The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-08-02
When 4 Girl
 MOrries
By ANN LESLIE

(COntlnueQ)
 At an unearthIy hour the morning after I chaperoned Neal and Phoebe for their weekend at the lake, my phone woke me. It was q long-dis- tance call from Jim, who had just gotten near enough to civilization again to speak to me.
 I'm taking the train to come back to you. dear, in an hour" he explain ed, But I wanted you to know. so you'd keep the evening open for me-
 Don't joke You've a guilty con- replied, trying to be jocose so ! wouldn't be reproachful. Are you rested? Did you have fine time ?''
 Yes" irritably: "only don't hold message for you. Can Neal and tell him to catch the eight forty-flve- same. train I took. Pats here and will meet him. There's some prop erty to go overland, besides, Uncle Ned and l aren't keen to leave Pat up here alone, and the old gentleman has to come back same as do. Meals not to miss it. Important
 But Neal can't come" I protested. -'He has plans. There's something important for him here"
 Neal must come. He must, say. Tell him'-
 Then Jim's voice burned off and thee onnection was broken.
 Phoebe stirred uneasily in her sleep; but I had to wake her, be- cause I knew well enough she'd never forgive me if I didn't get her up in time to see Neal off.
 Again a whirl of dressing and cof- fee, and farewells, as Neal came in to breakfast with us and then whirled off to the station, unhappily, but like a good soldier. When he'd whispered a warning to me to keep silent he and Phoebe hurried off. Then I set about unpacking and ordering my household for the day; and in the midst of everything Tom Mason phoned and pleaded, beyond my pow CTS to refuse, that I lunch with him.
 ''Is it a guilty conscience ?'' I asked myself, as I taxied down to the ap- pointed place.
 I was soon to know, for directly the lunch was ordered and the waiter off attending to it, Tom plunged in:
 ''Why did you skip out of the din ng-roan last night the minute you caught sight of me, Donna Anna?"
 There was an equivocation ready to hand, and I took advantage of it.
 'I was waiting for Phoebe and Neal, and just as I got to the dining room door, Neal appeared. More over, l was glad to avoid you, for far you'd be hurt at me for not chap eroning your party and then chaperon- ing another"
 Do you know me so 1ittle?" asked Tom responsibility. Do you actually think I demand explanations of my An1
 Indeed you're not!" I said honest 1y, adding nischievously, That's not one of your faults, T. J. M.'
 Got plenty without" he replied with what disarnling frankness of his .'But why did you skip without a howdy?"
 I've told you"
 You have-not! Bscause If that was it, why didn't you come back and say a word or two-instead of avoiding the dining-room so long that I took the hint and skipped back to the city without trying to see you?''
 Please don't ask" begged. hating to get right back into the role of ad- msnistrator of other peoples welfare and fairy-god-mother.
 Anne Harrison, arc you misinter- preting my friendship for the little Condon gtrl?" demanded Tom. For give me for this-but you force me to say it. You introduced us, She's your friend, isn't she? Now, why under the sun should you avoid me or her-when take her out to dine?''
 Tom you will have 1t, I thought you wanted-to be avoided, You're a firt. Forgive me. but you won't let me off. You make me-butt in, I've couse to know that you-philander without thinking beyond the InoInen- tary attraction a woman has for you"
 You're right I had this coming to me" said Tom in a voice I'd never heard from him before, '1-bothered you in the beginning. Then I trailed off after Val Crosby. Other mems wives-an unworthy game I'm drift ing into playing. I didn't know any other You startled nae almost awake Val Cosby followed up, though diff ferently. She teased me along and then turned on me with some ugly truths. But it's only recently I've be- gun to realize-and have tried to make up. I've been reaching out af- ter something different"
 (To Be Continued.)