The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-09-29

and reflected upon the plumbers that
had brought Barbara Anne Harrison
te her present pass of unhapplness.
Item. Jealousy of Betty Bryce and
a series of rebuffs to Betty's offers OF
friendship.
Item: Longing for a woman friend
in Jfm's own world-and the accept
ance of Evelyn Mason's companion
| ship.
Item: The climax that had given
Betty every right to think she was
not wanted or needed here and was
welcome to pursue her intimacy with
, Virginia and to forget me.
At this stage of itemfzing with my
other pin from my hat, put away the
| outer trappings used for my afternoon
| with Envy and addressed myself
| stern1y;
"Anne, you've been taking. what
you insisted was something just as
good in place of real friendship. You
| were suspicious of Betty just because
| she was SO kind. Now I guess Betty's
about done with offering you her
! friendship; you've snubbed her for
| the last time. If you want her, you'll
have to go after her. Well, do you
want her? Do you want some one
] who will help you throw light on
Jim's betting at the races and shaking
| dice with Neal as if gambling were the
most gripping thing in life2 Or do
4 y
| dering whether that means he - has
| the gambling fever?"
I In answer to my own questions, 1
went to the phone and called Vir-
| ginia'S apartment. Phoebe answered.
They've gone out" she replied, al
most petulantly. when I asked for
Virginia or Betty. They're going to
have dinner together. They left me
here alone"
'Then you come straight over here,
dear. How can you be alone when
| you have us?" I asked with pity for
| another lonely creature.
"Oh, I'd love to, Anne-but I'm not
livery tidy. Have I time to go home
first. I've been working here all after
noon-ahd I don't look very nice"
| So gave Phoebe till 1880 to make
| herself pretty and sweet, and then
turned from the phone and her de-
] light to fac my own trouble.
What was I to do about Jim?
must solve my problem a1one-with-
| out aid from Betty. Evidently she
! and Virginia were growing very init
| tie Phoebe, surely Betty would have
no time for me.
Never before had the city seemed
| so big, so cold, so unfriend1y. I had
made failure of my attempt to find
4 my place. for although I had lived in
it four years. "the great metropolis
| didn't hold for me = even one true
| friend.
! stood at the phone while this
/ flashed through my mind. Suddenly I
| realized was turning over the leaves
| of the phone book.
| 'How-aim1ess,' T laughed to
myself.
| But there was choke in the laugh,
| and I dropped the book against the
| wall with terrified thud when 1
| found my eyes resting on the name,
Mason, Thomas J. didn't need some
one to talk to as much as that.
Then all in a flash the door opend,
/ Neal dashed in and caught me in his
l sturdy young arms.
/ I wasn't alone at ALL had Neal!
"Babbs. what do you think of your
| old fox. Neal?" he cried, 1.-TWO weeks
/ at his job, and doesn't he get a pro-
motion already! Forty per, that's
what he gets. Guess he could almost
support a wife, hey?"
There was a note of deep anxiety in
his voice. but didn't fully sense it al
the time.
Promotion already" I cried. cts
wonderful, Neal. darling! I'll have to
kiss you for that. Tell your Babbs
:! just how it happened
"Wel1, it's like this Nea1s voice
was unsteady. $50 many of the mer
are leaving, and they're afraid a good
accountant will be offered another
job. So they advanced me to forty
with a promise of fifty in six months ,
ooh, I see. So many of the men are
being drafted that they want to pay
their boys WELL" returned. easily, re
Numbering what a wizard Neal was
at figuring.
AT that Neal turned his head away
'@Babbs, could get married, homes
| now, couldn't II"
i I laughed.
you could indeed. But how sorry
/ you'd be in a week or so. You. seen
, to be taking your latest crush seri
ously. Who is she, laddie.''
This isn't crush. A fellow ism