The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-11-22
When 4 Girl
 MQrrieS
By ANN LESLIE.
CHAPTER AT

you II ulSappear moo the nowhere from which you came?"
 The man who claimed to be my Iong-lost father mopped his face again with his gaudy Handkerchief. Then before he spoke, he ran the tip of his tongue over his thin lips.
 Loving daughter, atn't you, m'dear?" he asked at last with his mouth corners curving back into snarl as he stared at me for a. sec- ond before his beady eyes began a. purposeful darting off about the room. "Here0 friend Hyland re- turning just in time to s:t on the fence. Come here, Hyland. and listen while I relate to my dutifu1 and lov- this West whole acquaintance with her o1d dad seems to be worrying her so. Going, to see that I run with
 Just minute" interrupted making room for Father Andrew as I spoke and tucking my hand into his under cover of the tablecloth. Then addressing the dear old man I love. I asked: Did you fix it for me with Jeanie P"
 Told her I was chaperoning you for the night and couldn't let you go riding around the world in bor- rowed Hmousines ger dark. She let something drop a.pout needing MT. Norrey's car in the morning so I said I'd send it out right now-see- ing I gathered 1t was loaned to her. She agreed to let me run things for night providing you'd remember where you're making your home just now and invtte''-
 He stopped short in evident con- fusion. To myself I finished the sen- tonce to urge dear Father Andrew to consider Drean1wold his headquart- CTS. The little thin man broke in shrewdly:
 My girls fine folks don't know about her real father yet, so when they ask you fin my place, Hyland. 4v1Sf to < ~1 And I ain't the one to wet-blanket other peoples winnings either. But now, Anne and me has a matter to bring up before the racing board, and I'd like you to act as starter and judge in one.''
 'Please-DadS Lee,'' I said. wine ing as I heard myself use the title, Let's get this over without giving each other any more padn than we must. I want you to convince me that Dick West isn't playing an inn portant part in our reunion. Some how how I | hate tt, to feel that he has any
 High spirited lilly. my girl! Got to ride her with a loose rein and for git there's such a, thing as curbs or spurs" commented the little man doubts in jiffy. This here West. who seems to worry you so, come on his own mining business to the town where I was watin' the arrival of Hyland. As evereyone in the whole place knew, I was waiting for news of my folk back East. They told him. Natural, wasn't ?"
 Perfectly natural" replied Father Andrews. responding to a question ing look which appointed him referee.
 So far so good, the old man on. Having nothing much to do to pass the evening, West come to see sick old man whose shack was the visiting place for lots of kind-hearted young fellows. And he asks me who my folks are. Not being sure yet that it's a good turn to look up my daugh- ter for all I needed her so, I says I'm waiting for a friend named Hyland. And, furtherraore. I names the town Hyland halls from That's playing
 We couldn't reproach you for that" said Father Andrew kindly. You went pretty cautiously. MT.
 'How was I t'know that West had been partners with my girls husband and that he'd start right from scratch and make the whole track in two flat when he hears that name Fly land? It appears that he recognized 1t and the home town to oncet. And what more natural than that a young winner like this chap should get me where can't side-step all the other names he comes out with? In addi- ton to which he gets me where I live, when he indicates he has all the dope about my daughter and her new lOIhS. 50 DOtn CuClOS1Ly ana 1dLnRrly affection movin me, lets out the whole fact about the baby I ain't seen since she was knee-high to a grass hopper. Now you've heard my story. But I've still got one question I want to ask you. Anne. Are you ready?''
 I'm ready for anything you have to say" I replied.
 Here she goes then at the crack had begun to see I'd have to accept as my father. "Supposing you tell me first, however, If my meeting up with West and talking a bit about my folks don't seem natural?" fIts seems perfectly natural as you tell 1t, I replied, convinced against my will. Since you sent for Father Andrews before you met Dick West. sinister n your knowing him. The point is that you telegraphed before he came to the Northwest"
 T sure did. The race was signed before the West entry got made. But now it's my turn to ask my trusting daughter a question. What makes you think that this West would give two? Whats the Hy1ands and the Lees to him?''
 "Nothing," said quickly--too quickly, for I had to turn my face out the word of denial and stopped there. Didn't I know well enough that Dick West had wanted to marry Phoebe and that Neal had won her away from him? Didn't I realize that Dick West hated Phoebe's brother? These facts lay side by side in my mind like. bundle of fagots, but they lacked the string that would tie them together. For that clue-that missing string-I was still searching wildly In my memory.
 '"Then you ain't going to run your poor old dad off your track? You don't want to disc1aim me any more ?" he whimpered in a tone that shamed me before the man had always call ed my father. I felt that Father An drew must feel I'd failed in my promise to be kind, so I replied far more graciously than I felt:
 'I see that I wasn't fair. I have no right to question you any more.
 And havin' no right, you swon't?" dnterposed Dad Lee smoothly. And you see, you never had no call to