The Washington times., 1921-02-05

would Bertha fear-supposing she
knew it--that this wass the cause
OF his discharged or course, I didn't
know that Lyons had taken the
octason. nor even that he had seen
IL. But the whole situation loomed
In my mind ~ an emergency. as
something about which l must take
instant action Hff
Leaving Jim TO fnish his desert
alone, and giving but the nimsiest
excuse, o forgotten message to Vir-
ginia. II hurried TO the telephone.
Oddly enough. Jim didn't protest.
He seemed content to daily with
his dessert and to play with his
demi tssse. This came to me even
while 1 spoke with Bertha. who,
luckily. answered the Dreamwold
phone. Cr
Without wasting words or mine
ing matters told Bertha just what
had happened-for as yet she knew
nothing OF her husbands dismissal
promised her that I would try to
place him. and asked her to have
him call upon me In the morning.
The gasp with which she received
my explanation told me how deep
the shock, how great the fear was
TO her. .
"oh. Mrs. Harrison, I must -find
him quick" she walled. what will
he do! What will he do"
Tell Mrs. Dalton that I've just
phoned you to do an errapd for me
ask her to telephone me IL you
may come into town for me--then
you can find him and bring, him to
me tomorrow yourself" .t
1t was an undiplomatic thing to
do. this freak" or mine In order
In m al . m n xv's III IN
to me without asking Jeanie's per-
mission. But 1 was urged to the
action by the noise of Jim's chair
pushing back from the table. In an
other moment knew that he would
be within hearing, and III didn't
wish to add this annoyance to his
burden whatever II might prove
to be.
A GRATEFUL WOMAN.
With hurried "Biess you.
ma'am." Bertha hung UP and
swung around on the telephone
chair to face my Jim. The tense
ness had in a measure fed from his
face. bnr the grayness still was
there. And his voice held a mo-
tallic ring as he said:
Got a minute you can give me
now?"
He was seeking a note of playful
ness. but I sensed rather than knew
how much the effort cost.
Even now I didn't understand.
AS / look back upon that moment i
wonder why ] didn't comprehend
why did not help him tell me
what he had TO tell me. And yet
how could have known?
Jim didn't put his arms about
me as another man might have
done with his wife. Nor did he
even put one arm about my
shouldersras a comrade might have
done with another ncomraviei He
simply slipped his arm through
mine and led me into the living
room. releasing me to close the
doors behind us, that we might be
secure from interruption. safe
from ears that might even inno-
Gently hear.
'I'm worried. dear" he. .said.
limping about the room nervous
1y, then back to face me on the
couch to which + had sunk to rest.
worried more than perhaps you
can imagine. Say. you haven't
been watching the market recent
ly. have your - 3,
NO" / confessed. Then / caught
the CLINT OF his eyes in the gray-
mes s.of his face. / began to COM
prehend. why. Jimr' / cried.
whats the matter? You haven't
you arren't?"
Perhaps / am-whatever You
may mean" he laughed, in a tone
far different from any had ever
heard his voice hold. Here's the
| straight of it. There's something
funny about the biggest of the
oil wells on which I have been
| plunging. I've got to tell you
about it. Listen"
| Copyright, 1921. by King Feature Syndi
| cate Inc y