The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-10-25
When A Girl MOrrieS
 A.
CHAPTER CCCxCTV.
By ANN LISLE.

CHAPTER CCCxCIV.
 You certainly made a clean sweep of Brothers. closets commented Jeanfs when I came into Jim's room after sending Bertha out to search for Lyons.
 This gave me exactly the opening I needed
 n s Gant 9 you gu9ss m. whn, xn;ar tt thst st gone for long trip. Important af- fairs are taking him further away than you imagine. And he's going tC be so completely occupied that you probably won't even get brotheriy
 Well, I declafe-that sounds very B1uebeardy and mysterious."L laugh ed Virginia, taking my seriousness with the Hghtness we SO often feel for other peoples airs of great i'm port. Then she went on briskly: But the further he goes and the longer he stays, the more important 1t is for you to come out to us. Now hurry up, sister mine, and get ready to come right along wfth-me now"
 Something in Virginia's air of sat- isfied leadership gave me moments s strength and the courage to do a lit tie deciding of my own.
 "It's settled in my mind. too Jeanie. I'll lend you my Hedwig: She'll go out with you and Pat and do substitute duty for Bertha. And Bertha Will stay nere Wfth me- Bul I can't race out to Dreamwo1d like this at a minutes notice. Now, you let sister Anne stay here and get her bearings tonight, and tomorrow-we'n Il see what we'll see"
 "No dear'-began Jeanie.
 But I interrupted with 1ightness that had serious undercurrent.
 'Yes, dear, I'm running one sec ton of this. Oh. Jeanie, let me stay here with my plans and memories! tn pd I this dear home. which I might never be able to come back to if things went all wrong for Jimmie. l can't tell you how serious 1t all is. I don't know how much of 1t Jim means me to tell even you. But when I get his permission and bare the whole thing to you you'll understand So now take things and me on trust. won't your?
 Virginia stared at me with kindly eyes, from which every trace of hos tflity and vanished"
 "I'll do anything you ask-7-any- thing that will truly serve my bless ed brother and his little wife,
 Then you mustn't even tell Pat. No hint to him that this is more than a, flying trip for to admire and for to see the world so wide.' Prom tse. Jeanie."
 Jeanie ca ught me in her arms then with a, tenderness that made me ache because 1t held so many little man nerisms just like my Jim's.
 After that she and I packed the valuables I wanted to leave with her and Pat in the Dreannwold safe in stead of in the apartment where now there was no man to protect me. Then We hurried Hedwig into preparations for her visit to the country. So by the time Pat arrived everything was in readiness for him.
 Bertha hadn't returned when the travellers were ready to depart. For | %,1r Ar<rr F 6 passed unnoticed, sd no one demur- red about leaving me alone. . But when o'clock came and still no Bertha I found myself getting a city apartment suddenly 1oomed up as a fearsome thing. Right in the midst of my oncoming terror a new phase of the situation presented itself.
 "Where's Neal?' I asked suddenly, first of myself, then I heard my voice demanding: "Where's Neal?"
 At once I began to feel aggrieved. knew perfectly well that Neal had been at Dreamwold the night before when Jim 'phoned his farewe1ls to Jeanie and Phoebe. So, of course my brother knew that Jim had gone off on trip. Yet all through the day Neal hadn't spoken to me. and now at o'clock at night I faced a soli- tary vigil which might continue till morning. And Neal was showing no signs of sympathy, DO desire to help me.
 Was it possible that Neal had gone fort to see me? It seemed entirely onlike1y-it simply wasn't my Neal Once I had decided this, I got up resolutely and went out to prepare a little supper for two. For just as surely as if he'd telephoned to say I might expect him, I knew that Neal would come to me.
 In the midst of my preparations, a 1JlCt I,o I- and was glad in my heart of hearts had known-he must do.
 When I answered the door-bell and found him there waiting for me, hadn't intended to do. I spoke peev- ishly.
 ''Why are you so 1ate?" I asked.
 Neal gave me one of his dear. boy fsh. bear-hugs before he replied
 "You knew I'd come, didn't you. Babbsie? I telephoned couple of times, but you were out. and I sup pose the fair Hedwig didn't think me worth reporting"
 "But why are you so late?" I per sisted. as I led him out to the dining room.
 Well, I've been sleuthfng around might like to get back of and wire Jim about. I went down to his office and that Miss Storrs, who's in charge. sent me off on a couple of trails that didn't seem to lead anywhere.
 Miss Storrs?" I asked
 "Yes-that big goddess of liberty looking girl who's in charge. You know her''
 TT didn't know-the office was opened" I continued.
 But, as I temporized with Neal, I wondered who the woman could be whom Jim had left in charge of his office.
 (To Be Continued)
 
 Marshal Foch left Havre, on the