The Washington times., 1920-05-29

Won . Great Popular Success.
Copyright, 1920, by King Features
Syndicate. Inc.
SkN EY poor little girl! Ny poor
N frightened little girl"
Az cried Jim, flinging him
self down at my side. Have you
wondered why / was neglecting you
why 1 let you suffer and didn't
come? Are you all right, Amer"
Without seeming to notice Val,
Jim gathered me in strong arms
and crooned over me as II ] were a
baby.
.'Val took good care Of me-"
explained, feeling horribly. hurt and
piqued at all Jim had let me suffer
from the time 1 missed him at the
office to the awful moment when
Lane and Val rescued me from the
drug -maddened thing Dick West
had become.
Jim held me close.
"Friends like Lane and Val aren't
to be valued lightly-are they?" he
asked. Nothing we could ever do
for them would be too much, would
it?"
NO" vowed gratefully. T
don't think l can every repay Val
for tonight"
1 looked over to Val, hoping that
my eyes would convey some OF the
feeling her kindness had inspired
in me. But gone was my quiet,
competent, kindly nurse, and in her
place had reappeared Val the indo-
lent and exotic. who sat smiling at
us graphically from narrowed.
sphinx-like eyes. wondered IL the
trna o-fn ad hnr
when she ministered to me, was
only Pigment of my tortured i'm
agination.
after I phoned Lane / jumped
into a taxi and hustled up here.
Went straight to your apartment"
explained Jim with a nod to Val.
Pound Lane there with West, esq.
Settled his hash in ten minutes.
And then flew to my sick girl"
Business First.
Ny heart gave me a twings then
almost as bad as those my ankle
had been causing me. While I lay
there in pain, with Val and a
strange doctor working over me,
Jim had stopped to settle a busi-
ness matter. Business first, then
his wife. This was almost as bad
there was always another woman
to worry me. Only now ! had
more dangerous rival, because IL
concentrated Jim's attention. Busi-
ness, success, the confusion of his
enemies-these were the things that
counted with Jim.
After my months in fool para
disc, dreaming l was all In all to
Jim, this moment revealed to me
clearly that 1 never could be every
thing to him. I held my lips tight
together, fearful lest some word OF
my disappointment and hurt leak
out before Val.
II guess my big, brown bears
waiting for me-" said that young
woman, rising indolently and smil-
ing in her usual challenging man.
ner at Jim. "And as Anne has her
man to take care OF her, nursey
will run along"
Here's your b. b. b." sounded
Lanes voice from the doorway.
Come to call for his girl and to
see how Jimmie's girl Is getting on.
That drug-eating scoundrel has
crept off afraid OF his shadow,
Anne. Nothing more to worry you,
Jim and I took care OF him-plenty,
between US. 90 Test "P' 'NN'o ."
valid"
With parting interchange o
grateful appreciation from us, Lam
and Val left. Jim came back from
seeing them to the door and fel
upon the ice-pack in systematic
manner.
Tell me about Dick West"
pleaded.
But Jim was adamant
mot tonight, little lady" said he
offering me white tablet and I
glass of water.
After that the night was series
of dozings and wakings to pain, ant
djustments OF the ice-psck ant
doses OF the sedatives the doctor ha,
left. II wasn't until morning that
was considered able 70 nsten to thu