The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-10-08
When A Girl
 M0rries
CHAPTER cCCLxxx
By ANN LESLIE.

CHAPTER CCCIXXX
 When Lane and I returned from seeing Uncle Ned start off on the first stage of the journey. that wouldn't was a thoroughly uncomfortable young woman. There seemed no chance that my interview with Lane ] Cosby could be anything short of a As Lane stood aside at the living room door, waiting for me to precede him, I started to sEnK in. Then looked up and caught a good view with misery, but it had an il-at-ease, awkward expression. There was pleading in his eyes. Lane dreaded our interview as much as I did. Why, then, did he insist upon it?
 "I've always liked you, Anne,' he began, throwing back his head jerkily and pulling his collar away from his throat as if it were choking him.
 Something in that eternal gesture restored some of my poise- l smiled and waited for Lane to go on.
 You know I've always liked you, don't you?" he insisted.
 'I thought you did.'
 ''In fact, we four are good friends Always were, always will be- he said ingeniously, as if no more than half sure I wouldn't question him.
 q hoped so,'' I replied gravely.
 And now-yeu've changed your I've never heard a question more tensely put Nor have I often seen anything to equal the relief on his 'tNot I. I don't think friendships ought to be shipped off as if you were cutting a thread"
 "You feel just the same as ever?" he asked eagerly. searching my face ;: for 2 suggestion, a breath of sus- picion that I knew of any reason why I shouldn't feel just the same oyoidod a 5iract apSUer renIvine truthfully enough:
 CT thought there couldn't be any question of my feelings. I wanted It wasn't-weacome.'
 ''Now we're getting to the point" Lanes eyes held look of trying know if this was because he knew everything and wanted to find out how much actual knowledge had, or if it was because he wanted to add my information to his. But in the . next minute I saw that whatever he knew or didn't know, he would not stoop to getting one smallest piece Of evidence rom pm. me; et, II don1denna TaL naob be was clearly enough not going to piece out what she'd told him with any thing could say. If she had a sad confession to make and had made 1t given fully, too. wondered what other man on earth could accept so much and in just that large, kind
 sNow we're getting to the point" repeated Lane, and went on: ou mustn't hold anything against a poor, sick girl, who has been through a dreadful experience and had her nerves busted up like shrapnel. Ii she hurt you, you'll forgive her, won't you?" then added with 8. spoaIlness hadn't intended my words to convey: "But can't force myself where I'm not wauted.''
 Lane took that kindly and made it less petty by changing 1t to an ac- quiescence with something I regretted instead of an acceptance of something that relieved me
 sIt isn't that she doesn't want you You know how sick folks turn against their best friends, against the folks they love best in all the world s9a4s. ias1. girl who's been-mighty close to the end. She's looked Death in the face And she's all in, Got to humor her But you can't hold anything asa1ns' her, can you?"
 ..I don't Indeed don't. And ! if I'd been small enough not to see your coming has made everything 2 clear. want you to know that
 Thank you, Princess. Ther that's all right. And this little good. bv of ours isn't going to be rnarree 
 EWkwardly Lane patted me on tht hack and there was tenderness in tht pleading touch of the big browI bear. aof vou. Could you manage to-ca1 you-say. Anne. will you oversleep il the morning
 "Yes." I said quietly. taking tn hint, "I'1l say good-by now, for TT not an early riser and cant b fNffsS
 He gripped both my hands in hi great brown paws And there wer tears in his eyes as he bent his hea' and murmured:
 eff you and Jimmie ever need m if you. ever want a fTieno' It I'm no IS' much of a hand al talking but r come right across the continent. Yo1 know that. don't you?
 sI believe it, I said.
 .sThen let me have an hour wit Jimmie tonight after the little girl asleep. will you a4aoa na-Say aT5 I,,1 Anhe cbs fob-it's the California octagon. Ain nsny of 'em going. This is m amereency piece. I hung onto Sometirnes when I was pretty close t starving I want you to wear 1t a won like to feel it. And if ever yo gead a friend all you'll have to d is to nut it into little box and ma it to China or Zanzibar or wherever banpen to be. Will you take it an send it if you need me?"
 .E-~an and if ever need you r
 (To be Continued)
 E..C.oIl