The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-11-30
When 4 Girl
 MUrries
By ANN LESLIE.
CHAPTER CDXXIII.

CHAPTER CDXXIII.
 When entered JiIn's private office l Miss SorrS was hunched down into | her dbasr with her back to the desk and the door, I stared in astonish- | ment for a moment before I realized | that she was carrying on secre- tive, almost SoundleSS telephone con versation.. I stood waiting for her | to give some sign of recognizing my presence, but the indist1nguishabl ble | murmur went on. l
 For a moment or two stood there l resentfully clutching the papers I'd Jim's business interests to sign. Then I sank unbidden into a chair.
 I'd pictured things differently. I'd ling a bit over the way I'd sneaked past Oliver, the young dragon in the outer office. But now I was kept waiting while Miss Storrs marmured guarded monosyHableS into the recefv- CT and listened to replies which must concern Jim deeply. My mood began to turn to defiance. I had to hold myself firmly in check to prevent my self from calling out curt sum mons to this woman who ignored me so calmly.
 Suddenly Miss Storrs swung around smiled at me, put her hand over the telephone mou1hpiece and murmured courteously:
 Just a moment, please, Mrs. Harri- son. The matter I'm discussing is very important but I'll be able to settle it with a word or two more" Then she turned back again, seem ing to blot me from her consciousness. I had no way of knowing whether l she'd realized I was there all along, | Or if she'd just that moment wakened I to the fact that someone was in the office with her. After I'd sat burn interval, Miss Storrs clicked up the receiver, swung around again and said:
 Sorry to keep you waiting. But Is there something | can do for you ?'' ! Else why would return 50 promptly" I found myself saying with studied suavity in return for her | ignoring the need of explaining why she had kept me so long. | Miss Storr's handsome face re- mained calm and impressive.
 "of course" she said, '.I believe MT. Harrison djd tell me that you'd had business training''- And so wouldn't interrupt anyone with responsibilities such as yours unless 1t were absolutely unavoid- able" I returned not without bitter ness.
 Her words made it clear that Jim had remembered my business train | ing and experience, but had passed me by nevertheless to put this strang- l CT where I ought to be. Miss Storrs gave no sign of the effect my words 1 had on her. but continued with large imperturbabiltty in perfect accord with her stately Greek beauty:
 Then since you've come on an inn | portant matter, Mrs. Harrison, and there are important affairs here at the office, shall we get right down to | business ?''
 1 Certainly" I replied cold!y. "I want your signature to sub-lease draw up for the apartment I occupied | until recently. You have power of at | torney I presunpe?'
 I pushed the lease toward her, | striving for promptness and concise | ness to erase my feeling that this | woman had dared overmuch in sug- | gesting that shed like me to get down | to business promptly, she had oth- | Miss Storrs drew the document to- | ward her, studied it gravely and lifted | her eyes inquir1ngly.
 | '.Is this wise ?'' she asked. eff MT. | Harrison were to return within a month or so, wouldn't you regret this step ?" I asked, choking back my eagerness.
 How soon do you expect MT. liar | rison ?" countered Miss Storrs.
 Does that affect your signing this paper as my brothers law, brother 1 and deem advisable ?'' I asked. see ing that if this woman had any in 1 formation transcending m-ne she pur- posed keeping it to herself
 
 skeptical tone, breaking off abruptly, | You've had advice then. You don't deem this a wrong moVe-one to set people wondering?''
 | we deem this advisable" I replied firmly. "Mr. Dalton telephoned with this in view
 "Oh, MT. Dalton"
 AS she said that, Miss Storrs dip ped her pen in ink,- drew up the pa l per I'd brought and prepared to sign 1 and seal it. I waited until shed fin ished and then I announced:
 'sThis splendid sum for rental 1 which you didn't seem to regard az for you to send me Sny more checks | That money will be useful here in my T husbands affairs, no doubt."- | I took the lavender check from my purse and handed 1t to Miss -Stor1rs 1 She let it f1utter down to the desk and | regarded it grave1y for a moment before she replied:
 "Pn have to go on sending this weekly check, Mrs. Harrison. MT. l Harrison instructed me to do so. And | I feel in honor bound to carry out 'hds | wishes to the letter."
 | I caught a rising infection in her voice es she reached across the desk to return the shp of lavender paper to me. There was something quizz cal in her eyes too as she fixed then
 denandingly on mine. It was as il she's said:
 q feel in honor bound to carry our your husbands wishes to the letter
 Don't your"
 . I took the check. refolded it ant put 1t back in my purse. "Now IT run along with the sub-1ease wh1cf you've just signed.'
 l, It was as if we'd each scored Q vic tory, each met a defeat.
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