The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-10-05
When A Girl.
 Marriies
By Ann Iisle. Copyright 1918, by King Features Syndicate, Inc)
(Continued.) CHAPTER LXIII.


 Anne, dear, snatched the phone from Wee because I wanted to hear l from the bride, herself, how our Jimmie is getting on,'' said Betty in her clear vibrating voice. But even while I was assuring her | that Jim was almost as well as he i thought himself, my lips were tremb- ling with the hurt of Virginia's snub and the clever twist Betty had given to facts in order to save me from be- ing hurt.
 "You'n come to see Jim tomorrow, 1 won't you, Betty?" I asked hopefully "Pd like a chat with you, myself" Maybe I'll run in and take you out for a breath of air while Virginia Betty
 Then we said good-by, and I set my face into a. smile before I turned to face my boy. But there wasn't a smile in my heart-for in the very way Betty was standing between Vir- macy and understanding between them
 (Which shall we move, Jim-your throne or the table? ?'' I asked in a voice I hoped was light and casual
 Neal and I will give Jimmie a ride" laughed Phoebe. answering for him. Say, Anne, you're lucky that you didn't get to speak with Wee. My, wasn't she peeved because I didn't phone home the tidings that I was staying here for dinner! Vee acts as if I were an infant"
 Darling infant " rnurmured Neal as he managed to lay his left hand very close to Phoebe's right for their | joint task of swinging Jim's couch alongside the table.
 Phoebe hung her head for a mo- ment, but that didn't hide the swirl i of pink that~rode triumphantly from i the tip of her little pointed chin right up to the shadows of her long eye lashes. Then she flashed out with an ! idea she considered so daring. that it 1 left her almost breath1ess:
 Neal, let's do every smidgin of | the work We'll wait on Anne and !! Jimmie and play we're the butler and | ma1q af want Mnh' to 70 do Everything you want" declared Neal softly--so soft ly that again his words escaped Jim, who seemed wrapped in thoughts of his own. @ I entered into the spirit of their ! play, and dressed Phoebe up in my i tiny twist of lace and black velvet for a cap to crown the soft fuffineSS of her hair.
 Then I devoted myself to my boy, his delicious little steak and mealy, baked potato. He seemed sunk in gloom and when I nestled against him on the couch his response was per functory-ab
 Suddenly, when our maid and "butler' had gone to fetch in the sweets, Jim turned to me with an ex- pression of what was in his heart:
 "Oh little sweetheart-if only I really could give you servants to wait on you. It's wonderful to see you sit quiet and actually enjoy your dinner. And to think I'm down-and-out- haven't even job'
 Jim, darling-please, please For my sake don't think about a thing in the world but getting we'll. Next week we'll do the third Haldone arti- o1n nd hIJn n1 1-i lars to add to your fat bank bal
 "It is fat,'' unused Jim, thanks to my haul at the automobile race the other day. A few winnings like that and I wouldn't have to eat my heart out because I can't find work"
 And on that terrifying reminder of his betting and of his job in the sounded once more.
 I answered and turned with thump- ing heart to Jim!
 Its for Neal-Pn go call him."
 Unsteadily I made my way to the kitchenette, so intent on my own thoughts that until I was full upon them. l didn't perceive Neal and Phoebe. Then I stopped in fear, for the sweet trusting youth of little Phoebe as a flashing memory came back to me of the day when Neal and Evvy had come out of the kitch- hair flying and on his face the same look of smiling triumph it wore now. Neal was leaning back against the icechest, and close in his arms with her head tilted up and her lips softly parted for his kiss stood Phoebe. They didn't see me-and as part of the merciful deception I was to practice all that evening, I slipped behind the screening door and called:
 ''Neal-wanted at the phonen'
 Then-with masterly ease at the game of evasion-ease that made me tremble anew for Phoebe-Nea1 be- gan doing his part in the play Terry had outlined to us. As he approached the point where it was his cue to say that the job was too big for him, but that maybe with coaching on the ac- countant and bookkeeping end of it Jim would help out at least till9 they could get another man, I was hard put to it to keep my teeth from chat tering-Neal did it all so well-with such joy in his play-acting.
 His concluding words rang out 
 : Its like this, Captain Winston, I'm darn proud you thought of me, and I'd be a bit prouder yet if I were your friend. Now, can't speak for Jim, but I'll bank on him to help you out if there's any way he can see to it. Let me talk to him, and in half an hour I'll call you-with good news, I hope"
 Then he turned from the phone, but before he could say one syllable my Jim did precisely what Terry had on his loyalty to prompt.
 Say, lad, is there actually some thing I can do for Terry? Call him back at once and say I'm on."
 There was no question as to what was required no thought of pay; but at the mere suggestion that he might erous sick boy fell neatly into the tran Terrv'S affection and understand l