The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-06-29
When 4 Girl
 MUyries
(Continued1
By ANN LESLIE.


 There was one moment of bravado as Daisy Condon stood facing me across the bright spaces of my room Then she crumpled and stood with bowed head, abject and pitifuL And in the palm of the hand she held to- ward me my pearl ring
 So she was a thief after all Rates little sister was a thief I'd been right all along. There was my ring. My beautiful ring How I hated itI I couldn't break, that was the one outstanding thought in the turmoil of my mind.
 'I hate my ring. hate my ring. See what it's done. See what it's made of Rates little sister,"
 found myself staring at the lus- trouS pearl. unable to speak, unahle to do anything at the moment ar to decide what I must presently do. The little enamel clock on my dressing table ticked loudly. The sound of Hedwigs footsteps as she shuffled up the hall rasped on my ears like Then I heard some one clearing her throat gratingly and Daisy's voice creaked out:
 .<Won't you ever say anything? get it over with. I can stand that What I can't stand is this-facing you and knowing what I am and what you think of me. I.don't de- serve any mercy, but show me some anyway Send for the police and get it over.''
 'Tm not going to send for the po- lice"
 My voice was low. It seemed to come from far away. I wondered for a-second if I'd actually said this or if I'd only thought it Then 1 heard Daisy repeating in an incred-
 'aFYoure not going to send for the police? You're not going But you a. thief. I have to be sent to prison"
 Don't say that" I gasped, sinking . down in the nearest chair and cover ing my face with a shaking hand 3.Dpntay that Kate,s sister,
 Leave Kate out of this," Daisy broke in passionate1y- '-She doesn't Seiong in it. I'm glad she's.gone and doesn't have to bear the shame of being my sister. This is between you and me and-the police. Won't you send for them now and end this?'
 As she spoke, Daisy came and laid the ring on the orchid negligee had flung over the arm of my chair Then she backed away with a. qulck Jerk and fattened herself against the waal and her voice jumped out in little staccato bits.
 aI didn't dream would ever be a | thief But I am. hated you. And I wanted the ring. So I took it the way you were taking Carl I guess that's how I reasoned We'll, l its over now. I don't blame you for 1 not mainting to touch me and take 1 the ring out of my hand. Or for not speaking to me. I'll be glad to go to I prison, so you needn't mind putting 1 me there. It won't be as bad as lying awake nights and thinking about it and waking up and going | through the days l put a package there on the couch when I first came in. It's the dress you gave me Please oh, please-send for the police and | tell them you have the thief
 ''Pn do nothing of the kindP' My l voice sounded amazingly brusque as I broke in vigorously.
 You won't do that and get it | over? I can't bear any moret" Daisy 1 crumE,led back against the wall and covered her face with shaking hands. when I lad my hands on her shoui- ders.
 feeling my way slowly. You stopped | being a thief the minute you walked | in here and returned the ring. A thief wouldn't do that. No one had discovered you The real You simply ! couldn't do the thing the other You | had tried to do. You and are the onby ones who know about that other | You. And we can keep our secret
 Daisy'S arms dropped to her side She stood staring at me tncredu- fousfy for a moment, and then she laid her fingers tmdly on fold of
 .No." she said. "No. It isn't right, | don't deserve it. It isn't possible. l No one could be so kind You must make me pay. You can't let thief off"
 'Daisy." I cried, shaking her dropping shoulders vigorously. Stop calling yourself a thief. You've met temptation and you've overcome it. And all the rest of your life, you'u fight down your temptations before they threaten to destroy you. You owe this to uoe-as a debt of honor, now. And think that's all we have to say to each other.''
 The tears were running down Dafsy's ashen cheeks. Her face was working piteously so that she had to struggle to steady her mouth to form words:
 You can't mean it! How can you let me off? How can you let me stay on at MT. Mason's? How can you touch me?''
 Gro Be Continued-)
 In 1917 occurred the latest maxi mum of SunSpotS-