51.

My hair, which was now long enough to serve its purpose without a wig, was softly curled with waves over my ears, on my forehead and at the back of my neck. When the cab pulled up to the house and the driver rang the bell, I answered it with my heart beating wildly and it seemed that there was a big lump in my throat. I told the driver to come in and pick up the bags, with a voice that sounded hoarse and cracked. In a short while, we were in the cab and not much later, at the station.

Constance had ordered a compartment, so the difficulty of privacy was solved but, it was still necessary for us to go to the diner and the first time I felt like a fool as the steward ushered us to a table and then held the seat for us while we sat down. His studied politeness and his "Good afternoon, ladies" as well as the similar politeness of the waiter, brought the blush- es to my cheeks. Seated right across from us were two men who had all the earmarks of traveling salesmen. Almost immediately they began to ogle us!! As though she had a streak of perverseness, Constance seemed to encourage them and when the meal was finished, they came over to our table and stood smiling at us. I hurriedly excused myself, not trusting myself in such a situation and ran back to our compartment.

About ten minutes later Constance returned and smiled at me mysteriously but did not say a word. In a few minutes there was a knock on the door and Constance quickly went to it and admitted the two from the diner. They each had a package under their arm and setting them down, one of them remarked.

"We picked up a little something to drink. I'm sure you girls won't mind a little bracer". He looked at Constance and then at me, smiling.

"Oh," Constance said, as though recalled to something. "Boys, this is Lily. Lily, I want you to meet Joe Sanders and Art Lyons".