The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-07-15
When A Girl
 Mnrries
ByANN- LESLIE.
(Coutinued) CHAPTER CCCxxfv.

Intent as was however, on the aace that I was about to take Jim noted his odd manner of accepting my Statement
 Then suddenly found I didn't sknoW where to start swept back 70 the very begfnning---the loss of the ring. the realization that only two persons had had chance to take 1t and Bertha's confession that her hushand was crook just out of jail and that she didn't dare stay in ser vice with me.
 You said only two persons had a chance at the ring" interrupted Jim sraveay. 'Hawe you forgotten Booth ?'
 No, but of course he wouldn't" I began zevasively, choking back my in schna1on. to add, land even though you o1s1ke him. you know that Then I blnrted out '.oh, felt from the beginning it was Daisy ''So did IT, replied Jim calmly. i You knew?" I gasped : canst say I knew. But I knew ; what you thought"
 { .oh. Jim wasn't very clever at afad1ng my suspicious" 1 YOU were clever enough for the honest, transparent darling you are" r replied Jim smiling over the chair ]. top sweetly and understandingly. 1 But I'm your husband I've spent a coming to be more and more com pIeteIy one of you Your mental pro- ceSSeS aren't dark to me-. -Jimr'eI.eried in the light of a rev e1afiou. Early this evening when iyou asked if I trusted you fully and ,. entire1y--thiS was what you meant [ When you said if it wasn't for my wanting to help folks we'd have come to a. nasty place in our affairs more ] than once within the past weeks again you were thinking of this: Oh live been such a fool, thinking waS.so clever all along" ADo YOU want to be cleverer than i I?'' asked Jim gravely-
 Mo, I don't" I cried, putting my arms about his neck and laying my face against his hair. "I want you { to be just what you are-dozens of times smarter and more efficient than I am. I'm your wife-that's what ann Jim Harrison's wife, I'd hate to have it the other way around and you merely Barbara Anne Lees hus- band.
 "Bless your heart; you dear, hu- man, funny little thing, you're the cleverest person hereabouts. But I'm used to thinking things out-in a game where you have to outguess the other fellow. Ann, you're good : sport, and a nervy little gambler. Now go on with your story, please"
 'tJim'' said, stumblingly- 'Tll never forget that you let me work 1t out. You made yourself sympathize with me even if you couldn't with my poor Kate's little sister. And I guess
 
 and make a decisive move"
 .I sure didI'' laughed Jim, reminis- gently. 'tBut it was your game You see. kiddie, that gambling spirit you hate in me was on your side this time"
 HOW" cried
 .sWen, I've told you my theory be- fore. The fellow with a good poker wins-no matter what cards the other ' fellow holds. You kept straight face that told nothing. And you act ed like the whitest little sport I've ever heard tell of. You couldn't help winning in the end. You had the kid licked from the start So held off. I'd have hated it if you could have gone on much longer without telling me. What made you decide tonight? Notice anything? See anything queer?"
 .@Why, no,' I replied, and told him of my search for the blue dress I'd given Daisy and of the way I'd had a mental housekeeping while I was ransaclSing the place for it.
 4.Now I've a confession to make.'' said Jim.
 aYou2'I asked uneasily.
 ~Sure. When I breezed into the room and found the ring lying there q noticed a parcel on the chair. l Thought it was some new shirts I'd ordered. Opened her up. Found that blue dress Oceans too small Tor
  seen wear it Flung it into my closet because, I didn't want to force your hand. And then you came in, and finding me with the ring and the lavender thing you'd worn when the jewel was lifted and couldn't tell me an out and out lie, but thought I'd fall for your yarning to Uncle Ned over the phone"
 son. Jim!" I cried, hiding my face on his shoulder.
 -~The blue dress is on the shelf of my closet" said Jim "I thought you'd have to come to me about it eventually.
 ssI came without having to- I said softly. -rn always be glad of that. ] things, dear. Maybe some day you'll come to me. Then there will be per feet confidence between us. Jim gave me an odd start and con- trolled it suddenly. Then he said, re- turning with obvious relief to the subject of Daisy:
 "Now the next thing is to get the dress back to the kid. She needs it bet''
 "Jiu. darling, you're wonderfully T cried. 'T haven't told you how ! agouizingly she Sok it-how she suf- fered and wanted to pay by going to jail. I haven't even told you she brought it back of her own free will AnS h,ae Set yer gep Hep.~ understand You nave lPity!" repeated Jim, and I was never more surprised than at the way he said that, for I'd thought the liar rison pride had no understanding of i the need of mercy. "Pity? We all need it. Go as far as you like with the Condon child or anyone else you yvant>fo help. Pm with you.' srVVe,re together" said. To- Eether at last
 And if Fate knew what was going +o raDpen the very next day-how she must have grinned-
 TO Be Continued.
 Good Picker?
 First Lady-"Since my husband has chic idea of adopting French