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

Jim might have ordered a suit of
clothes a week ago! Then I realized
that until his resignation was accepted
he could hardly believe that he was
no longer Lieutenant Harrison of the
American Aviation.
"rd-rather go alone, dear. If you
would help me-Id like to do some
thing worth while first-that article
for Haldane's,'' he said, bit instead
lily.
After he had dictated the first draft
of "Jobs-Not Bouquets Jim fairly
dashed out of the house. I knew that
he needed to get away from the pity
in my eyes.
While was at my typewriter Jim's
laundry came, then the iceman's bill
arrived, and the fruit man and
weekly list of telephone calls appear
ed in search of pay at about the same
time. After our bills were settled
there remained irt my purse five cents
and fifteen dollars of the thirty Jim
had given me! Mr.. Haldane was all
enthusiasm about the story-I spent
a happy hour at the office. Then,
rather than break a five dollar bill for
carfare, I walked home. even though
the afternoon was Sultry.
Just as 2 arrived at our door a taxi
drew UP and Jim got out! taxi!
stood in stunned silence while he paid
| the man, and stunned I remained as
! he whlrled me up to our apartme
| propelled me into it and then envel-
oped me in boyish bear-hug.
Jim was exuberantly happy. He
| had come across a want adv. that
| seemed to point right to him-Sned-
| den & Company advertised for man
| with good connections and able to
| II eri1 lyS
ct knew I was the man. You see,
Anne, can't call on my personal
| friends begging for a john not
| going about whining scr favors. But
| I can go to my friends when I have a
| chance to do them a favor. The fell
lows I have played round with are
| just the customers for the Snedden
stocks. Well, I got the job-there-
fore the taxi. Now we go to Vanclair
| roof in another taxi!'
|. I didn't protest. Our luck seemed
| to have turned, and I was warm, and
| tired and ready to have a little more
| GOODNESS and rest than our kitchenette
| offered.
| Out came the lavender orgftndy and
| my leghorn hat with the band OF
| amethyst velvet and nodding pink
| roses. I must look my very sweetest
-Jim's lilac girl''-to celebrate his
success.
| We were late in arriving at the
/ Vanclair roof and might have been
4 turned away without a table; but a
| friendly voice hailed us over the
struggling, Indifferent captain, and in
another moment Dicky Royce was
leading US to a table where sat Sally
and the dreadful. old painted shrew
of the walgrave-Mrs. Warden, who
turned out to be Sally's mother. Fol
a minute or two I forgot to be annoy
ed at her preseno,. But Mrs. Varder
managed to alter that directly by din
of few of her barbed words:
"We11, Jimmie, so you and the little
:. wife actually do travel together nov
and then! Generally when I see hel
!, you're neglecting her, and Tom Masor
is busy proving his friendship - fol
you"
She waved a playful finger at Jim
but looking t his strained face I won
dered if my boy was not about to say
something merciless and cruel to the
, old vixen She was saved. for jus
, then a waltz struck up, and Dick1
swept her out to the dance floor.
strange man appeared somewhere ant
claimed Sally, and the next momen
the waiter came to take our order; sc
| before my hour of reckoning pounceo
upon me I had tho little time to gair
some vestige of self-control.
Jim's Eoice was portentously quiet
when a t last has turned to me: tAnne
dear, it's most unfortunate that you've
put yourself into position where tina
Warden woman can-lns1nuate 'thlnss
about you"
But, Jimmie, boy, Tom Masor
proved only last night how real his
| friendship is" I cried. you aren'
going to forget it again, are you, be
cause that dreadful old creature claws
at me like the cat she is"
mo, dear But I don't want he1
to-have anything to dig her claws
into You'll be careful. won't You
Anne?" Jim's voice had a stern dig
nifty that frightened me. yet made me
love him more than ever.
Careful? I meant to be careful
all the whi1e-that is. I didn't NEAR
to do anything that wasn't entirely
loyal. Now I want to tell you abou
the blue and green-
And at that moment the dancer:
came back.
s'why so unhappy. Mrs. Harrison
Bored by friend husband already?'
sneered Mrs. Warden.
Jim stole a quick glance at my face
and answered in my steak.
Anne actually is unhappy, MIS-
Warden. I've resigned from the army
and she's sharing my disappoint
ment because Tn not physically fit tt
serve
There were calculations, questions
as to what he was going to do, sugges
tions-and finally out of the hurry
burly Of noise came Jim's triumphan
announcement that he had alread,
secured employment - that he wa
going to work for Snedden & Com
pany.
: "Oh-the Snedden bunch?" sait
Dicky.
His voice arrested my attention
Was he merely indifferent - thu
shadowy imitation of a friend - o.
was there really some reason VIII.
Jim's connection with that firm didn'
appeal to him. .
CHAPTER XVI.
tAnne will Won give me a lift? I'V,