The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-12-14
By Ann Lisle.

Copyright, 1918, by Kings Feature
Syndicate. Inc-)
k1T F you don't mind. Bsbbss I'll
tumble right into bed.
hate to confess 1t, but city
hours are kind OF getting
your-oId- fox Neal, and making him
think he-fsniI .so-fexy--&fteE all >
said my brother ruefully the very
second the door closed after Jim
and Phoebe.
z@But I do mind. 1 want 70 fax
to you Jnrst, Neal. don't under
stand you at all. Why didn't you
ofef to take Phoebe home?
Couldn't you see that Jim was
SYes, could see that all right
but Couldn't you see that he didn't
intend letting me go with her?
wasn't going to have him make
boob Of me right in front of Phoebe
BY turning me down." replied
Neal, with a good deal more en-
srgy than his plea OF tiredness had
led me to suppose he possessed.
How do you know Jim didn't
want you to take her home:
Maybe he looked at you SO sternly
because he thought you were too
lazy to exert yourself'-
Like; fun he didt=A lot you
know about your Jim-or Rny-man
for that matter Hs-he- wanted
to be with Phoebe. Probably had
something to say to her. And
know better than to nag at that
husband. Of yours once he gets his
mind made up. Now you stop nag
Eing at me. Are you sore because
I didn't turn Envy down when she
left you and Jim out OF her DIM
nerf" asked Neal impatiently, un-
Fastening collar and tie with an
air Of dismissal as he spoke.
.aOh-Eyvyi She doesn't matter.
OF course. Neal, / would like 10 see
you show a little more-stability
and for the life OF me I can't un-
dSrstand how you can turn from
Phoebe TO Evelyn"
A Modern, Champion
Neal swung around and faced me
with an air. Of laying down the Jaw
and Of intending to have IL needed
~well, who called me to the
telephone. anyway? I'm not going to
behave like q cad to the girl who
gave me my social start in the city
when I might haVe been darn lone
some except for her. 1t isn't her
fault that you misunderstand
Evvy's lifelong friendship for your
husband, is it? The little girl has
had one shady deal from this fam
ily-rm not going to give her an
ether"
stared at Neal IN amusement.
Evidently Envy han told him Of our
tea and the bitter conversation that
spoiled fits flavor, But had she man
aged that In the brief minutes that
Neal talked to her with Phoebe ana
me listening to his ..series OF
~Yes-ses"-or had she telephoned
him at the office after she left
me2
Could IT be Envy Neal had talked
ever with Jim after refusing me his
confidence2 And was 1t because OF
Envy that Jim hadn't been willing
to let Neal take Phoebe home?
had vowed not to ask, yet coulont
let Phoebe suffer through my ST.
Ience. 1 ventured one question::
Meal, was Evelyn Jim's reason
for not letting you take Phoebe
homer"
Neal stared at me for q moment
and then broke into a terky laugh
ter.
~Weu. l like that! What kind OF
an old fossil do you take Jim Tor!
Say-he and have more important
things to discuss than the SHY
quarrels you women get into.
His words were cocky enough,
but his independence drained out as
~ finNahAd
a shaken, miserable note.
After that there was nothing more
for me to say. I helped him turn
the couch into a bed. kissed him
rood-nIRht and went into my room.
presently 1 heard a murmur OF
voiee6. Jim had come back. and no
Soubt he and Neal were discussing
the secret from which ! was shut
emit went on brushing my hair,
bringing the brush down with heavy
afroIes TO the end OF the heavy
otrand flung over my right shoul-
Ger.
.srhIrty-nIne-forty,- heard my
elf count-and then after 4 time
twenty tWen-
~
RuefuIIy I laid my brush on the
night cover that lay across the
dTessInR table. and with slow ana
fumbIing fingers began bratding my
hair into its two long plaits-
suddenly the door opened ana
Jim stumbled in He swayed TOT
4 moment on the threshold. then felt
his way to the great chaise lounge
that lay at the foot OF, the beds, ana
flunR himself into it-an inert heap.
/ felt my fingers fly from their
plating to the ribbons of my coral
eolored peiRnoir-and all in the
same second, il seemed, they were
caressinE my husbands face as ]
knelt beside the chaise lounge ana
lifted my Jim's head TO the warmth
Of my heart
sDearest-dearest! What is it,"
cried in terror. II guess-Im