The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-10-26
(Continued) CHAPTER XCVIII

"Annel Come here this instant What does this mean? Come here called Jim's voice insistentIy.
 I was in the big closet off the living worn to Virginia's dinner-but at the i urgent note in Jim's voice, I flung z : kimono across my shoulders and hur- ried into the bedroom.
 Jim was standing over at the big chifferobe where his clothes were kept. His back was toward me, anG he seemed to be hunched down 1T ! earnest study of something. Now he swung around and faced me.
 In his hand was a bit of greer paper He held it out to me accus ingly. It was the ten dollars he'o flung at me that morning-the ter dollars I had put into the box where his studs and links were kept.
 What does this mean" he de manded. "Is this them oney I gave you for a marcel and a little pretty ing?"
 "Yes," I replied duly - stupidly wondering even as I spoke how was going to make him understand the rejection of his gift.
 Since when do you refuse to take money from your husband?" he cried Since when do you fling back my money at me?''
 "Oh-Jim-I didn't,'' he mimicked. What do you call this, I'd like to know?"
 q put it there-I couldn't take it. Now, wait minute. Jim I'm tired. A lot has happened tonight. I've been worrying about Phoebe - and Neal, and thinking about Pat Dalton, and whether I'd done the pest thing by seeing him. I can't get back all in a minute to-us."
 Indeed! Well, I'll just trouble you to keep your hands off my sisters af- fairs, until you prove yourself capa- ble of handling your own. A fine muddle you're in now.
 Getting Norreys to squander his money on your old canteen - and getting me in wrong with Tom Ma son."
 Jim's voice got more and more ag- grieved as he went on cataloging my misdemeanors and shortcomings. And again I felt the iciness of anger turn ing me into a hard mold of indiffer- ence. It was easy for me to speak now-I didn't care how my words hurt Jim-I had no desire to smooth things over and take the sting out of them
 said quietly. q couldn't take that money because I felt you'd given it to me to buy my approval of your treatment of Tom Mason. I simply will not subscribe to that. So l put your-bibe-among your things"
 And then hustled my studs and links into my shirt so I'd not find 1t and raise Cain before Virginia's din- ner," Jim broke in.
 "I suppose that was my underly- ing motive,'' I agreed wearily.
 You know mighty well it was! won't stand for your funny business, Anne. You raise a row over blue robe that Tom Mason leaves here you fling my money back into my face. And then you let Anthony Norreys stake you to hundred a week.
 "Jim-how dare you. Stop-stop it this secondH' I cried. cut to the quick by this twisting of facts. You shan't put your own ugly interpreta- tions on beautiful charity Mir Nor reys is giving his money to the can teen to buy food for SoldierS-who can't make their pay reach''--
 "Oh, is he?" Jim's voice nicked out the words with ugly scorn. Old Nor reys is a down-and-outer who can't get at women in any way except through their sympathy and I won't have him buying his way into my wife's good graces by posing as a mo- ble philanthropist. Now you remem- Der that'
 'Perhaps you think I'm going to deprive the canteen of this fine en- -dowment just to suit you?" I ques- toned with curt sarcasm.
 "I know mighty we'll you are. And now take your ten dollars and cut out the high-faluting nonsense. l may be working for Norreys, but that doesn't give him the right to ruin my wifes life-and mine. I'll have him understand he can Just cut out the interference"
 "The interference?" I said slowly my mind working along a step at a time. "The interference-you mean sending Miss West too Boston! Jim was it-your secretary, Doris West, you took to dinner the night I worked at the canteen%'
 And suppose it was?" Jim shot his words at me Are you going to start with yourrfoul jealousy again. Every time I look at a pretty woman are you going to moon all over the place like sick cat? First it was Betty then Evvy-now, poor 0ittle Doris West. Do I make a fuss every time you speak to another man?"
 I laughted. It was a hurt, sick, laugh.
 "No, you don't. You don't seem to value me highly enough to be jealous when you ought to even-jealous of my dignity and my good name. Why, Jim, you don't know what it did to me when you failed to protect me from Tom Mason"
 Jim yawned in my face.
 For the love of mercy, Anne cut out that everlasting whimper about Tom. Here I'll make a bar gain with you. You leave me alone about that and I'll say no more about your halrDrdlned canteenlnS ana your taking help from Norreys Is it bargain?"
 "A bargain ?" I asked slowly.
 "Yes-you let me go my way-and I'll let you go yours. We'll cut out a. bit of the lovey-dovey stuff and act like good pals. Maybe things will work better that way. Are you game?'' q
 "I'm-game," I replied almost in a daze.
 'tAll right then-In pocket the ten. I've a. use for two of it, even if you haven't. Come-shake on it-pal."
 As I put my mind into. Jim's my heart sank Did our bargain mean that the romance-the poetry - the love was gone from our life together
 CHAPTER XCIX.
 On the morning after Virginias s dinner I woke to a world about as savorless as a cold rice pudding without raisins in it or cream to go with it.