The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-12-07

ter?" queried a voice at my elbow. You're 2, fine, handsome lilly, m'dear, and I'd stake my pile they'd be run ming after you instead.'
 I'd turned with a start I recog- nized Dad Lees voice. For one mo ment I felt a quick reaction to cor diality. Then his words antagoniZed me. His praise was as distasteful as NeaPs had been gratifying. But more surprising than my feelings were the guarded words that seemed to leap Of their own accord to my lips:
 Did Father Andrew find you and send you to me?''
 Was he sleuthing around after me?" asked Dad Lee.
 "Oh, then he missed you!" I re- piled thoughtfu1ly. But he did go up to call for you.'
 "'Twasn't him ran away from you, was it m'dear?'' asked Dad Lee with a twist of the lips I took to indicate facetiousness.
 You don't see anyone else around who seems to be trying to avoid me?' inquired with no abatement of eau tion.
 Well, you certainly wouldn't ex- pect to be seeing anyone who was you now, daughter" he chuckled with an air of triumph just tinged with malice.
 NO, you wouldn't expect-'' l began and then deliberately switched to, Now you mustn't belle your own words by running away from me when I invite you to dine with your daugh- ter and MT. Hyland."
 Do I ever try to get out of dining with my own daughter?" asked Dad Lee with something like a whfmper. "Ain't I been devotion itself since you come back into my Hfe.'
 Since came back into your life!' I repeated.
 Well, supposing 1t was the other way around. Faint any shorter dis tance from the starting wire to the finish tape than from the finish tape to the wire, is it? But just tonight. it happens I ran acrost-some old friends. I gotta have my supper with them. I'd bid you along. but I don't spose you'd leave Hyland to himself, would you?'
 Something impelled me to say: Why, l might, if you wanted me to meet your friends" Dad Lee shook his head slowly from side to side. After a minutes thought, he replied:
 NO, I wouldn't ask you to leave Hyland and besides these here friends of mine are rough fel1ows-friends I made following the ponies in the old days. I feel to home with them, but lilly to meet up with -'em." | will they be here long?" I asked. Something of real import hinged on Dad Lees reply. If he were busy occupied with his own friends-he wouldn't expect, he wouldn't even care to meet my friends. And yet, l tuGe of snobbishness, I realized that I wasn't proud of my father and didn't want to see much of him, much less take him about in the Harrison family and world.
 l Sure they'll be here awhile" an nounced Dad Lee. They're located right hereabouts. I'll be running with them a lot. I got good pals m dear. I got mighty good pals even if I've outgrown their ways and settled down | in my old age, they like to keep up with me. And I like to keep up with them whether or not, I want my lilly to trot in their class. It is different with men,"
 "So I've been told" I commented i comes Father Andrew was just thinking l ought to go look for him.
 Had a caller, Mr. Lee?' asked Father Andrew after they had ex- changed greetings. How'd you know" oristled my father.
 'Oh, when I didn't find vou in your room, I asked the telephone girl if she could locate you and she said a 1 man had called you an hour or so ago. Said he didn't give his name. but she guessed you knew him all right because she saw you crossing the lobby toward the reception rooms with | him right afterwards.' "Al1 right, all rightI" interrupted my father peevishly, adding quickly. 'Where you folks going to have sup per? Over to that place Anne took us the first night I was pack?''
 ''I don't know. Where would you like to have your dinner, Babbsie % asked Father Andrew with instinctive l gallantry.
 ''Oh. let's snoop around and find a place." began. Then took a sud- den decision. Why not stay here?'' Here it is. Does that meet with your approval, Mir. Lee" asked | Father Andrew.
 No, I'm going out. To meet l friends. Old pals of mine. We ain't | going to eat here," replied Dad Lee, | starring toward the door. Don't go without an overcoat. It's admonished Father Andrew.