The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-12-09
When 4 Girl
 Murries
By ANN LESLIE.
CHAPTER 431.

When Virginia declared that as soon as she and Pat had traced Jim through his letters to the office, Pat would fol- low him and bring him back, wave of rage at my heIplessness went through me- For a moment or two I sat silent under the battery of eyes fixed on me. Then I asked one ques- tion:
 you're going to-bu11y me into telling anything Jim wants kept secret?'' You've chosen a strong word, Anne,'' said Virginia with a touch of her old arrogance.
 'It was deliberate" I confessed quietly.' I wanted you to stop and to realize that even if you find it hard to trust me, you've got to trust Jim or break with me-"
 Another strong word" commented Virginia jelly.
 ing I know why Jim has gone, but for reasons of his own Jim hasn't told even me where he's gone. Now if you insist on prying into matters he has the best of reasons for keeping to himself, I'll have to do what I can to stop you.''
 And what will that be?' inquired Virginia, a shade too suave1y.
 "Babbsie," broke in Neal, pleading 1y. Virginia loves you. She wants to help you. She'd even go against her own brother to force him to do the right thing by you.''
 "You, too, Neal! Even you are ready to insult me as well as Jim by thinking he has to be forced back to and standing with my back against the wall, as if that way I had more power to bring them to some under standing of how definitely I was ranged against everything they'd
 You're after misunderstanding No one wants to hurt you, Alanna!" cried Pat.
 ho1, br1,- you insinute such things against Jim % I stormed. ''Is your faith in him go- ing to smash just because a woman who understands his business affairs is in charge of the office while he's away? Doesn't it occur to you that he's trying to spare me by getting her to take care of the business details that would bother me?"
 Do you believe one word of all you're saying?" demanded Virginia.
 Her eyes challenged mine. But I held my ground the more firmly be- cause I shared her doubts.
 Virginia, let's not go into what we do believe or don't believe. We've got to talk about what we're going to do. Now, l insist that one is to inter fere with Jim's plans. You mustn't try to intercept mail to the office. And Pat mustn't for one minute consider any such wildcat scheme as chasing you haul him back like a naughty schoolboy if he weren't ready to come?"
 This is all very fine, Anne" said Virginia, with deadly politeness. Be as heroic as you like on your own score. But remember one thing, please my fathers will named me Phoebe's guardian and as head of the family I don't purpose having the family dis graced. My brother shant chase off to the ends of the earth, deserting his wife and leaving his office in charge of goodness knows who!"
 ''Virginia!' I commanded. We've come to the place for a showdown. After that, do just what you wish. But if it s to try to trail Jim, I'll be down at the office at nine tomorrow morn ing, and I'll fight side by side with Miss Storrs. Jim trusted her to ad- minister his office affairs. But he things just as important. I'll not fail him.
 ''Indeed!" replied Virginia, getting volumes into the two SyllableS. But they didn't satisfy her, so she went on curtly, You're planning to force all four of us to submit to you. We'll I for one won't yield to your judg- ment"-
 What will you do?" I demanded ''Win you rush ahead when I tell you that you may ruin Jim? Oh, Jeanie don't force me to say anything more. Jims my husband. I love him. Can't you imagine what this separation means to me ?''
 Virginia's face paled and her eyes turned tenderly to Pat But I rushed ahead.
 You'll have to trust me-or cut yourselves off from me. Won't you take my word? Won't you make this little easier for me? It's been terri ble. It's going to go on being terrible mt @1- D l.,