The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-11-19
Whe7a A GiiyL
 M0rries
By ANN LESLIE.

''I can't remember his saying any thing about parting bad friends" re- piled the little bead-eyed man. pick ing his words slowly. as if he were looking backward and trying to call up a complete record of his conversa- tions with Dick West. He and your husband parted good enough friends,
 Did they?" I insisted.
 didn't they?'
 Are you asking me, daughter? What do you think a poor old sick man like me would have been able to get out of a likely young chap such as this West? Is there some thing you want Dad Lee to find out for you?''
 His tone was so friendly and good natured that I thought it wise to take my cue from it.
 No, but want Dad Lee to tell me something he does now I wheedled in turn. How does Dick West feel toward-his friends back home? Why has he gone so far away from Shem?"
 Say, little lilly. if we was partners l couldn't know more about West than you seem to think I got out of him in one evening. Kinda sweet on him, aint you, to want all the dope about him?
 I managed to hold my fury, in leash-I kept myself from shrieking out my disgust-from making it clear how I shrank from this man who could voice this to the woman he in
  l was driven beyond the extreme eau tfon. I couldn't hold myself to the attempts at kindness I'd felt obligated to make My voice quiVered as l de- mandeo:
 Are you accusinng your daughter of being interested in her husbands eX-partner?'
 .Can't take a joke, can you, dear?'' rallied the man. his wrinkled little face twisting into a gray grin But if you ain't figuring on having me find ah is it because you think he might be laying his bets to queer some race your hubbys in %
 What I'm interested in," argued, doesn't concern my husband or me as much it does someone else we don't name just yet. Funny how Dick West seems to be entering on new partnership with us - sending me back my prodiga1 father. isn't it?''
 Fer the sake of that tip you're ready to overlook the past?'' said the have been sheer.
 "Then he did give you the tip that
 He? No-no he didn't. He never give me no tip to send me back to my Martha's lilly. What could a fel- Ter I met fer one evening tell me about my past life that's stir me to travel across the country to find you?''
 If Dick West didn't send you back to-me," I asked. slowly feeling for the elusive something I needed to tie 7Ip Dick West and this man named Lee. "how did you happend to come How. did you known where to find me?''
 Child, afn't I been watching you always? Did I ever take my eyes off you or this grand ould Hyland boy who made my Martha so happy?"
 But you told me little while ago that you came back to me because f you learned from Dick west that my husband was what you so pleasantly called a gambler. You told me that yourself not five minutes before Fla ther Andrew went out to telephone
 ''I told you myself'-began the man, aand then interrupted himself with a cackling laugh. "Sure l told | you that, and it's true. But I had written for Hyland to come to me long before I met West-long and long afore Say. m'dear, looks like I was the person you was Wasn.t ,fcraa readS to
 felt nonplussed, for the words seemed to reach out and topple oyer everything on which I'd been build, ing. After a moment l recovered myself and asked c1rtly:
 But why did you try to pretend that you only returned to do me a good turn by putting your gambling knowledge at my disposal?"
 'sYou don't get it? You don't get it | at an do you?" whispered my op-
 Is there anything difficult to get You meet West and then'-I began , accusingly.
 A clawlfke hand was laid on my arm and a voice that shook a bit in- terrupted:
 Don't say anything you'll regret daughter. Don't be ugly and hard on an old man. I'll give you all the dope and then if you're still SC | ashamed of your poor old father that YOU want to think up excuses to kick him out I'll save you the trouble and me the shame of it I'll catch my entry in the race and let yours romr home winner"
 You mean if when I've heard your story I still feel so unrelented, you'll go away and not bother me any more 9" demanded. You'll let me go back to the happy times when ] thought that the only father had or ] this earth was dear Father Andrew 7
 The little man drew out a gaudy handkerchief and mopped his face.
 "Kinda heartless, ain't you, daugh. 3 ter? Seems to me you're awful harc on an old man who ain't got kin or earth but you. But in case you don see how this West that you seem SC dead against lies clear outside the T circuit where we ride, after I've tolc YOU just how I met up with fir.-I'l scratch the entry. I'll quit TnatS go You kin judge thsS race anc j. say if you think West had anything fo do with the bookmaking.
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