Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-07-18
CHAPTER Gel

CHAPTER Gel
Copyrighted. 1919. King Feautre
Syndicate. Inc)
", When we got into the elevator
after saying farewells to Anthony
Norreys, Valerie turned on me with
I an unwelcome announcements:
I'm coming In to wait for Jim and
Lane, if you don't mind"
"Of course" l acquiesced, avoid
ing a statement as to whether or
not I minded.
Once in our apartment Valerie
promptly began what l felt was her
plan of campaign:
Thank so much for-rescuing me.
That Mason man is-er very difficult.
Didn't you find him so?'
And 1 guessed that the crux of
whatever situation Val was working
toward lay in her emphasis on
Didn't you find him so?"
Tom is one of Jim's Oldest
friends" 1 hedged
And so, of. course, blind to the
fact that Jim's wife is a woman
and therefore to be loved" said Val,
curling up on the couch and fitting
a pillow back of her head as she
brought out her words with lazy and
expressive pauses.
The Anne of a few weeks ago
would have protested then:
But Val, l am loved-loved by
my husband. And Tom Mason knows
it. And he isn't interested in me that
way. Do you think I'd permit such
a thing?"
The Anne of today knows how
stupid protests are when directed at
an indirect person like Val. Valerie
Cosby had a purpose in coming to
my table and joining Carlotta and
Tony and me. She furthered that
purpose by coming into my apart
lment And in her own good time, un-
less I side-traclled her by saying too
much, she would carry out her de-
sign. SO proceeded warily. |
wanted to understand the tumble of
motives that had swept Val into
friendship with Tom and had led
1er first to try to hide it from me
md now to offer condolences about it,
So instead of protesting that Tom
IIason's interest in me was entirely
platonic, l said:
Don't you think Tom is capable
of an impersonal attitude toward
woman"
:, Val laughed. crinkling her long
eyes at the corners.
Need 1 answer that question%"
she said.
Not if you prefer to ignore it,"
I smiled.
Reaching over to JOINS inlaid
cigarette box on the table by the
couch. Val made a great show of
selecting and lighting just the right
cigarette. Then she took a deep
breath and presently, exha.nS
cloud of gray smoke she said in
y dolently:
you're frightfully in love with
Jim, aren't you?"
"Yes-and I don't care who knows
Wit" replied recklessly.
That's just as well. since the
whole world can see it," said Val
dryly. DO you think it's really
clever of you, Anne? Jim's so sure
of you he doesn't I've to fight to
hold you. E. or is hat aloof but
attractive Norreys man your method
of-keepinE Jim guessing?"
Now / had to give direct answer
for I didn't propose to have Val
stumbling around the garden of my
heart treating the most precious
flowers as f. they We're weeds.
Il don't keep Jim guessing. as you
put it, Valerie. I'm willing he should
know and the whole world see that
he has my heart-all of it. AS for
Dir Norreys. he is a remarkable man
rnd I'm proud that he happens to
like me-
"Oh-dear me-Lady touch-me-
lot! cried Val, sitting up on the
couch tailor ia shion and gazing at
mo narrowly through smoke clouds.
Il didn't know Mr.. Norreys was too
scored to mention. Well, l don't
again-not before Jimmie or Lane
or anyone. Hows that?
There's no reason why you
shouldn't mention him. He is a dear
fried of our great friends the Win
stc =, and Jim was once in his en-
~ =" | said carefully.
/ was angry at myself for resent
iig Walls attitude Since there was
no mystery for her to discover why
should l feel that she was imagining
zone or insinuating one? In my heart
knew that if Valerie We're to tell
Jim of meeting Tony, her emphasis,
her innuendos would make it forever
impossible for me to have my hus-