The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-03-05

When A Girl
 Marries
By ANN LISLE.
CHAPTER CCXVuI.

rive hundred dollars isn't enoughH' I repeated, staring back at Phoebe and beginning 10 feel as frightened as she looked.
 Her lips parted and shaped them selves to speak, but I had to read what they said since I couldn't hear a syllable Incredulously, with a question after them, I repeated the words my eyes had read from her lips:
 "It's twice that much? You say you need twice that much?"
 Phoebe looked down at her twist ing hands Her long Iashes lay flut- tering against her cheek, and after a. moment a tear or two crept down and made a salt track to her tremb- ling mouth. She got out her little handkerchief and dabbed furtively at her eyes. Then she seized the glass of ice water and began to drink fever isnly. Finally, with her shoulders hunched forward dejectedly, she whispered:
 What do you think of me, Anne? Whatever you think, please stand by me. I'm so tired-and scared-1 can't go through this alone. And I can't bother Virginia. She has has enough to make her unhappy Will you stand by me, Amer?
 Whatever it is. Phoebe, I will stand by. And I'll see you through, too, I promise I said quietly.
 Phoebe seemed to realize that I was making vow She smiled at me nistily but with some of the dear simL licity of tho Phoebe who had come to the city at the close of my honeymoon days. Because she look ed so like a little girl the dear little girl who had loved Neal, knew that, no matter what the cost, I was going to try to save Phoebe from her debts and her fear.
 If you trust me, Phoebe-and will tell me the story from the be- ginning, I'm sure we'll ind a way out" I said.
 "I'lf tell you," she gasped. "Only don't hate me-like, like your broth CT does"
 I smiled and reached across to pat Phoebe's hand reassuringly. But protesting. Only in the midst of wor- rying over what sort of dreadful scrape Phoebe had gotten into realized what it meant that Phoebe in all her trouble still thought about Neal.
 Do you remember the jade neck lace and earrings I got that nlght in Chinatown?" asked Phoebe sud denly, and. as I thought, lrrelevantiy.
 "Yes. dear, but you never wear them. Why?" I asked humoring
 "I had them the day-Neal came home. never wore them | much-after that" replied Phoebe, |
  gether and plunged boldly into the | story. You thought MT. West gave | me that jade-didn't you?"
 "Yes, naturally T replied.
 Well, he didn'tI' Phoebe storm | ed, with blazing eyes. II never took | 8, present from any man-exeept-l except the ring couldn't keep. MT | West gave me tip on some oil went into that green jade l thought I'd always keep on winning. I thought he knew how une market was going. But next time I lost a little."
 .swhere did you get the money to play the market?'' asked gently.
 ''Oh, MT. West carried me. You know what I mean. I was buying on margin-putting up ten dollars for every share Irbought- He said that | was the way to do- And then I'd pay | my margin out of my winnings. It would have been all right, only I be- gan to lose. And he kept saying I'd | have better luck next time. So I went on. But I didn't have any better | luck And I kept owing him more
 Phoetbe's voice 'traIled off and she began twisting her hands in a hope less fashion. An ingraiating waiter
 "WilI madame have anything else? I go off at three," he said sugges- lively.
 Bring us two fruit lemonades made with selters-and the check" I said, glad of excuse to send him away.
 To Phoebe, I added: ''The tang of that cold drink will be good for you, dear
 "Tt's what-your brother and I al ways took MT. West-iked differ ent drinks" said Phoebe in a far away little voice that told me how near my dear Neal still was to the little girl who had haushtily called ! him 'Iieutenant Hyland'' and who ! had boxed his ears when he took her in his arms Shall I go on with
 "Yes, dear. But don't feel it's such tragic story. You have lost pm investments made through your brothers firm
 Don't bring Jim into this,' cried Phoebe wildly" He isn't in it at | all. He mustn't know. It wasn't the firm. It was Just Dick West and | me. And he says it's perfectly all | right and that he'll take it off my | allowance when we're married"
 When you're marrIed!'' I repeated | wondering if I'd dreamed all the ten derness with which Phoebe had been | referring to Neal.
 ''I thought could once. I wasn't | happy. And he was good to me. I | thought-boys went away and forgot l and let people wean them away from | you. And Dick West seemed to be here just when I needed him. I | thought could marry him, Anne. but can't-I don't love him.
 Then that's all right I replied l with a feeling of great relief.
 But it isn't!'' protested Phoebe | trantically. eff were going to mar | ry him it wouldn't be so bad my let | ting him-carry my stocks. But last | night he-grabbed me and kissed me. | It's horrible to be kissed by-the | wrong man. So that's how l knew [ never could marry him. And I told him And he said if he wasn't anything to me what would people say about my taking money from him.
 "The cad!" I muttered. And in a lash my doubts of Dick West crowd ed back multiplied a hundred-fold. I remembered Terry and smiled grinlly. 1 hi Dick NNnSt ia