The Washington times., 1920-02-07
By Cynthia
.Stockley.
When a Girl
Marries

BY Ann Lisle.
whose Serial Rsnnias on rkis
Page Has scored . mis-.
Popular sueeess.

SsJ HATE TO break bread with
him. but he Insisted that he
q had a heavy date tonight
and the dinner hour was his only
free time.aso 1 hadn't any way out"
explained Jim. turning from the
telephone after a curt interchange
OF words with Dick West.
He-foided the check which / had
given Phoebe and she had en-
dorsed over to West, slipped II into
his wallet. took me In his arms
for a moment and limped out
What he wss going to do with
West couldn't imagine. yet I
found myself waiting for Phoebe
eagerly, certain that l had good
news for her. 1 forgot that 1 had
other things for her-that 1 must
tell her OF Meals engagement.
pick West is back" said Phoebe
simply.
"Dick west?" 1 said. smiling at
her as / lifted of her hat and
nuffed up her bright hair. II know
he's returned. But he doesn't
count Jim has gone to dispose OF
him" ..
A Hard Question.
"Jim?" repeated Phoebe in .
numb voice. What can Jim dor
Dick West made me meet him for
tea. He started of telling me that
two could live SO much cheaper
than one-so he thought we ought
to get married. / kept saying 1
never would. But he wouldn't
listen. After a while he said the
hn ~
and that he was hard up. I knew
that meant he wanted to have his
money"
"Jim will give It, to him to-
night" l said positively. Come
g. now. dash a little cold water on
your eyes. I've a smart new wait
ress and she mustn't see that I'm
so boresome to my guests that they
cry at having to be alone with
me.
Phoebe dragged out little fugi-
tive, half-hearted smile and she
managed to keep IL about all
through the dinner which Bertha
served without allowing Us moro
than a minutes privacy at a time.
But even the old-fashioned straw
berry shortcake couldn't tempt
Phoebe to do more than pick at her
food. I lost my own appetite won
dering how the poor child would
stand this blow of learning that
Envy had stolen Neal from her.
The minute dinner was over led
Phoebe to the living room, pumped
her down on the couch with a box
of chocolates at her side and start
ed my campaign.
Now we can talk. First, let's
IL. i'll L
for all time"
smiling wistfully.
''Well. we can," I persisted. but
Phoebe Interrupted in a tone OF
worldly wisdom that didn't become
her at all:
Paying of Dick West doesn't
matter. Anne. That doesn't wipe
out the fact that let him pay for
my stocks and once owed him
$1,000. If people want to talk they
can, just the same"
"Who says so?" demanded, furi-
Gus that Phoebe should have just
the, ugly point of view I had been
determined to spare her.
No Way Out.
'Mr. West" returned Phoebe,
simply. "He says he'd never have
let me get into such a position IL
he'd known that I wasn't going to
marry him. He says he thought
we were engaged and that he can't
understand my jilting him just Sc
cause he hasn't made money in his
Investments? 1t sounds as If
were an awful persona regular
vampire, Anne"
Looking at Phoebe's wistful, lit
tle-girl sweetness, IL was all could
do not to chuckle at her calling
herself a vampire" But I man
aged to reply without a flicker of .
smile: .
Honey. he's all wrong. Twist
ing the truth to suit himself. He
is the one who. is awful. His
transactions ought to be down on
the books of the firm and they
aren't. l think he's put himself
almost outside the law. and when
Jim gets through with him Mr..
West won't want to rouse the
wrath of the Harrisons again. The
business end OF il made Jim even
angrier than what happened to you
so you see you needn't worry.
II your reputation were going 20
have the tiniest blot on II, don't
you think your brother would be
worried about that?'
And - wasn't he?" qusvcred
Phoebe.
He was not returned en-
phatically. But he was furious
that his partner hadn't been on the
level with him"
Then / can be. happy again."
cried Phoebe, lifting shining eyes
and running to fling her arms
about me.
From my room the telephone bon
sounded. I didn't stir. Bertha
would answer. Phoebe clung to
me and murmured her Happiness
and relief.
"Oh, Anne-it I needn't marry
Dick West that leaves mo free to
to" whispered Phoebe shly.
leaving her thought for me to nm
ish.
From the doorway Bertha's re-
spectCul. low tones summoned me:
MRS. Harrison, you're wanted at
the phone. The lady said II was
your new sister-ln-law. Evelyn
Mason, she said"