buy the door knob for a dollar before she left the lake.
 Mike Flynn paced the length of his office, turned, faced Kay.
 Now stop your worrying, Katie girl" he said tenderly. "The lad will see this ad and come a-run- ming. He should be telephoning any minute now" He bit down fiercely on a stub of cigar, re. sumed his pacing. "The young idiotl"
 "Ted's no idiot!" Kay defended. 'Tt was all my fault. He must have seen me kiss Joe, and then he thought" The tears were freed again.
 "So what?" Flynn demanded. sIf a girl loved me like you love this-this-I'd be willing to fight for her. I wouldn't let any col- lege professor run away with my girl--"
 T never told Ted I loved him. I wanted everything to be strictly -