The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-04-23
When A Girl
 Marries
By ANN LESLIE.
CHAPTER CCIX.

When I finished telling Jim Lane Cosby's story Jim sat silent for a moment staring at the ceiling and puffEng hard at the last of a. series of cigarettes he had been smoking steadily all the while I related the circumstances leading to Loretta Cos by's death and Lanes second mar riage.
 Poor old Lane" he muttered to himself. Poor old chap! And no one would think he ever had care in the world.''
 He crossed and uncrossed his knees Testlessly several times still m murnurinsy his comments without taking any notice of me.
 I'll stand by the poor old chap. Guess he's groggy from all the sharp knocks hes had. That cat-can't do .. thing. Women are a queer bunch
 Then he pulled himself up sudden ly and turned to me, speaking grave
 "Anne have you ever stopped to realize that with the Harrison name. the money I'm making now and your own personal charm. you can take your position with the best in society any time you're ready?"
 I did a riGht-about-faCe to put myself in tou.h with Jim's mood. Do you want me to be society leader, lad ?''
 Virginia. I'd like to resume our old position" commented Jim, 'Yes. and I'm pretty keen to get back to the old place. I'd like it all right. It was ours once, and we have the equipment now. It's only a ques-
 He hesitated, and finally went on with an air of abstraction:
 "It's-a question of how much trouble Evvy has started for the Cos 5ys and how much championing " to ask you to make any sacrifice for Val. I'm wise to that little Anne.'
 Jim: I you .donttt dont think ooI+ I'd mind Ind 2? much to me. And if it's going to boycott our standing by Lane and being loyal to him I'll despise it Val doesn't count It's what we owe desert IIane-never!'
 Jim fairly flung himself from his chair to sit on the arm of mine and draw close to him. For min ute I felt his lips my hair, then heard him murmur very tender ly:
 Sweetheart! My lilac lady. If thoroughbred you are, Anne-what an absolute thoroughbred! Virginia talks an awful lot about being an aristocrat- You just naturally are one From now on, Jimmie's on the job. And you inspired him. He won't forget that in a hurry
 Can l inspire you to do anything about Miss Evelyn Mason in another connecticut ?'' I asked tentatively, wondering if I could bring myself to talk to Jim about mothers dia- mond circlet, once Phoebes engage ment ring-now about to be used as Evvy's wedding ring.
 Jim interrupted me before I had finished nerving myself to the ordeal.
 You still have your heart set on winning Neal away from Evvy and patching up matters between him and Phoebe? ?'' he asked.
 piled
 T wish it could be done, dear I wish it could be done," said Jim, thoughtfully- Then he added. By heck, Anne, I'm the Sleepiest, hredest man in three countless! You wouldn't think I was casting aspertions on the charm of your society, would you, if ] suggested that now at the modest hour of two a. nl- I am in the mood to do a bit of sleeping?''
 So I didn't tell Jim then about Mothers diamond circlet. And the affairs of the next day demanded so much of my attention that Phoebe and Neal had to be neglected. told myself encouragingly that a day or two couldn't matter and there would be time for them later.
 Toward noon next day Tom Mason telephone me. At once I jumped to the conclusion that he wanted to discuss VaPs affairs with me his ideas about Evy'S persecution of Val So before he started framing his re- quest l felt that I must accede to it :
 Anne will you meet me for lunch . today?' he said and then rushed on to an explanation that amazed me. TT m asking you ito be one of .. party of three and the third is about the last person in the world you expect ever to see again. As a matter of fact you're going to be a complete surprise to him when you join us. It's Dick Vest
 '-Dick West!' I gasped in amaze ment at the idea of Toms asking me to meet Jim's ex-partner.
 'tStart1es you, doesn't it?'' asked Tom 'trd like it mighty well if recommendation that it'll be to your advantage to stroll in at about 1:15. Will you take a chance on my be- ing the devoted friend of yours I've often declared myseIf?''
 'I can't Tom" I Said with honest regret that I couldn't conquer my deep distrust of him. ''I can't come. I've no desire to see Dick West again, and I don't see what right you have to suppose that I'll lunch with you" that I'd do about anything for you You like me about well as you do West" Tom laughed bitterly. But this meeting is going to prove that even double-cross a man who trusts me. Anne, West is planning to re- venge himself on Jim for putting him out of the firm. He inragines that jealousy will prompt me to help him. He's a dangerous enemy ready to dynamite your Jimmie. Now will you come?''
 Yes I replied, swept past eau tion. belief or disbelief Where shall l meet your"