The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-08-28

| unhappiness and nervousness was
| always winging its way across his
face. Fearless Jim seldom smiled
now-these days he wasn't fearless,
| could see that. So 1 did not an
noy him with questions.
Forty-fives dollars a month didn't
impress the first real estate agent
very favora bly,.
| 1 went weary round of offices
and finally. at the fourth; procured
! a list of apartments ranging in
rental from forty dollars a month
to sixty-fve dollars Why took
the beyond the-dreams of-avarice-
sixty-five dollar list 1 never knew!
| Then I travelled from one end of
| the town to the other. saw.
! walk-ups," with dark n halls and
great, large, dreary rooms fifty
| three dollars and fifty cents. There
! were apartments with no eIectrici-
ty, apartments with ancient plumb
ing, apartments from which 1 could
| hear the roar of the .el' apart
ments 50 far from the street-car and
subway that I dare not contem-
plate walking to and fro on a slip
perry wintry day-That is, 1 didn't
| dare contemplate the walk for my
| Jim with his shattered ankle bone.
| Two days of weary search. Two
| days of mysterious business that
tooii oil IIly HuSDdnu s Time. (luleL
evenings. which each of US was evil
IDENTIFY trying to hide some pain or
disappointment from the other.
Then 1 decided to go down to- the
Washington Square neighborhood
and hunt about for myself - I
had heard of a wonderful place where
apartments went for as little as six
dollars a month. But I found that
the Place and the Alley were alleys
indeed that he tai r.,
far higher than tradition had said.
and that both had long waiting
lists.
4 Disconsolate wandered over to
the Avenue wanted to get out of
the atmosphere of smoked girls
with short, bobbed hair and anaemic
men with long, bobbed hair And
cry from car that was drawing
near the curb:
why, it's Jim's wife! Mrs. Har-
rison! Anne-Anne"
1t was Evelyn Mason. She was
driving smart little "chummy
roadster" enamelled blue. She, her
self, was all in soft gray, with beads
and sport hat of blue. She looked
like a pert, mischievous child At
her side sat Sally Royce-more like
! a copper brown-Pekinese than ever
in her copper colored silk jersey and
! Haunting hat of gold and copper
4 straw.
They dragged me to lunch with
| them. They ordered lavishly and
quite without asking me what I
preferred They questioned me
| about where we were staying and
what I was doing down near the
| Arch. When I told them that Jim
4 and I were at the Walgrave they
exchanged glances that were almost
audible.
When I told them that was
| "house hunting" Evelyn was fairly
| inspired.
'Tn take you straight to Cousin
Tom. He's the biggest real estate
agent in these parts. Sally. you
| charter a taxi for the rest of your
trip while I superintend Anne's
search for a home"
Sally smiled lazily. Then her eyes
narrowed ITS nice of you, Envy
It's like you too-ditching me with
out by your leave, while you go
out to find Jim home"
Evelyn didn't answer. She only
looked like "a wistful child whose
toys were all being taken from her
by a big bully.
Sally paid the check. I offered to
stand my share-offered with throb-
1 bling heart-but Sally waved the
Evelyn's cousin Tom had an office
that looked like an interior decora-
tors studio. He proved to be a cal
! culating man with lips a bit too full
and eyes a bit too narrow. He was
big and indolent in the movements
/. of his body, but his face had a
, rapier like quality. And when he
;. looked cat me 1 felt that he knew
, what color my petticoat was and
how much money there was in my
bag.
Evelyn stated the case.
Mr.. Mason studied me narrowly,
5 and asked:
: What are you planning to pay?"
1 felt myself blushing. How could
5 I expose -Jin's pride to these peo-
l pie?
You know what the Government
allows first lieutenant?"' 1 said
striving for a light tone.
"Yes-I know. And 1 know. too,
that Jim has the tastes of a Cen
eral He should have married a
rich girl Tom Mason shifted his
glance to his cousins face as he
; spoke.
But Evelyn sat with downcast
eyes. Finally she spoke in that
husky little voice of hers. She put
her words slowly as if feeling her
way-being delicate.
Couldn't you give Anne very
special rates? big studio with a
wee bath and kitchenette-and per-
haps a bedroom - furnished of
course, for she wouldn't want to tie
up any money in furniture under
the circumstances. If having Mrs.
Harrison for a neighbor isn't an
inducement to = lower the rent
didn't know you, Tommie. You can
make the evenings pleasant for
her when she's alone.
Mr.. Mason smiled. His eyes mar
rowed to mere Sits.
| Evelyn biting her full, red
underlip anxiously. she looked re-
81 lieved when the man spoke:
? I've nice old thing-the sort of
: things = Jim must have. Luxurious
;, Things with-cIass Mrs Harrison.
All To a ial in.