The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-09-23

l lator worked and the cream poured | out thick and rich The janitor's wife came up to do the dishes for me-and after Phoebe and Neal and I had cleared the re- factory table and had returned to play lady" as Neal put it, some one suggested that we have go at po- ker. That 'some one'' was Jim.
 He insisted on teaching me the game. I detest all card games except ] bridge, and was on the verge of in- | I caught a sudden glimpse Of Neal and Phoebe-happily ensconced on 1 the big couch, quite absorbed in each other. So played poker. Or tried to. l The game ended abruptly hour l 1ater-for suddenly Virginia discov- cred that happy little group of two. and decided that she wanted a chatty l bedroom for her bag, settled her score and then stro1led over to the couch and sat down in the middlR
 Of it with complete air of 1nten6 ing to remain there.
 From the moment of her fir
 move to end the poker game Jim surprised me.
 | Virginia, don't be a spoi1-sport," i"
 he protested irritably. 1 This to his beloved Virginia-and he followed it by Stubbornly insist | ing that Betty and Terry continue
 away with a smile and said she also l felt "chatty."
 "An right, then, let the girls gos-
 sip-bnt shoot a few dice with me.
 Terry" Jim urged.
 glance then the rnglishman
 said he'd rather talk and get ac. l Quainted.
 'How about you. Neal?" asked
 as he produced a little black cylinde | from his cardbox.
 "1'm with you" said Neal. Routed from Phoebe's side, he gladly seized I the chance of getting into Jim's | good graces.
 "Tn match you for the first | throw"
 covered it with his hand and watch l ed Neal intently Neal brought a coin from his pocket shook it be- 1 tween clasped palms and lifted his while Jims coin lay with the date up.
 Good boy, Neal You win," Ji1n's voice was hard, yet feverish. Neal shook the dice box. Out came a pair of threes. Jim was breathing heavily as he crouched over the table with his eyes | a-glitter.
 out on the table-and now a six roll- | ed into sight followed by a four I | felt Jim stiffen-and relax. The -1ast 1 toss was five and a four. Jim raked l ] him and suggested doubling the stakes
 A moment later he was laughing ! nervously as a one and then a six l rolled out at his first light flirt of l the dice box.
 Better luck next time, kid," he 1 exclaimed, but his hands trembled
 as he handed the box back to Neal. l Again Neal lost. Jim c1utched the ] coins eagerly and 1aughed-a dry,
 reckless laugh. As he sat there, with
 his hair tossed into a tumbled mass 1 and his eyes fairly burning on Neal | and the dice and the tumble pile of bills and coins in front of him, be- | came aware of the strange silence
 in the room. The only thing that
 broke it was Jim's stacctao laughter ! and the rattle of the dice. Suddenly Virginia rose: | Jimmie, dear, will you take me 1 the apartment tomorrow-and I want to ask you about some of it. We'll walk and get a bit of air. Mrs. Bryce
 and the Captain will drive Phoebe 1 over, I'm sure"
 1 No one protested at her strange ar engagements.
 Jim looked up-a1most sdazed. Then he got to his feet and though 1 moment, until the wonted sweet smile struggled back to his face as he assured Virginia that he'd really like advising her.
 l le 1OOkeu uOWn at tie p1le or money almost as if weighing it, then he reached out a hand, his fingers
 closed to g. fist, but instead of open ing it to seize the money he pushed it toward Neal.
 I 'Take it, NealEit's yours," he i muttered
 And though there were gracious l good-byes after that, and reminders of the Motor Cup races for which Captain Perry had invited us next day, my evening seemed to end with he had won from him back to Neal. My good-nights were automatic. | Still automatically I crossed the
 window and strained my eyes into | the darkness for a glimpse of Jim l 1irnping along at Virginia,s side. What was she saying to him-this I sister he loved? Did the dice game
 that had terrified me mean anything to her Would a worry shared bring
 us close or make her shut me out behind, walls of reserve?
 And while stood pondering and
 wondering, felt a strong young arm fling itself across my shoulders. Neal my brother Neal.
 l Virginia had shut him off from | Phoebe, yet he said nothing of his own hurt, and merely stood with his arm about me offering his silent sympathy. How good it was to feel
 that whatever came, I had Neal. But as I turned to smile at my brother the pile of coins winked up
 at me ma1iciously from the corner
 of the table where Jim had played l his game.
 | (To be Continued).