The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-11-26
CHAPTER CXXII.

the pretty conspiracy that railroadeC me into Norrey's office--and made me the Laughing. stock of the placer" A scornfUl laugh rassped in Jim's throat as ne stared at me with a challenge in his eyes. Well, suppose you crack your brains over that for while. Won't hurt you to do a little wondering"
 But, Jim" I protested, !" ought to Know. Otherwise, II suspect ev- cry one-eVen myself. And if there's q leak in MT. Norrey's organization he ought to know.P
 Don't worry about Norreys. He got along pretty well before he had your devoted friendship" scoffe.l every one is concerned. do you think what you suffer will be a marker 70 what 1t means to me-to learn that l can't trust my own wife %
 That isn't fair I protested 'I was trying to do what was best for you--and I did it because I loved you. You act now almost as if you hated me-
 In a second Jim crossed the room ana seized me in his arms Roughly he pressed his lips to my mouth and throat before he spoke:
 love you-you little witch-and you know it! But l won't have you trying to run my life. Pm master 7 here--and you know that, too. But you've got me hipped. I'm mad about you-so l forgive you, but if ever
 
 good'--there'll be the deuce to Dav, I'll put you out of my life, Anne, as IT you were the chalk marks a kid Z wipes off his slate. I will-that's flat"
 And then I was frightened. I found IL on the tip of my tongue to cry out. Jim dead-the whole Norreys con ss5Plracy' as you call it, was Terry's loea- T. didn't like it, I protested against it and l was dragged into it against my will"
 But something decent in me pro- tested that Jim adored Terry-that t Ierry needed Jim'S friendship now as never before-and that right this minute 1 couldn't trust Jim to stay sane and kind in his feelings for his oid i pal pal If once he knew how that pal had insisted on deceiving him.
 so Tn the face of Jim's declaration kept silent l hope I won't have to pay too dearly for that some
 Jim, dearest" I said. quietly tell me, did you leave Mr. Norreys without a word of warning just be- cause you thought he'd taken you in out of kindness instead of necessity '' Jim held me off at arms length and shook me.
 Well, you do think I'm q fine rot ter, he said ''No-I heard the chap I'd released for the war was back again and looking for job. So l hshed him up and put him in touch with Norreys this morning lHeI l walked out. had big- ger fish to fry than any that swin, around the Norreys pond"
 What kind, dear " I asked. ..Tba fish must be-whales,
 Jim put his reply into concrete terms. This wasn't one of the things with which he proposed to mystify me.
 Anne. today I stand to lose s5.. 900 I borrowed from a friend.' inc began teasingly, then went on in T ringing voice of assurance. "But I'm not going to lose. Things ar. breaking right Instead I'm going @ t0 w1n~about ten times that sum. You'll have pretty clothes and a serv- ant and a car maybe"-
 And leave this apartmenty' cried. catching fire from Jims en- once out of Tom Mason's apartment \ Jim laughed--a queer, twisted laugh.
 Got you going. eh? Well. don't few trimmings of life before we sci out looking for grand home. Bu; it's good omen that without know ins thing about the game I'm ir you feel it, too-feeI that I'm goine .o win!' eoii's
 And then at once I sobered down . again and all my old fear and drea i Ss1au, Saught I. up y with me Jim a gam other mans money on some wild chance-some throw of Fortunes cards.
 Jinr-so that was why you didn' even nave twenty dollars to give m for my canteen uniforms" I sai slowly. You had everything tie up-tn some venture. Oh. lad wha is it? Tell Anne I'll stand by. nc matter what happens, but I'm frigb | ened. I don't want you to-gam. ble."
 brought out the words almost ir whisper--so afraid was I of giving