The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-01-19
A FURIOUS GAME
CHAPTER XIV

We approach now tnaG crltlcal
Sunday afternoon in September.
In the few days which preceded It,,
the activities of everybody concern
ed had been conventional, and
therefore Jnexciting, and therefore
casting no shadow of the harsh
event that was to come.
Cynthia had dined at the Rain
bow Room with Vaughan Dunbar,
who had been reticent and even
a trifie uneasy. 1t had been a
brief evening. When he returned
her 70 Stone House, Captain Pugh
was sitting with Colonel Merri-
wether.
The Colonel urged them to par
take of something cool and re-
freshing, but it seemed to Cynthia
that Vaughan Dunbar positively
hurried through his Planters
punch. Likewise, 1t seemed to her,
It was with actual relief that he
rose quickly and babe them all
good night.
Even Colonel Merriwether re-
marked upon the circumstance,
after Vaughan Dunbar was gone.
sour guest seemed a trif1e per-
tllrbed,' he said. And Captain
Pugh observed that Europeans
were likely to have a rough time
Of it with our late summer
weather.
During those days. also, Henry
Prentiss had dropped around with
his customary informality, to chat
by the swimming pool or sip long
drinks on the lawn, or loaf about
the stables. Mrs. Porter West had
entertained at cocktail time at the
club, though, as Fred West rue
fully confessed to Cynthia. "She
had a hell of a time persuading
the. chairman of the House Com
1nittee to put it on the cuff
At this affair, as matter OF
unimportant incident, the wager
ing upon the polo game was re-
duced to decently modest sums
and good humors were thoroughly
restored.
Mitchell Grace had been alb
sorbed in one of the Colonies
sporadic periods Of much business
Letters and kilograms and cables
On that Sunday, Vaughan Dun
bar arrived at Stone House at hal;
after noon. He had been invited for
luncheon, and the polo game, and
the party which Cynthia was giving
to celebrate the victorS and con-
sole the vanquished.
He came rather earlier than had
been expected, for it was Colonel
MeTriwether's habit to make his
first appearance of the day al
luncheon time, and luncheon time
was Invariably l o'clock. Cynthia
too, was above stairs, and Vaughan
Dunbar had, in fact, to cool his
heels in the darkened study for
the better part of a quarter hour.
Then Cynthia appeared, and
rang for cocktails, and began a
story about Bill Stewart which
she had neglected to tell before
But she did not have the oppor-
tunity to finish it. For Mitchell
Grace entered. bearing a telegram
addressed to Vaughan Dunbar in
the care of Colonel Merriwether
The telegram seemed to annoy
him.
"Why the devil such a hurry?'
he murmured to himself. And
then. to Cynthia. II shall have 10
run back to the city. It's a plucky
nuisance"
"Oh. dear me-" she said.
He idly handed her the yellow
sheet. urgent that YOU confer
with me Immediately. Every mo-
ment OF delay costly. Important
new developments. Robert"
"But this is just simply hor-
Fible," Cynthia said, Cant you
GET him on the phone?"
Vaughan Dunbar shook his
head. Cant" he said. "Ill just
have 10 30. But shall return
Sometime In the afternoon. II the
game Is not over. I'll ind my way
20 the field Otherwise, I'll come
back 20 the house here-if I may.
HIS hat was still on the table
Ne picked II up. touched her hand
foF IN instant, bOwed-and simply
was gone. He walked out Of the
door and down the steps and got
into his car and left with q swifts
ness that was actually preelpltate,
ognlhla MerTlwether and Mitchell
Grace were allOaetheF startled,
They stared ~ each other with.
Nalfsonen mouths
Iioly smoke" said Mllehfjl
f8ts4a faIIao nllQ didn't onnH