The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-10-28
When A Girl
 Marries
By ANN LESLIE
CHAPTER CCCxcv1I.

NOW LOOK nere, SIS, you dIu have couple of things to null over eszore T quit breakfast and swlm out to the Job,'' said Neal showing hiS coffee cup toward me for the second portion, which he takes black, and pulling out the companion cigarette which invariably goes with i-.
 "Say on," replied, smiling at the dear brother who'd come to me the away. But don't live up to the crease between your eyebrows and scold your Babbsie.'
 Won't unless you make me, grinned Neal. What I want to do, Babbsie, is to pin you down so you won't do any feminine shilly-shally- ing How long is Jim likely to be
 CT don't know"
 wen. dope it out this way-if this were short trip his closets there wouldn't be a new dame in charge of his office. His own secre- tary could be trusted to run things for few weeks. Or a clerk might look after things. No, lady, this is no fortnight's affair. Jim's going to be gone for two or three months at least
 My eyes fell under Neaps shrewdly appraising gaze. I hated to confess it to myself, but I felt that he was right. Hearing it said out loud like this gave two or three months a realness that hurt-a lonliness that stretched out ahead so that I could see the path. All I could bring my self to say was:
 .'Perhaps you're right
 eI know I'm right. Now let's go on to the next step- You can't stay here alone. It would hurt too much. And I guess it would be a foolish ex- trava gance at that
 $sA gain I felt the question in Nears eyes-the question I couldn't answer. Even with Neal-who seemed sud- denly to have grown very old and wiSa-T I&couldn't breathe one syllable of Ifms plans even to him. Jim wanted absolutely secrecy, and to preserve Nwas my only way of helping him just now.
 s'Yes, I suppose it would be etutrav- agant to keep up his big place for be lonely. too. That I know"
 sAll right. Babbsie. We agree. Now heres the next move in our game Will you play at keeping easy time of it. and I think I'd be ready to pray that Jim stay a week longer than he expects so I could keep up the family reunion with his best girl.''
 .'rve promised Pat and Jeannie," began. fnterrupting myself to add. cts very 1attering to have you look so frightfully disappointed
 'Don't you ever guess how lonely 1t is for me to be living alone. PernapS II won't be long tlll Father Andrew gets back. Perhaps you'd be doing nothing wrong if you didn't wait. We were talking about that the other day''--
 "I know. My little girl told me. But can't get away from my prom ise to Father Andrew, can I? I gave it. And besides. there's you.''
 .I don't mind your keeping your you thinking of me"-
 Neal flung back his head with an 1nterrupting laugh.
 "You're darling Babbs. Illogical business woman. We'll, back to the main issue. You're pledged to the Daltons and you don't mind having folks keep theer promises. What are Hedwig, then? F'lin her out jobIess ?''
 1 should say, noti" I famed. re- inembering Hedwig's loyalty to me. sWhoever takes her, takes-me.''
 If Jeanie won't agree to Hedwig, I will coaxed Neal.
 Shell agree" I promised rashly. "of course, I'll pay Hedwig> myself.'' s'R1ghtoi Then brother is tenn porarily eliminated as a useful factor in young life. But can he buy a taxi to transport Dreamwoldward any belongings you and the borrowed Bertha are taking out?"
 don't need a taxi" protested firmly and stuck to my guns in spite of every persuasion Neal could bring
 
 sAfter closing and locking the place carefully I fared toward Dreamwold via street cars and trains. Bertha stayed in town to meet Lyons, per mission. for which Virginia had granted cheerful1y when I telephoned her. Jeanie was waiting for me at the station and we walked over to her place in happy accord. I was pleased with her for coming to meet me and I suppose her kindness warmed the cookies of her own heart. Hedwig opened the door with the breathlessness the slightest change from routine causes her.
 1T seen you coming!' she explained 'tSo I ast a lady what teIephoned to see if Mrs Harrison was here to hold the telephone wire. ma'am."
 S"Popular guest laughed Vir- ginia.
 Probably some one from Jim's office,'' I replied.
 But when I had sent out my tenta- tive greeting to the unknown at the other end of the telephone maze, it was Evvy Masons voice which answered me.
 Anne, this is Evvy." she cried without a preliminary. "I got back / yesterday. I was at the station when you came in. I must see you as soon possible
 (To Be Continued)