The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-03-14
Chaptr CCxxy.
Chapter CCXXV. (Copyrtsht. 1919, King Features Syn dfcate, Inc.)

GhaDtGT (Copyrfght, 1919, King Features Syn l dfcate. Inc.)
 Haven't we met before?" asked
 Mrs Stoughton, a wen-groomed,
 pear1-decorated nelghbor, sas Evvy
 presented her to Valerie Cosby. on I the evening of her dance at Mason
 "oh-have we?'' asked Valerie, the cream of her voice slightly soured.
 'How nicer' purred Evvy. "Old friend"
 .Yes. it was about six years ago.
 We were staying at a hotel in Can ada and you and MT. Cosby motored
 through one eyening; Is; remember Stouehton with an air of great posi- tiveness.
 For the moment Val seemed bored but her expression changed suddenly l'to apprehension and something .bor- dering ons terror when Mrs. Stoughton 1 cried out: "Oh. there's MT. Cosby now! I'd I remember him anywhere. But some how I wouldn't have known you If F,yyy hadn't introduced us. She was
 so sweet about making point of | having us meet again when l told
 her I thought we'd met years ago" | Val turned her head lazily and
 fixed her narrowing eyes on Evvy. | Never had Evvys wide blue eyes
 been more childlike and bland; but
 felt something rapier-like dart be- l
 cious smile crink1ed Evyy,s lips for
 the fraction of a second. | Then Jim came to claim Val for
 the waltz I 1onged to have with him.
 So, seeing Tom Mason bearing down on me with a purposeful air, I didn't | ignore the signalling foref1nger ! Lane Cosby was waving at me across | the room, and went, half way to meet him.
 | you've been too darned popular
 with these hunting, golfing country gentlemen tonight" he said with
 heavy gallantry, as he steered me out
 for a bit of equally heavy danelng. I,g
 'FWho was that woman you were talk | ing to? She's been staring at me all
 evening. Stoughton? Don't remem- | Der the name.
 his short breath for the dance. Mer- cifulIy the first encore proved enough l for the big brown bear and he sug-
 gested we go out to the portico for | a breeze and a glass of punch. l 'sIt's a shame that handsome young ] brother of yours can't be down to-
 might he said, as he slipped his cool
 ing drink. Little Evvy recovered all 1 right and I should think his nerve | might have been as good as hers | "He rescued her and had the strain | of swimming in and bringing her, too" began defensively, and then my | eyes were attracted to a room that | had suddenly sprung into light Just
 above the portico, at right angles | from where we were Sltung- Before the curtain was pulled down I recognized Neal at the window | Neal fully dressed in an ordinary bus- | mess suit Then I casst6 see his
 shadow moving about the room, and | though I couldn't make out what he
 was doing I got the absurd impress | sion that he was packing. A@ Presently a, crowd surged out 10 | the portico the dance ended | Among the newcomers was ENVY For | a moment or two she came and perch- i ed on the arm of my chair Her head | was thrown back and wondered 1T ] here eyes were on the lighted quad
 rangle of NeaPs window. But she made no comment and soon the music for the next dance struck up ana we | were both claimed as partners.
 | At the end of the dance 1 slipped up to NeaPS room- The doorknop yielded to my touch. But Neal d1dn' answer when spoke. l went III ana | flooded the room with light Neal | wasn't there-
 On the oak stand lay his suitcase. | It was strapped and locked. Meals | ebony brushes were gone from the
 dressing table. The glass top lay bare l over a brown and amber taffeta cov- er I sat down for I felt that Neal hadn't gone far, and would surely re | turn for his suitcase
 1 A net easement curtain billowed in | and out of the window. From below | I could hear the strains of Hindu l staa-an, I met her and my world be- i gan" The music walled and whimp- I of nd