The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-12-17
When 4 Girl
 MOrries
CHAPTER 43S.
By ANN LESLIE.

cepting NeaIS presence With a calm ness which told me that the culture must have come back negative. I had been too ill to no;ice the doctor here tofore, but now I found myself star ing at him with mixture of admira- tion and dislike.
 He is a Eyronic-1ooking man, slen- der yet sturdy looking. The ivory pallor of his facs is lighted by velvet brown eyes and red lips that have plushy smoothness. When he began to talk in a soothing voice. with a sharp note of challenge masked un- der the .gentleness, which I felt sure he merely assumed, I found myself ali once attracted and irritated.
 Good news; I lady I'd ns said d,,r Dr' N1Ir- Mir- Ra hbun, call him. "The culture is negatively, and what is more, shere are no streptococcus germs to make even the tonsiiltts an agorizing af- fair. So now we'll risk letting this handsome young caller of yours kiss your fingers before he goes.''
 My brother and I can do very well without the kissing" I replied coldly, stressing the fact that my ''caller" was my brother. tfWha:i we want is a good talk. So as soon as you've fin ished with me Miss RathIbun may take her two hours off"
 ! Indeed. Iady!" repdied Doctor suppose you think because you haven't diphtheria I am going to dis miss myself and let you run this lit tie ranch. But no doctor would send himself away from such an enchant- ing sick-abed lady till he must. Be- sides. the anti-toxin is going to give you a pretty bad time It hasn't any diphthheria germs 10 fight, so it will fight my pretty patient and make her so miserable she'll be crying for her doctor instead of crying out against him. Now, Ii !tle lady, we'll just ask brother to run along while we get you shipshape for the day"
 Come back, Nea1!'' I called weak ly after his retreating figure. Come back There are things I've got to tell you"-
 Neal turned in the doorway, tossing back his dear young red head and called out cheerily:
 Don't you worry, Babbste. know a lot of things without your telling me about 'em- Trust Neal, sis; he'll take care of you.''
 'I don't want him to-" I persisted, trying hard to play on the doc1or's evident weakness for feminine fat tery. "Please, nice. kind doctor, be good to your patient"
 ''If you were pleading for me to stay ,Iow, instead of your brother"- began Dr. Norman, but he interrupted himself suddenly as the nurse flashed an almost vdtriolic glance al him. girl is our well girl. We'll give Mrs. Harrison a sedetive, Miss Ratf1bun, and get her nicely settled for a nap before you leave her.
 "All right" said Miss Rathbun.
 I vaguely noticed that her voice was almost surly and that when Dr. Norman went she made pretense of being busy so she wouldn't have to help him on with his coat. Just as I was drifting off under the influence of the soothing medicine they'd given me I noticed that the nurse dropped the ice-pack wish which she was fuss r,,cr < l gir1ish eagerness I'd never before seen her display At once I heard a nurmur of voices-one eager and inssstent, the other deep and impa- tient.
 Up to this time Miss Rashbun had been to mo nothing more than @ piece of ma achincry. but now I found myself wondering about her-there is some something of the look Evvy Mason has worn ever since Sheldon Blake's death.
 On the next morning. however. Miss Rathbun did something which brought my wavering attention to focus. She came up from her break fast with a queer air of suppressed excitement.
 We can't let your family come in and disturb you" she volunteered, but see what have for you.''
 She whipped a letter from under her apron and stood watching me
 
 In weak fingers. The envelope was Jin's business one. When I opened it a sheet of blank paper pell out and with it lavender check signed Mabel Stoors. I gathered them up hastily and peered up anxiously at Miss Rath- bun. She was watching me with a look that seemed one of pity.
 Setting. my lips grimly I determined thai neither doctor nor nurse should keep me longer from the work I had to do. Suppressing a feeling that Vir- ssirGia and Phoebe had been so afraid of conta,gion that they'd neglected me. I asked Miss Rn thyun if she would'd request Mrs. D-l Ion to come in for minute.
 'sThe doctor doesn't want you to see anyone" f1ut4ered the uurse. rher eyes on the envelope which I slipped under my polIow.
 ''F-' I must"' cried There are thing at stake"
 Mrs Harrison said Miss Rath- bun with a grim air of finality which told me I'd get no satisfaction from pleading with her, ''the doctor says you're to see no one Those are my
 There seems to be a conspiracy to keep me In bed" I cried petulantly. but at sight of the nurses flushing face I broke off abruptly.
 Suddenly I was convinced thai there was a conspiracy-that I was being held in bed while plots went i forward against my Jim. Well. I'd have to plot also. But I wai,ed for the doctors coming to try it.
 "Couldn,t you let your patien. sit up a while today. doctor man?" coaxed after he'd greeted me gaily.
 Trying to get rid of me again ?'' he asked, adding suddenly: "Oh, Miss Rathbun, will you run down and get our patient a fresh supply of ice? Her bag isn't cold enough.' Scowling, the nurse departed. The doctor watched her, smiling. Then he leaned over me tenderly and asked:
 What would my little patient say if told her I was going to wrap her up nice and warm tomorrow and take her for >a little drive with her doctor man?''
 I caught myself on the verge of objecting, but cried gaily: "I'd say-fineH'
 At that moment the door flew open and in rushed the nurse. i ''The icebag, please" demanded the doctor curtly.
 1 "Maid's bringing it up," repied Miss l 5efi