The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-12-31
"REAT IT" CHAPTER Xf
lANY W0NIIl's NAMILY

CHAPTER %t
 Fay and Myra rose carly next morning, realizing with rcerct thot Che waning year was bringing their vacation closer Go on end, Out. side it was showing lightly but steadily, Inside the house the oc- cupants stirred slowly to e rcoliga- ton that this would Dc busy day They had promised tho English children who were guests at the farm Q Jolly, though belated Christmas party,
 The morning was spent iu prepO ration for the strenuous afternoon that was inevitable, Tho girls spent busy hours finishing or prcp0ra- tions for the big event, They all sat around the Are afterwards for coffee, and they were ready and willing to face and feed the boys who would come e little later,
 Reene's red robe was brushed ott hts beard and wig were combcd and he contemplated 1t with tho sc- renity of one who iS m e benign mood to the rest Of the world, He had arranged to elepe with Leon0 wheM he gave the word fl noecs- Sarv, and she had agreed, feeling that R ghl would he foolish to pass up an opportunity that might only come once in lifetime, If it should come again one could al- wayS take 1t again, but if one missed it once .. well, one never knaw,
 ReSS lay with his head across ray'S knees feeling full and lazy, Fly ran her fingers through his hair pulling one every now and again to keep him awake,
 "You know" he said, looking up M her, You'll mako a perfect wife for some lucky fellow, This is my idea of heaven"
 Fay looked down Ut him, her lips breaking Into a smile You'll make a very difneult husband, I'd hate to Do the gtrl you marry"
 "Whyg"
 "You're too good looking and you have wandering eyes"
 Then they were distracted bee cause Benny wanted Ross to re- hcarSe their act and Myra wanted Heano Co dress his part, Between them, Fay and Myra made him look more handsome than ever be. fore,
 Then there came q sound of young voices up the driveway and the game was on, The boys rushed into the house with riot of eXv eitement, Crackers were thrust upon them to absorb the first shock and the room became Uttered with pa- pers and party hats and trinkets, Benny, who was appointed M. C., vainly tried to stem the tide but it swept past all his calls to order and attacked several dishes piled with nuts and candies, As before a swarm of locuSts huaxing with eX. citement everything eatahle or pocketahle seemed to vanish, There were some fierce tnter-boy struggles during the sack of citadel and then suddenly the melee subSided leav- ing behind 1t litter of ransacked dishes and tableware, Then and then only they listened to Benny'S tmpaSsloned plea for order and they eonverged upon the tree with flushed faces and eager eyes,
 There vas a moment of peace, Benny wiped his brow and paused for breath.
 Ladies and gentlemen" he be- gan, with a meaning eye on the boys. Tt is my great privilege to he called upon to ofiiciate at the introduction of that famous, that world famous. that unique and im- mortal gentlemen, santa Claus"
 Beano entered, catching Renny,s last words, It brought back the lights of the wrestling arena and he trotted in with his two hands claSped shaking them to an imagi- nary audience of thousands.
 A loud and prolonged razzberry greeted him. It was given as ap- plause from the excess of high spirits in the boys but it smacked Beano hard, reminding him of that time in Chicago . it was a pain full memory and disconcerting re- cepelon. He was already in a slight ly nervous condition owing to an uncomfortable feeling that he was cutting the safe margin for de- oarture too fine.
 The effort 1t caused him to smile -