The Washington times., 1920-01-22
When aGirL ,
MdrrieS
BY Ann Lisle.
Copyright. 1920. King Feature Syn
dieste, Inc.

i pleaded Tor -Phoebe and Neal.
Doesn't that matter at air Isn't
she 10 be consideredr'
But, Jim. even IL didn't care q
thousand times more for Meals lit
tie nnger than for the whole OF
Evelyn Mason. this 10 two against
one" begged, trying TO make him
look at it logically. Shall two per-
sons be miserable so one may be
happy7 Aren't Phoebe and Neal to-
gether more important
Leave Phoebe out OF this"
ordered Jim eurtly. II won't have
you belittiing my sister by saying
she'd care two straws about an
other girls nance"
But Phoebe's in It. She was en-
gagged to Neal nrst" i said stub
bornly.
Forget the boy-and-giri stun
that Virginia and l nipped In the
bud"
Jim dismissed 1t SO lightly that l
decided to make the plea on other
grounds. After all. II didn't matter
how I rescued Neal for Phoebe. IL
only ! did save him from the plight
into which his chivalry had gotten
him.
don't like Val = bit better be-
cause of her part in the affair. 1
feel sure that Envy and Val have q
game to play out, but i don't pro
pose that Neal and Phoebe and their
happiness shall be counters to move
about as two selfish women will.
Alone. / couldn't defeat them, but
with Jim to help me. I know Phoebe
and Neal have a nghting chance to
win happiness In spite OF ENVY
Mason and Dick West
So I stood puzzling the right
thing to say to Jim-the Open Sc
same to his symPfthy and under
standing.
"Jim," I said slowly and thought
fully-feeling my way and watch
ing his face for signs of response
as spoke, "Jim-Evvy's at least
six years older than Neal. isn't she?'
About that" agreed Jim. lighting
a cigarette and relaxing the danger
signal crease between his brows as
/ turned from emotional to mathe-
matical grounds.
That wouldn't matter II they
were thirty-two and thirty-eight
instead Of twenty-five and twenty
eight, would it,? I asked shifting
the burden Of proof to him.
Jim's eyes twinkled.
Clever child" he commented.
"You want me to cay that of course
Neal is only a boy and Envy a
woman grown. But she's young in
spirit and young looking and you
can't make me see that the differ
ence In their ages Is an obstacle"
tried again
But Jim, you're . man. mature
and developed far beyond Neal
~ Exyxr PAcidas
have reason to know that she's cold
ly ambitious and none too easy to
move. She didn't understand your
spirit in wanting to get into the
war and carry on the allies fight"
II was visionary then" began Jim
coldly. Then his eyes flashed with
some inner vision and his tone
warmed: "Still I'd go back and do
it over-knowing that was coming
out lame"-
"Jim," I murmured. my JIM"
For the moment Envy was forgot
ten. I had my hero again-the man
I'd married for better, for worse"
and l knew that even If / lost him
in the end, no other man could ever
count. knew, too, that no matter
how he hurt me, just to love Jim
was better far than to be loved by
any other man.
Jim studied me for a moment
with a question in his eyes. When
he spoke his voice was tired and
there was a strange note in it-as
il he, too, were searching for some
thing.
Jim Makes An Offer.
"Anne. can't you let me run this?'
he asked, stumblingly. why cant
YOU have a little more confidence in
me? I'm an old-fashioned man, and
l believe we'd both be happier if
you could resign yourself to letting
me be the head of the household.
/ like a woman who leans on her
man"
81 don't know what you're talk
ing about" 1 broke in angrily. I'm
not trying to run things. I'm ask
ing you to run them.
Jim smiled-and that smile, as I
remember now, had certain
boyish' wistfulness. But in mo-
ment it went. and the remote look
came into his eyes-they were
| piercing and hawklike. His voice
was curt and crisp when he spoke:
you're asking me to smash up
your brothers engagement to the
girl-who once Tilted me-"
only because you let her" ! re-
piled proudly.
Jim looked at me almost as IL he
didn't know me, and went on:
"Of course that looks caddfsh
to me, but probably you won't take
my opinion in the matter. You
don't often show much faith in my
Judgment. Don't you see I might
fail-and complicate things hor-
ribly? And don't you see that this
NAV be the making of Neal 1t won't
hurt a beginner like Neal to marry
an heiress. Why. he's practically
down and out"
"But he isn't any more" cried,
triumphantly. Hes earning good
money. He's in line for big things.
"He is? That's news. Why didn't
you tell me-" exclaimed Jim heart
lily.
| paused for a moment-frightcn-
cd. Then realized the time had
come and I'd have to tell Jim tho
truth.
He's with the Dslton-Sturgcs
Realty Corporation"
| Jim turned and stared at me. He
took q step toward me and then
seized n chair and swung it around
as II he were afraid to face mo
without n barrier between us.