The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-08-30

SA4AA4AA6 Oll my lipot WhS1 L saw lWO
Sgures swinging into the broad
'-7rway of the Walgrave - Jim and
Betty Bryce.
Only a week ago I had been on the
verge of liking Betty Bryce, but
now suspicion took possession of
me again. If Jim was too busy to
go house hunting with me, why had
he time for Betty Bryce? Perhaps
he had lunched with her, had spent
the afternoon with her.
Shame goaded my anger to great
er fury. Suppose Evelyn had seen
him. glanced at her, but she
was absorbed in the problem of
bringing the wheels of her car in
line with the curb. ] thanked her
for all she'd done for me- muir
INJURED few platitudes about hop
ing she would lunch with me soon,
and fairly rushed into the hotel
after Jim and Betty. Two Or three
minutes of hysterical dashing UP
and down corridors brought me
face to face with them in the door
of the tea room. They greeted me
with delight, which though L hated
myself for it felt was clever act
ing.
Betty and my husband ordered
Orange Pekoe with lemon and toast
Melba. I chose ginger ale-but the
mere fact that they were ordering
in unison and that I had struck a
dissonant note gave me an added
feeling of being the outsider.
Anne, Betkys being telling me
about her splendid new plan. She's
going to travel about the country
for three months doing welfare
work in the camps. Isn't that great?
wouldn't you love to be foot-loose,
Mrs. Harrison, and do something big
like that for your government.
Perversely I began to wonder if
Jim would like to be foot loose
! Every time he met Betty Bryce I
I hated my words almost as they
formed in reply to Jim's question.
. They were Guilty, but they seemed
fairly to say themselves:
"Oh, I'd feel so conspicuous trav-
cling around camps-alone and IN
chaperoned.
Mrs. Bryce laughed good ma
turely.
"of course you would you dear
young thing. But I'm an old
stager. Two years of driving an
feel like a big sister to every SOL
der in the world"
So that was where Betty and my
boy had come to be such friends
on the battlehelds of France! I
wanted to tell Betty how wonder
full L thought she was; 1 wanted to
ask her about - work - but 1
couldn't find w. IS. Instead L be-
gan talking eagerly too eagerly
bargain Tom Mason had offered
me.
Jim and Betty exchanged glances.
My husband spoke questioningly:
TON Mason: Where under the
sun did you meet him? Why should
he rent us two magnifciently fur
nished rooms for seventy five a.
month? That's-what do you think,
Betty"
I felt Inundated. Evidently Jim
didn't think me capable of a clever
bargain He doubted my judgment:
he asked Betty's opinion. She
leaned forward now, eager and de-
lighted - forcing her opinion on
me again. as L told myself.
IT offer you better bargain, my
dears! Oh, it's providential! My
work is going to keep me out of
town until October. I haven't time
to get my place into its Summer
clothes or to find a good caretaker.
So here's where you can do me a
real favor. Children, 1 appoint
comes back in October - and helps
you find a little nest of your own
Jims eyes lighted, as he cried:
Betty, you're a wonder! This is
just what we want, isn't it, Anne"
1 held my voice to cold steadiness
but 1 could feel the blood burning
in my cheeks.
II hardly see how we can accept
Mrs. Bryce's offer, dear" 1 said. eff
Mr.. Masons seventy five month
looks like-charity to you, what is
an apartment rent free?"
There was a breathless moment
that ugly word Charity fairly ex-
hailed poison gas. Suddenly Betty
Bryce rose and laid her hand. on
mine.
I'm off, children. I've an ap-
pointment with an Army Colonel
and a Red Cross Captain! SO 1 must
rush. Don't come, Jimmy Boy, my
cars at the door. Here are the ex.
ira. keys to my little place. I'm GO
ing to count on finding you there
when 1 come back
She tossed the keys on the table
between us. They flashed up at me
in cool violence - like hers. How
dared Betty Bryce fling her unwel-
come gifts at me-! Angrily I pushe d
them away from me inns eyes
darkened to steel gray-to black as
he stared at me across the little
table. Then he picked up the keys
studied them quietly and spoke -
not to me-but to himself.
What a wonder Betty is. That's
the offer of a real friend!"
He slipped the keys into his
pocket. 1 felt as if they were lock-
ing me out of his heart.
CHAPTER XII.
AS Jim and l left the tea room,
of the W-algrave, we walked side by
side-yet miles apart. A quarre
could not have estranged us more
completely than my silent rejection
of Betty Bryce's offer, and Jim's
equally silent championship of his
friend. I had refused her apartment
and Jim had the keys in his
pocket.
Suddenly a voice hailed us:
Jim Harrison! Hello, old chap:
There was warmth and real affec-