The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-07-25
OMPETITION ARRIVE
 Chapter M

SAsAA - NAOAN AAANAsA A16
 Chapter VI
 Christie, in Bart's arms, whlrled past her mother and Miss Sarah Lancaster. She gave them her most heart-warming smile, because she felt sorry for them both - sitting there against the wall. For her mother, still pretty at 42, her roman tic girlhood so far in the back ground and for Miss Lancaster who had never had any romance at all.
 "Gosh, what a dull evening" Tommy had cut in.
 T think it's rather nice, my self" Christie answered. Why the sweet brotherly attention?"
 well, to be honest, I need little extra money-all you have in your evening bag"
 Tommy are you always broker Anyway, everything's free. A lob ster plate, I'm hearing"
 "Too ritzy," Tommy said. "T'm bound for the Red Heron where men are"
 Are drunk, and the girls, too" Christie broke in, an edge to her voice.
 "The perfect Family Tone" Tommy laughed. Lets switch to something pleasant. And I do mean pleasant. There's a girl here well, nothing quite like her has ever set foot in this town before. Shec anne in late with the Robb Nortons. She and I are going to slip out at intermission. I prom ised to show her our most spec tacular night spots. She's really keen about it."
 The Robb Nortons. Then the new girl would be downstairs in the Blue Room. The Nortons al- ways took their dancing sitting around lowering over glasses. The new girl
 Could she be the same girl Bart had been talking about? Of course sch was! "She looks pretty social" Bart had Sald.
 All at once, Christie felt a con- suming curiosity to see the stranger who had put that special sound in Bart's voice and sent Tommy, the indifferent, on raid of her evening bag.
 Leave me lucky penny" Christie said, adding impulsively, T may need it."
 The next moment, Bart had cut in again. "In just two minutes, they're going to play Auld Lang Syne," he said. "Know what that means?"
 Yes, Christie knew what that meant. All the lights would go out. There would be that brief moment of darkness as the old year merged with the new. Then, they'd blaze on again. Boys would wipe lipstick from their lips and brush powder from their shoul- ders. Girls would smooth down their hair. And, then, there would looms off the wall. They'd pop them all over the place.
 But when Bart kissed her, 1t would be different. It would be a promise, a dedication. Darkness His lips on hers for one brief mo- ment. Bright lights again. the or chestra striking up.
 Suddenly, the music stopped ab- ruptly. Then as quickly swung into God Bless America"
 Good tune" Bart said, as the dancing stopped. They were standing now by the arch which separated the ballroom from the enclosed porch. Tommy and girl were dancing on the dimly-lighted porch. They danced past Christie and Bart and into the ballroom; and as though completely unaware of the sensation they were caus- ing, double-stepped the martial rhythm with perfect timing.
 The girl wore bright red frock, with a huge skirt that emphasized her slim waist. Her eyes were enorm- ous and velvety black Her hair swept up III nigh pompadour.
 "Tommy's. fool" Bart said. "If this had been Europe, he would have been rushed off by the mili- tary police. He's pretty lucky he lives in America"
 'Tommy!" Christine echoed in- dignantly, what about that girl? She should have brought some re- spect for this country when she came from Europe!"
 Bart spoke slowly, T think it's rather unfair to judge a person so quickly"
 Chritsie's anger fell from her. Perhaps it is," she said in low tone. She had realized that not all her anger was directed against the new girl because of the exhi- bition. She disliked her because she was beautiful and dangerous