The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-03-06
THE CIRCLE NARROWs
CHAPTER XXX

CHAPTER Xxx
Drake, we might as well have
this out right now. Pa doesn't like
me to go with you. guess Ma
wouldn't either If she was still liv-
ing. But I'm going with you any
how, whenever you ask me-"
"Gee. Randy"
wait now. know what people
are going to say. Maybe they're
already saying It,"
''T'd like to hear EN-" ..
"But, Drake-it's so. How can
We expect them not to talk about
us?"
'well, what's got to be cleared
up2"
"only why Pa doesn't want me
TO TO with you. I'm going with
you as long as you want me to,
but don't get mad when I tell you
how things are"
well, If married YOU"
Randy shrank away. Instantly
her face went blank and cold.
IT wouldn't marry you, Drake"
''Well, why not?"
Lets don't talk about 1t, ever
again. viii you remember that?"
He did not answer at once. His
face, too, was as cold and hard
as Randy's.
Where do you want me to let
you out?"
Right here, Drake"
Drake took a long way around
SO that he would not have to pass
the Monaghan house. He drove
back of the asylum and to a dead
end road that overlooked the bot
toms Randy had mentioned.
The wind had fallen now, and
subtle intoxicating warmth
came up from the ground. Drake
sat for a long time staring dream
lily at the scene. His face softened,
and a look of boyish gentleness
replaced the lighting look Randy's
talk had brought out.
He shrugged his shoulders in a
gesture he had taken from Paris,
and frightened the reins which had
fallen slack across the dashboard.
He drove as fast as he could back
the way he had come. In a few
minutes he stopped at the Mona
CHAN house, and hitched his horse
to the whitewashed paling fence.
He walked up the short board
walk to the front door, and
knocked.
Benny Singer made industrious
transformation in the Skefangton
vegetable garden. He stood about in
a kind of bewildered waiting while
the Colonel and Mrs. Skefdngton
fought at bitter length over the To-
cation of the bean patch, or the
best place to SOW radishes this year.
Occasionally they referred the ques-
ton to Benny, who nearly burst
with importance.
Benny liked making the Skef-
fington garden. He worked in
sight Of the street with people
passing all day. Neighbors stopped
TO ssk what the Colonel was about
this time.
Benny felt that ne was a citizen
Of the town In full and honorable
standing.
One day q small boy threw a
clod at him, and he playfully
threw one back. The boy backed
on and looked scared, and pres
entity ran away.
Another day Fulmer Green
passed. F'ulmer was looking very
fine, Benny thought, all dressed
up as If it were Sunday.
well, If it amt old crazy
Benny!"
Benny grinned, and nodded. He
hardly noticed the old nickname.
well, well, old Benny working
for the Colonel. Good idea, Benny.
The Colonel might come in handy
keeping you out of jail" Fulmer
laughed, and Benny laughed, too
But later in the day when he
thought Of 1t, he didn't like Full
mer saying anything about jail.
It was Fulmer Green's fault that
he got put in jail one time, and
1t was Colonel Skef1ngton who
got him out. Vaguely he felt
trouble sense of old, old injuries
and Sights. He had almost for
gotten the feeling. Everything
had been so pleasant out at the
Won Elm place. Tom Carr never
did anything to make him feel
awkward or ashamed. Fulmer,
somehow or another, made him
feel @ little ashamed.
Often Drake McHugh drove out
Of town-sometimeS out Federal
street, sometimes out the asylum
road, sometimes by less frequented
way always with Randy Monag-
han beside him.
The town talked. Drake Nc
Hugh, after all, came from mice
people," He belonged to the best.
Everyone saw how the Gordons
handled the question when Drake
looked in the direction of Louise.
That little slap in the face should
have taught Drake McHugh some
thing Of q lesson. For a while it
looked as though 1t really had.
But now it was this Monaghan
girl from the lower end of town.
aRilroad people. The menfolks
said old Mr.. Monaghan was
straight, honest, self respecting
man. He'd probably take shot