The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-09-29
When A Girl
 MUrries
By ANN LESLIE
CHAPTER CCGxxII.

CHAPTER CCCLXxH
 VaPs empty bed g1immered back at me in the soft glow of the Chinese lamp that stood on the night table next the bed.
 The room was as empty as the bed.
 My heart began hammering again with a recurrence of the terror I'd felt down in the ravine when the wrecked car crashed toward the river. What had Evvy Mason done? Where was Val?
 There is a little balcony over. hanging the Mason Towers side of Dreamwold. It runs along under the windows of the blue room and the was at the big French windows which give this balcony, flung them wide and ran out. But Val was nowhere to be seen- Half des- perate1y my eyes travelled down to the dark densely-wooded slope that leads to the river bank. Then a sound within the room attracted me
 I turned and stepped in through the window. There was Val leaning heavily against the door of the big closet on the side of the room be- tween the windows and door and just opposite the bed.
 Wall" I cried. was terribly frightened. where have you been?'
 She stared at me with unmasked hostility.
 When did you come? How did yous get in-through the window from the other room?'' she de- manded.
 "Why, I came in through the door from this ha11," I replied.
 which way?" asked Val, breath lessly. sagging against the old ma hogany back of her.
 "I came up the back stairs, re- piled quietly. watching her carefully as I spoke. relief, then she asked sweetly. Would you help me to bed?
 You overtaxed your strength getting out, didn't you?' T. ques covers and felt my sympathy go out to her at the sigh with which she slipped back among the soft pillows
 Val looked up at me smiling ac tuaIly cheerful. I could see that she found great satisfaction in the thought that I hadn't seen Evyyi ,,;g make up to her for the upset Evvy's visit must have caused.
 Why didn't you ring for the nurse if you wanted anything? l asked, fealing that this had an important bearing on things I must know. IS there something | can get from the closet 20
 "NoLno!. gasped Val. 'There's
 Some one phoned the nurse and I had enough mercy to tell her not to come back upstairs 'ti! my supper better, Anne. You can see that,
 "Yes, I can see that" I replied. co1dly, not at all sympathizing with a Val who didn't suffer. who didn't grieve over Shel1ey's death- Even if she had no business to care for been easier to forgive a woman who was capable of deep heroic emotions that shook the very foundations of her life than to find any excuse for creature of petty love affairs.
 well, then.' went on Val, an swering what I had said as well as the thoughts which must have writ ten themselves pretty clearly on my face, you'll understand that I shan't need the nurse after tonight. But to- night I still want her. I don't think I'd like to lie awake all through the dark hours and remember poor minute, gone the next
 This was the first time since the shelly. It brought quick response.
 "Tll stay with you, dear. if you
 ''No. I might really need the nurse for a hypodermic. Have you seen him?" asked Val.
 I'm going over tonight with Jim. Wrginia's been over: think she wants to come and tell you how
 "Peaceful?" Val shuddered. 'she1- don peaceful! Why Anne , how could he be when he lived so hard? He just flooded the place with life and magnetism. How could he be peaceful when he saw death waiting to bounce on him just as he was living-juSt as he was getting-.-
 Val stumbled and stopped end fumbling for something to help her out of her misery, I returned to Vir- ginia-
 Mason Towers Shall I send her to you?"
 'FNo. What do need of Virginia DaIton's latest reports?''>- she said, and if her voice was creamy now it her once-for a while. didn't he? And she almost threw away her chance to Pat for him. And now shes happy. wonder if she knows he died in Evvy Mason'o arms?"
 Wal! That couldn't matter to Jeanie," I gasped.
 "No, I suppose not. She adores Pat to much to care whHe--
 Do you care so much, dear ?'
 The words fairly tore themselves from the depths of my subconscious self and when I heard them rushing out to overwhelm poor Val and wrest her poor secret from her, I was petrified with pity and with regret for what T said. But in the next second I stepped back in complete astonishment Val flung herself high on the pillows and in a wild gesture pointed a shaking hand at me.
 Get out of this roomH she screamed. Get out of this room and don't you dare come into it again!"
 To Be Continued
 
 WANDERERS LAST CHANGE.