The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-09-24
(Continued.) CHAPTER XLVII.

raceS!" cried Jim, enthuS1aSt1ca and then he went on without pause, Now be sure you have it all clear, Anne. You're to pick me up at the west gate of the factory, half mile down the side road--the first to the right after you cross the bridge. You'll make it by two. I should say. that is, if Terry calls for you at one. He had been talking like that from his first moment of waking-talklng in rapid staccato jerks as if he feared what I would say if he gave me an opening. And his eyes avoided the corner of the table where still lay huddled the coins and bills he mad won from Neal in last nights game. Before he went he marched over with an air of sheepiSh amusement and touched the pile of money with an accusing forefinger.
 T told you to make the Kid take that money. Why didn't you?" he, demanded.
 He wouldn't" T tried to reply as Lightly. Said he lost it fairly enough and today is pay day"
 You make him take it," ordered Jim gruffy-and kissing me with an air of hardly knowing that my lips were raised to meet his, he was gone Neal, however, wouldn't take the money.
 Jim won 1t fairly enough, didn't he? Whats he want to make all this fuss about? Tell you what, Anne you buy a. couple of pounds of the best candy and bring the boxes along to the girls today. Be sure and get some caramels-I'H bet Phoebe loves 'em."
 "A1I right-but it won't take all this money. What a. dear, generous lad you are, Neal"
 NeaPs face crimsoned and he crossed over and took my hands in his.
 "Get yourself a veil or some shoe laces with the fifty or ninety cents that's left" he almost stanmered. Then more seriously, "Anne-Babbsie dear-if you think I'm generous you'll remember that to my credit some day in case you don't just approve of everything I've donei"
 What do you mean, dear?'' cried in grave concern.
 "Oh, nothing special. I was just gabbing.'
 But after he had gone and I hur- ried through my work, I couldn't take my mind from the puzz1ing con- duct of my husband-and my brother. It didn't do to attempt to dismiss it all with a laughing linen are queer-" For that, I realized, did not cover the case. of Jim and the game of dice he had so elaborately refused to discuss nor yet of NeaPs plea for mercy "some day when he needed it.''
 was still in the midst of work and conjecture when the phone rang, and Evvy's hushed, throaty little voice eame to me with a gurgle of de- light:
 My dear, I've had the most gor- geous inspiration. Sheldon and have a date for the Hardegriff Motor Cup Races today, and it just struck me that if both he and I took our cars, the whole Harrison family could come--if only you'll arrange it for me at this late date"
 Pm afraid that's impossible,'' I began, remembering Virginia's inn piled attitude toward the tribe of Ma son.
 But Evvy wouldn't be refused. She urged and pleaded and insisted and finally in a. sort of whirl of discom- fort, found myself arranging that she and Sheldon should join forces with us.
 So Sheldon's battleship-gray "tor- pedo" drew up to our door at about the same time Terry's maroon tour ing car brought Betty and Jim's sis terS to call Espr Neal and I>-. Shel- don's joy atW eeing Virginia masked her well-bred but icy nod to Evvy but things congealed again wher SheldoD begged Virginia to come ir clined.
 Of course he felt terribly snubbed since he couldn't know that it wa: Evvy she was avoiding and not him To cover his discomfiture he asked Terry to spare him a passenger ol itwo-'young Neal now and Mis- Phoebe, for instance"
 Phoebe and Neal were overjoyed
 
 Evvy's narrowed eyes, but the sparI didn't last long, for now Virgini; turned to Terry and from him to Shel don.
 "Oh, dear Captain Winston, sine you aren't the stickler for formality I've learned to believe all you dea English to be, will you help me mak amends to MT. Blake for my curt re fusal of his invitation-and releas me. along with those children, t chaperone the big gray car?'
 This meant Virginia was going t keep Neal and Phoebe under he on a cold world. Smoothly, thoug with high color that meant annoy ance. she turned to Virginia. If you've quite decided, Mrs. Dal ton-perhapS I'm safe to plan to b with my dear Anne"
 If hadn't been so sorry for Evv | might have been annoyed at he appropriating me as her dear Anne annoying appropriation followed whe we picked Jim up. Evvy turned t him with a wistful sweetness I'm sur no man could have resisted.
 Jimmie boy, I'm the odd one this party. You won't make me fe that an old friend like me is hope iessly-in the way, will you?'
 Her tone suggested that every or - else had made her feel like an il truder-and I knew that it must al peal to everything chivalrous in n boys nature
 You're just an aided joy, Esvvy returned the Eternal Masculine
 IH another moment Evvy was ne tied up to Jim, and exclaimed, with little air of confding:
 Jimmie, boy, do you renemb. what wonderful lunches I used have? That time at the Vanderbi Cup six years ago-and the next Fs at Sheepshead Bay?" 'l
 On and on went her flow of "t you remembers?' and have you ev forgottens?" Betty never exclud, me from her "reminiscences of u days in France-w7hich wonderful they were, after all could be no mo strange and alien to me than tt discussion of motor races, none
 which had seen. But unlike Bett Evvy appropriated my husband al shut me out l sat desolately hol ing Meals box of candy-not wiIli 10. intrude by offering it to anyor ,,na driXer,s seat where Rettv a.