The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-10-01

with an air of laying down the tdW
 well, who called me to the phone. anyway? I'm not going to behave like a cad to the girl who gave me my social start in the city when might bave been darn lonesome ex- cept for her. It isn't her fault that you misunderstood Evvy's lifelong friendship for your husband, is it? The little girl has had one shady deal from this fanily-rm not going to give her another"
 I stared at Neal in amazement. Fly idently Evvy had told him of our tea and the bitter conversation that spoiled it's flavor. But had she man aged that in the brief minutes that Neal talked to her with Phoebe and me listening to his series of "Yes-es'' Tor had she 'phoned him at the of flee after she left me?
 Could it be Evvy Neal had talked over with Jim after refusing me his confidence? And was it because of Evvy that Jim hadn't been willing to let Neal take Phoebe home? I had vowed not to ask. yet I couldn't let Phoebe suffer through my silence. 1 Ventured one question:
 Neal, was Evelyn Jim's reason for not letting you take Phoebe homer
 Neal stared at me for a moment and then broke into jerky laughter. an old fossil do you take Jim for? Say-he and I have more important things to discuss than the silly quar- rels you women get into.'
 His words were cocky enough, but his independence drained out as he uttered them, and he finished on shaken, miserable note.
 After that there was nothing more for me to say. I helped him turn the couch into a bed. kissed him good night and went into my room
 Presently l heard a murmur of voices. Jim had come back, and no doubt he and Neal were discussing the secret from which I was shut out went on brushing my hair, bring ing the brush down with heavy strokes to the end of the heavy strand Hung over my right shoulder
 Thirty I heard rnv- self count-and then after time, enty-six-twenty-s twenty''-
 RuefuIly I laid my brush on the nlgnt cover that lay across the dress ing table, and with slow and funbline ringers began braiding my hair into It's two long plaits.
 Suddenly the door opened and Jim stumbled in. He swayed for a mo- ment on the threshold. then felt his lay at the foot of the bed and f1unp h1msef info it-ap inert heap
 T felt my fingers fly from their plating to the ribbons of my coral ooorea eeS pelgnolr-and all in the same second, It seemed, they were caress ing my husbands face as I kneIt be- Side the chaise-lounSe and lifted my Jlms head to the warmth of my
 "Dearest-dearest. What is jtq,, T cried in terror. "I guess-Pm about 4-all 1n, muttered Jim. Then he stirred uneasily, and nestled his head cIoser to me like a tired child hidine all the world in Its mothers iboson,
 Fra ntically I began to loosen his clothing. He did not resist Wban iels l | heid little glass of brandy to his Ilps ne took one or two sips and then pushed it away - oi'
 Poor little tired bov" croo,oz
 nun holding him close again. "II1 put you right to bed. Yot will be ali rlsnl in minute, Jim darling. Yo,,,re Anra ,,t eu: FOOT boy-just a minute and comfy t' "arin ana And then, as if he were nv tirSd toIe son | undressed him and helped Irtii ,,.itL inIo ped. Dazed, shaking as if ing feverishly. my boy let me nlut.e baTa my way with him. He was too wnaEt too i'll to resist. e''fA' When at last he was resting com flung myself on top of tbe eo,ial1s ana nolding him against the warn,tb of my oodT. For a time he lay ierkine stiIi siu starting nervousiy. Then he grew asIeeps sun m.I | thought he must be dldn't dare stir lest I wake hin, last Jim spoke: A'-iii AL 1ou wonderful girl, Don't lie 'higIe III the cold-Im all right now ;, HIS voice was steadV-nst,'r,, men knew how terrified I had baa,' fha [ ] a SOD broke from my heart before cure never going back to that Waiking aGIdrei wa 31bnthat 1sjnt inspectorshipM and miles!" cried "Oh' darif,er N1tIes Faes gire Writo me leo Tor letting you take it. wen write your resignation'-
 "A ActuaIiy Jim laughed, but tbera
 was a little irritation in his laugb write nothing! You're So cola co your teeth are chattering. Under o9er ana n "len you, you little brick invalid ihe! I'm no
 dared not protest. So sxi+cbi,o. t ota tne iights I crept into bed and Ias
 staring In the darkness, and waitins,
 TOT TOT the even breathing that wouid tnii
 me Jim was asleep. But fear io eell
 ny eyes open-staring into tfe dari1 | CHAPTER LIX
 theTe was no question of Ti,,,
 gong to work next morning '-iIi Hs 2 [