The Washington times., 1920-11-25

denied that I could have real
father other than him anywhere In
the world. Lets be happy-just
happy. Because maybe after you
take the Canadian trip We won't
know much more real happiness,
Oh. l wish | hadn't said that" l
added at sounds too horrible
and hopeless"
"Oh. Wen be happy again all
right" declared Father Andrew.
"After all. you and | are generally
happy together. aren't we Babbsie?"
~ HOEBE went with Neal and
me to see Father Andrew
Off. Jim had a conference
at the office. 40 he didn't go to the
station with Us.
TO the Riddles this trip to the
Canadian northwest was only
stupid business affair that post
poned their marriage. They pouted
and laughed and frowned about IL,
even while they promised over and
over again on their words OF honor
that they wouldns run away and
get married while father was gone.
but would wait for their "best man"
to return. But after Father Andrew
had been swallowed up by the
darkness on the other side of the
gate to his train Phoebe turned
with n pout:
Meal, by the time we get through
postponing our wedding for all the
people who think their whims are
more important than our happiness
we'll be old and gray" she said
with a little laugh that caught in
her throat and threatened to turn
to a sob.
Neal seized her hand I'm his and
drew her close to his side. And SO
we walked in silence to the taxi.
Perhaps he. too. was judging her
father a little unkindly, but there
was nothing could do about that.
At any cost, Father Andrews Sc
cret, which concerned no one so
much as them, had to be kept from
them.
Want to stop in somewhere and
have a dance or two?" suggested
Neal, with fyull consciousness that
the bright lights had power to
cheer Phoebe enormously.
I'D love it," replied Phoebe, who
had been huddied in a doleful lit
tie heap against Meals shoulder.
will you take me home fitst?"
I asked in a tone quite unneces-
sarily apologize. After all, l
might have realized that my room"
was fully as welcome as my COM
pany.
RATHER A REBUFF.
After a polite little protest or
two the Riddles drove me to the
apartment and I hurried upstairs.
dreading the loneliness that would
be sure to plunge me into the
misery I'd been staving OF all day.
The doorman told me that Mr..
Harrison hadn't come in yet, so 1
stopped on the way to inquire about
Val. but she continued to deny her
self to visitors. l found Shelly
also on the fringe of things. watt
ing in the living room for the
nurse to come out with a report.
There was something almost abject
in his manner.
Ever see such a nincompoop as
! was last night?" he asked, with
an effort at lightness. Il always
freeze in emergencies-cant lift a
hand or foot or think of a single
way out Sort of general paralysis"
The paralysis of fear?" / asked
CURLY
Fear? What's a man to be
afraid of" he demanded. roughly.
Think I've got so much to live for
that I'm afraid to die - Val was
superb, wasn't she?" he added. with
a return to his normal manner of
insolent ease and self-satisfactiyon.
Mrs. Cosby never gets-par-
alyzed." I corrected sweetly and
then turned to the nurses message
that Mrs. Cosby was resting nicely
and begged not to De disturbed. She
hoped to be out of bed and have
the bandages off by tomorrow, and
friends.
"All right; IL we're only in the
way we might as well toddle
along" said Sheldon YEARLY, and
we departed together.
At the elevator he laid his hand
on my wrist with sudden heavincss
that prevented me from ringing for
the. car.
Just a minute" he said breath
lessly. do you think Tom Mason
was so much more of a hero than /
T..