The Washington times., 1920-03-04
CHAPTER cCXLyI.

TT WAS Envy Mason who leaned
across Jim's big nat-topped desk.
4 ENVY aiono with Jim In his
empty office.
For half a second ! stood in the
doorway unnoticed.
became conscious OF a lump Of
lead where my heart ought 10 be.
do intruder 1 asked in a voice
that contrived TO keep level and
cold, although imps Of jealousy
were soaring my eyes and clawinG
at my nerves.
EyVy's eyes tore themselves from
Jim's face and found me. ! had =
BRIEF impression OF smile trem-
Hing at the corners OF her lips.
then there came the quick scraps
. OF Jim's chair and he came toward
me. his face was very gave. ri.s
eyes searched mine.
You never intrude. Anne he
said quietly
In that moment l forgot Envy
dismissed her. This was between
Jim and me. Ugly thoughts were
In the outer corridors or my nina,
knocking for admission. Neal had
lust left town for home. Jim hau
made d point Of asking me what la
been doing this afternoon ana had
been safely accounted for by my
automobile lesson.
Before those thoughts could for
mulate themselves. something big
ger came to conquer them-to push
them out of my mind. Ii was my
love for Jim and the faith which
was growing TO be part or that
love, In a moment Of revelation l
knew | believed in Jim's loyalty
that even II I didn't understand
him. / trusted him. However, this
situation looked. / knew 1t was all
right. l knew II.
A customer might have reason to
stay with the head of the concern
after the office force had left. An
old friend might conceivably come
TO consult Jim after business hours.
To make it concrete, Envy Mason.
oh. Envy Mason might do anything! !
But. az far as Jim was concerned,
l loved him and believed In him,
and ! was too modern" to see sit
uatfon in n harmless visit TO
mans office.
All this flashed through my mind
in a brief moment. But | think
some of 1t went into the hsndclasp
/ gave him before l spoke again.
IL was out for my first road les
son in the car. and l stopped By to
drive you home. II you and ENVY
have finished"----
Jim's eyes warmed me with ap-
prevail even as Envy broke in with
"A husky little laugh to emphasize
her words.
oh, we had finished. 1t was just
n little matter of investments /
wanted to consult my oldest friend
about. You're sure you don't mind.
AIMEE"
think ] meant the laugh with
which l replied:
Mind. What mercenary, modern
city wife minds having an old
friend turn into a new client? You
know, Envy, unfortunately, doctors
and lawyers and brokers can't al
ways count on having their friends
for customers. There's room for
four in the car. SO you two come
along and take the little rumble
seat and finish the business discus
sion there while l give my attention
to giving her gas and handling
the clutch. and such like trifies. of
which my instructor still knows
more than l."
oh" replied Envy, and then add
ed with a mental gasp / could al
most hear, DO you know Meals
gone away for a week."
That's right. You'll be lonesome.
VIII you come home to dinner with
us? We might get in n fourth this
evening and give you folks the OPP
portunity of martyrizing yourselves
by teaching me bridge
Are you sure you want meo"'
began Envy, with a fash of her
eyes from me to Jim.
He still said nothing. l could see
that Envy was recovering. and was
beginning to take mschIevous
delight in what she considered his
lack of ease. l know Jim wasn't in
the least Ill at ease-knew il with
absolute certainty, and felt that he
was gallantly leaving the situation
or indeed there was a "situation'D
to me, and watching me with admi-
ration and approval. For the first
time since ! had known her. and
learned to fear her scratches, / was