The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-10-10
When 4 Girl.
 M0rries
By ANN LESLIE
CHATTER CCCIxXxL

- CHATTER CCCLxxxL For several minutes after Lane Cosby had left me to go back to h1s "poor little girP' I stood smiling down throuhg a mist of tears at the talisman he'd given me.
 The queer, battered. octagonal soto piece told me even more than the big brown bear had been able to put into
 words. Adding it to the evidence od Lanes farewell to me when yet he l had so many hours to stay at Dream
 woId, I made out a case. Undoubtedly, no matter what eIso
 Val had kept from him. she'd told | him her version of our being on bad
 terms Undoubtedly she had trans 1 lated my protective interest as spy ing. Yet I could see that Lanes head | and heart remained untafnted and
 unprejudced by what she'd said.
 still had his faith and his Loyal But he had Val to consider. Prob ably she'd demanded that he never see me again and he'd managed one Then she had probably gone on to in sist that Lane cut himself of from all l,c communication with me. That Idea Wrought another in its wake. Probably Val had told Lane noth- tng-or lies. But she feared through me he'd learn more than she meant him to know.
 I couldn't be sure. But this seem ed the
 One thing. however, stood out l clear and shining from the ugly black tangle. Lane still adored his Val. He proposed to stand by her. He was going to consider her and humor her and save her from worry. But he had enough devotion to friendship to find a way to protect 1t without endanger- ing either VaPs peace of mind or his promise to her.
 This was what the gold piece in my palm told me,
 I stared at 1t through misty eyes. Then, slipping 1t into a corner of my handkerchief. knotted it in hard l to keep 1t safe. Just as I'd pulled the knot tight between my teeth, the telephone rang. I stepped over to the little rfhec at the end of the fire the big couch balanced the tele- phone on my lap and took down the receiver.
 It was Jtm's voice which came to me.
 Good work. Anne. You're a wiz
 to be answering the phone just when I want you,' he said .for answer to
 my hello. "Pat back yet"
 "No. Jeanie walked to the station
 to meet him. and I imagine they are
 tacttu11y driving about in the car
 which went down to bring them | back
 away from home? Got anyone there you want to be alone with?'' I detected a shade of irritation in
 Jim's' voice. He isn't usually jealous so I couldn't see why he was so smile I realized that there was one man in the world of whom he was | jealous, and that his mind was likely l to go 1eaping to Tony. You've guessed it, I replied mis- chievously, trying to prove my theory.
 There is a man here with whom I
 might presum ably want to have an uninterrupted talk.
 well, I'll behold on. Are you telling me Lane has arrived? ?" asked my clever Jimmie. upsetting my scheme and deligl1ting me by the as- tuteness that had outguessed. "Yes. That's what I'm telling you.'
 That's bully. Or. no. it isn't I'd like to be there to stand by good. old Lane if he needs any bracing. Still, I'll see him tomorrow. And he's al- ways been so fond of you, I know he needs. After all, that's a, woman's S job.''
 NO it isn't, Jimmie This is a man t on {SS Fe tbe La1es Wonder Aba Sa hes taken
 "Righto!'' said Jim. ''Now sup pose you call call the good old scout to the telephone. I'm not going to be b1e to get out tonight, as l fancy you guessed from what I said be- fore. I've got to stay in town to go into some mighty important matters But I'll see Lane tomorrow as you
 might tell him in case you think it's
 more tactful not to bother him to talk over he telephone
 But, Jim. you ought to get out to- night even if you can't make it till | late''- I began, but Jim interrupted with astonishing irritation: tI tell you I can'ti Why do you
 want to start arguing?" '1 wasn't arguing. Don't let your nerves get the better of you like this. | f~I4 to make it when you realize"- Realize nothing! Can't you stop
 nagging, Anne? Whats got into you again ?
 finish my sentence? I'm trying to
 tell you that if you care to see Lane
 it will have to be tonight. He leaves | in the morning. Val wants to go back l he starts acrosh the continent - i honie.'
 'rBy jingo! Why didn't you say so
 in the first place? Isn't Lane the
 wonder! The most devoted husband
 I ever sw. How much do you think
 she told him, Anne?"
 'I can't guess. But now, of course
 you'll hurry right out to see him ?''
 There was a moments pause. Then
 Jim's voice came back with a queer
 note in it that sounded like laughter
 tinged with scorn:
 NO. I can't make it. Maybe it's | Just as well. See you tomorrow
 night. Give my best to Lane"
 Tell him Pm sorry about this. So | long,"
 As the receiver clicked up I real | ized I hadn't told Jim that Uncle Ned
 was leaving. So I called his office
 After IS minutes sharp tussle with
 various grades of telephone operators | the managers office consented to try | to get my number. Presently the
 phone rang sharply. I took down | the receiver complacent1y, sure o1 | victory.
 II Over the wire came the words: II Your party doesn't answer" 0arsAAa3na,ci !