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FLAMING

YOUTH

rubber and gratefully drew the long raincoat about her. “Turn on the light, please,” she directed quietly. It flashed, intolerable to her eyes. When her vision could bear the strain she looked up and saw the man standing a few paces away with his kitbag of implements beside him, dressed in working garb. His face was pallid, amazed, and beautiful.

“T never thought to see you again,” he said breathlessly. “You've seen all there is of me to see,” giggled Dee with the inanity of sheer nerve-shock, and could have killed herself for hatred and fury at her untoward re

sponse. He made no comment upon this; only looked st her with incredulous pain. “What are you doing here?” she asked. “Repairing the electric plant. I’m a workman. As J told you.” “T thought it was a joke.” “No.” He listened to the confused sounds from be yond the door. “I seem to have been inopportune,” he remarked with quiet grimness. “A swimming party, isn’t it?”
 * Yes.”

“More or less informal, I judge.” Dee felt a hot wave submerging her. “You could see for yourself.” “Quite so. You were on your way to join it?” “Yes, I was,” she retorted defiantly but with an incredible inclination to weep. “Pray don’t let me detain you.” “Please,” whispered Dee.

His face changed. stopped.

He took a step toward her, and