The Washington times., 1920-03-13

w vaeor after saying our fare
wells to Anthony Norreys,
Valerie turned on me with an I'M
welcome announcent:
"I'm coming In to wait for Jim
and Lane. IL you don't mind"
"of course" acquiesced. avoid
ing a statement as to whether or
not / minded.
Once in our apartment Valerie
promptly began what I felt was
her plan of campaign:
THANK you so much for-rescu-
ing me. That Mason man is-er
very difficult. Didn't you find him
so?"
And ! guessed that the crux of
whatever situation Val was work.
ing toward lay in her emphasis on
Didn't you nnd him so'"
TON is one OF Jim's oldest
friends" hedged.
And so. of course. blind to the
fact that Jim's wife is . woman
and Therefore to be loved" said
Val, curling up on the couch and
hitting a pillow back Of her head
as she brought out her words with
lazy ana expressive pduScS-
The Anne Of few weeks ago
would have protested then:
but. Val. / am loved--loved by
my husband. And Tom Mason
knows 1t. And ne isn't interested
in me in that way. Do you think I'd
permit such a thingT'
The Anne Of today knows how
stupid protests are when directed
at an indirect person like Val. Va
lerie Cosby had a purpose in COM
ing to my table and joining Car
Iotta and Tony and me. She fur
thered that purpose by coming into
my apartment. And in her own
good time, unless sidetracked her
by saying too much, she would
carry out her design. So proceed
ed warily. I wanted to understand
the tumble OF motives that had
swept Val into a friendship with
Tom and had led her first to try to
hide II from me and now to offer
condolences about It.
Val Merely Laughs.
So instead of protesting that Tom
Mason's interest in me was entirely
platonic. I said:
Don't you think Tom is capable
of an impersonal attitude toward
a woman
VAN laughed. crinkling her long
eyes at the corners.
Need I answer that question:"
she said.
Not IL you prefer to ignore it,
l smiled.
Reaching over to Jims inlaid
cigarette box on the table by the
al a o. NJ
selecting and lighting just the right
cigarette. Then she took a deep
breath and presently exhaling
cloud OF gray smoke, she said in
dolently:
you're frightfully in love with
Jim. aren't your
"Yes-and don't care who
knows it," I replied recklessly.
That's just as well. since the
whole world can see it," said Val
dryly. do you think it's really
clever of you. Anne? Jim's so sure
OF you he doesn't have to fight to
hold you. Or is that aloof
but attractive Norreys man your
method of-keeping Jim guessingT'
Now had to give direct answer
for 1 didn't propose to have Val
stumbling around the garden Of my
heart, treating the most precious
flowers as II they were weeds.
IT don't keep Jim guessing, as
you put II. Valerie. I'm willing he
should know and the whole world
see that he has my heart-all of II.
AS for Mr.. Norreys, he is a remark
able man and I'm proud that he
happens to like me-"
"Oh-dear me-Lady touch-me-
mott" cried Val. sitting up on the
couch tailor-fashion and gazing at
me narrowly through smoke clouds.
II didn't know Mr.. Norreys was too
sacred to mention. Well, / won't
again--not before Jimmie or Lane
or anyone. How's that?
There's no reason why you
shouldn't mention him. He Is n
dear friend Of our great friends the
winstons, and Jim was once in his
employ" ] said carefully.
was angry at myself for re-
senting Walls attitude. Since there
was no mystery for her to discover,
why should feel that she was i'm
agining one or insinuating one7 In
my heart / knew that IL Valerie
were to tell Jim OF meeting Tony
her emphasis. her innuendos would
make It forever impossible for me
to have my husbands love as com
pletely as I possessed II now unless
I foreswore the friendship / couldn't
In decency and fair-play cast aside.
while II I could talk to the dear.
reasonable Jim I had conjured into
being, he would see things clearly.
ssneiy. I must stop Val from men
tioning Tony-but I must not be
driven to asking her to keep silence
and share this knowledge with me
as " II were a secret. I couldn't
permit Valerie Cosby to think she
had something On me-
A Friendly sIsp.
How vas I TO actI