The Ely miner., 1943-12-09

SAiCy nave W Duilo SCCOlu SIO1y
to the Island -
Sue looked helplessly at Anne. It
had become conversational free
for-all in which the guest of honor
was unable to get a word in edge
wise. He sat smiling blandly. Only
once or twice Anne, turning her
head, caught the CLINT of the tall
candles in their crystal hurricane
globes on his thick lenses. He was
watching her-there was no doubt
of that, because he looked away
again without ever really meeting
her eyes. Each time she had a
chill little feeling in the pit of her
stomach.
''They thought we were awful, go
ing without stockings. Now they
all do it themselves"
''I remember my father nearly
died when he discovered I didn't
have stockings on" Barbara said.
''He hadn't noticed it the first cou-
pie of months. My aunts in Boston
still think it's awful"
Sue smiled enchantingly. Don't
pay any attention to Barbara, Mr..
Taussig. She's just being contrary"
She put her napkin down on the
table. This was the moment she'd
been waiting for. The men could
sit and talk, and Russell would have
his chance.
'.Shall we let the men have their
coffee here?"
She started to get up, but Mr..
Taussig was out of his chair.
Frankly, I prefer coffee with the
ladies'" he said blandly.
Sue had not gone to Miss Oak
ley's for nothing.
''How wonderful" She smiled
brightly and led the way through
the dining room back to the porch.
Anne glanced at her watch. It
was almost time to go. The party
had settled into three groups, with
Barbara and Terry and a silent
young man who became voluble
only at the mention of race horse
in one of them in the center of the
porch. Behind them Ben was with
Sue and Russell talking to Mr.. Taus-
sig. The others were playing some
kind of game inside the living room.
Anne was listening to Terry and
Barbara arguing the distance to
place she'd never heard of. She
was listening more intently to the
conversation behind her. Mr.. Taus-
sig was saying it couldn't be done.
Anne had missed what it was. Rus
sell Porter was insisting that it
could.
Were doing it," he was saying.
Fright here, now. It's a wonder
Colonel De Voc didn't show it to
you this afternoon.
There was so much to see," Mr..
Taussig said. "Our time was limit
ed. My point is that it's one of
those engineering dreams that's
practical impossibility. If you can
do it you're wizard, my boy"
That's just what he is, Mr.. Taus-
sigl" Sue cried. Darling, why
don't you show him those drawings
you have, with all the specifications
in them. Then he'd believe you."
1t seemed to Anne that there was
an abrupt little silence. She couldn't
be sure, because Terry was trying
to beat down Barbara's monotonous
resistance to something by banging
on the table. 81 tell you it's crawl"
he was shouting. Then she heard
Russell Porter saying, std like to,
Mr.. Taussig, but they're not sup
posed to be shown around. You
know how it is"
Certainly" Mr.. Taussig said.
"And very wisely, in my opinion"
But Russell :"
'Run along, little girl, and look
after your children. I hear one of
them squalling."
The interruption was affectionate.
but firm. Anne watched Sues face
as she went little blindly but still
smiling toward the living room. She
was almost in tears.
After all, she thought, Russell
wasn't being led by the nose. She
felt little better. He was probably
one of those husbands who let the
little woman have her head up to
a point.
Barbara got up too. She held her
hand out to Anne.
You're coming to the Club to-
morrow, aren't you? Five o'clock?"
Her expressionless green eyes
were fixed past Anne on the three
men in the corner.
"Russell's all right" she said.
Anne started.
A faint smile, if such a brief shad-
owy thing could be called a smile.
moved in Barbara's face.
Ben, we have a home of our
own," she called. "Good-by. Rus
sell. It's been nice. Where's Sue?
Can we take Anne homer"
Sue came gaily out of the house.
''But darling-it's early!"
''No, it's late"
Mr.. Taussig came forward with
Ben and his host.
''This has been delightful, Mrs.
Porter" he said. He took her hand
and smiled. ST like that man of
yours" he added, lowering his
voice.
Barbara looked at Anne with MOTH
ing in her eyes, and turned away.
Good night, everybody" she called
to the little group inside the house.
fTO BE CONTINUED