The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1920-09-27
CHAPTER TT.

l
] We drove home from Jim's dinner
in the state of utter quiet which is
likely to follow a day packed over
full with excitement.
/ Now and then Evvy's spirit f1ared
up. But Jim was so tired-or so
thoughts that he did not respond.
I felt sorry for Envy now. I had
Neal rose dutifu1ly to waltz with her
and then fell to dancing mechanical
~ leading her around in dull maze
that permitted him to look over her
was over Neal had flung himself down
at Phoebe's side. and there he had
remained until we started for home
in the same formation" we had used
Phoebe, Virginia and Sheldon paired
off in one car, and Envy the "odd
one in the group where L had felt
almost intruder earlier in, the day.
| So when Betty and Terry depos-
tied US at our door I found myself
able to kiss Envy an almost plying
goodnight. Suppose she had f1irted
with my husband? That did not
| matter, for though her attentions had
been forced on Jim, his had been
| given to me. s.
| I have been miserab1y jealous in
| the past-jealous of both Envy and
Betty. But now I realize that I have
a rival to face who is far more dan
gerous than any women: however
| beautiful and charming. And won
der can I dead with it?
! Our good-nights said, Jim and I
! hurled upstairs. And with thudding
| heart I was preparing myself for
| what / had to do.
ut sure has been a large day,
hasn't it, Princess Anne?" yawned
Jim, with no attempt at concealment,
| as he switched on the lights in our
living living room. Little Jimmie Tor ped
| N"Jim. wait a minute. II want
to ask you something"
| 1 was fencing for an opening and
| Jim gave it to me.
ASK me for anything you want,
Light of My Life-but not for five
| cents worth of filthy 1ucre.' Because
| I'm cleaned out and will stay broke
| tomorroW. morning. Jove! d! hope
| that 'Bookie' sends it along by the
| first mail
| Jim, did you risk every cent you
cried with my hand on my dry
throat, as if L could push down the
lump that was rising there.
| Jim came over, took the hand in
his and kissed it lightly.
| ct didn't risk every cent I had in
| the world, but every cent had in
my pocket he said lightly And
my pockets were all too small-too
small, Little Princess, or we would
be getting a thousand tomorrow. Still
| the two-eighty puts us on Easy
Street"
"Jim!" I cried in a frenzy Of des !.
| peration. Wont you understand?
I've got to know. Do you do this
often? Do you-care for it-for-
| betting, L mean?"
I couldn't say badly: Are you a
| gambler" But Jim said it for me.
| Sure I like to bet. I like putting
| up stakes. Say, Anne, what is flying?
| Doesn't every aviator who gets into
| his airplane and goes skimming over
4 oJD 4alr no ooGt oar, h @
of all-the gamble with life-and
| death?"
His head flung high; his eyes
ablaze, and spots of color glowing
| lurid on his cheeks+my husband
| seemed af1ame with the far spirit 1
never could touch, the spirit of fly
ing. That was sacred. 1t held me
silent, awe-struck for moment.
now he struck another note-ir-
ritably:
For PHYS sake, don't preach,
Anne. Leave that to Virginia. Sup
pose a fellow does like to take a
| chance now and then. Taking
chance discovered America, didn't it?
| All the big guys-the inventors and
| MISUNDERSTANDING didn't they? I
guess adventures in my blood And
| now that I can't fly any more, don't
begrudge me the one harmless little
outlet I can find"
His questions burst about me like
bullets. I couldn't fend them off. I
couldn't reply. When he said Don't
preach like Virginia. realized how
deep a hold gambling must have on
his nature. For it, he could criticize
the sister he adored. Because of it
he acknowledged that this same sis
ter who adored him, preached"
And there I had the whole sad story:
In a panic I ran to Jim and laid
my hands on his shoulders while I
lifted my eyes to his:
"Dear-couldn't you give it up for
my sake?- Gambling I mean. We
can't afford to risk so much. We
have to get established in the world.
Just that is exciting enough real
gamble. You've done without the
rye known you. Can't you put it out
Of your life for always?"
Jim caught my wrists in his hands,
and tore my clasp from his should
| ers. He flung me off-my husband
flung me- Off
I'm tired, I tell you-and I don't
want to listen to any sermons. What
are you complaining about? I won
you? I'm lucky at betting. It's the
only thing I am lucky at
But, Jim, it's such a terrible
"Habit.'", Jim laughed. Habit
You see that for yourself. If it
had, I couldn't put it off for months,
flyer now and then and clean up a
tidy little pile, @vhy should you
whimper?"
1t was brutal and cruel. The Jim
who spoke wasn't my Jim at all I
didn't know how to answer the tense,
| eagle-like, glittering-eyed man who
had taken his place.
In the second 1 stood hesitating,
the door opened and Neal came
| whirIing in. He wasn't tired at all
he looked happy and young and vital
Jim turned on Neal with a snarl
that held all the venom I had called
up.
1--WE got in half an hour ago." he
exclaimed. Where have you been,
1 young fellow?"
There was no anger, no resentment
! in my quick-tempered young broth
er's manner as he replied. Only
gentleness and sweetness. His voice
was hushed, full of young happiness:
II was with Phoebe" said Neal.
CHAPTER LII.