The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-12-02
When 4. Girl
 Marries
By ANN LIsIE
CHAPTER CDxxV.

AS nad planned, Father Andrew 1ar1dvedg at my apartment ahead of Meal.
 ::'The boy isn't hese yet, is hep he asked after he'd given me a hearty ibear-hug. For once in my life I kinda dread seeing my Neal This is going to be harder to tell him than etwas that time I suspiciorBed him of ybeing a slacker.''
 Eceded, making dear Father Andrew .cofnfy on the big couch in the living Iroom that wasn't mine any longer. do hope Phoebe keeps him finger Eang at her side until we get it all epianned and rehearsed."
 "Reckon the best thing is just to Ehand him the truth in quick dose Fhe can gulp down. We can count on Exny Neaa to stand up like a man and EIake ms medicine; You think so' fly.
 ;, Your son isn't going to whimper," Fl affirmed proudly. Meals only a Eof the man he's going to be-and lerss."
 Funny how you knew just the kverge of blind staggers, or whatever Eyou call blue funk around here. Bab- Josie. don't beliese you're just flat ftering. either" began Father Andrew Echeerily.
 Then he caught himself up short kand examined the bungalow. apron
  utes he looked from me through the kdoor tot the dining-room, which he was facing. = On the table were lying Emy knives and forks and spoons, to- gether with the big blank book I'd Ehrougiht for my inventory.
 Father Andrew rose, walked out minute drumming his fingers on the table. Then he came back and, put ] ting his hand under my chin, tipped my facs tn, endure the scrutiny of | Looks like someone was taking stock of goods on hand.'' he remark "That's what I'm dofng,'' I con I : "Appears to me that when girl does that it's because she's going to kHave you rented this place Babbsie?" ?" fasked Father Andrew gently: [ "Yes, dear" I murmured. --.-. lrwe here for a while because you sthink Jim won't be getting back for Ia right smart time?" - i 'Don'e ask me- cried. Then re alizing the unfairness of the answer, IT added, "I feel as if I ought to Ike kadvantage of this chance to make faot 9of money, dear: You know what Nifa5 Experiments bring enormous sums Carlotta Sturges made good bargain tfor me. And there is my father .T know" interrupted Father. An } he spoke .FYou dear dear child. If kypu aren't the bravest, sweetest girl lever a fine woman mothered, l don ;.know enough to come in out of the fnain. Hullo, there's the bell. Thatll .FWant to open the door, dear. while 1T rip off this tell-tafe apron and shut i the doors to the dining room, so Neal
 wont be having his mind on me when f he needs all his forces to meet his own problem?' I replied, seizing on this preteMt to secure for Father An drew the few minutes alone with Neal on which I felt even I had no 1 right to intrude.
 But just as I was slipping out of
 my apron I realized that what I'd mistaken for thoughtfulness might have been sub-conscious desire to sddestep the ugly telling of the tale
 of Dad Lee. So, like the King of France, who marched up a hill and then marched down again. trotted
 back to join my two dears
 'aThought you were going to leave
 it to me, Sis, to break the news of your renting your apartment! cr1ed 1 greeting to make me realize anew how protective his attitude had come to be And now you've gone and Sspilled the beans and got this dear old = .srhe apartments nothing,' I cried, waving it away with gesture: It Us l suit of Father Andhew,s trip to the Northwest that's worrying him-anu
 me-
 mind which couldn't be defiect- ! cd for the moment:
 'I didn't like renting this apart i ment in such a hurry, and l k1cked l from the minute Pat and Carlotta i started to put it over in such deuce
 of a rush. Phoebe feels just as l
 do about it"
 ,I His air of satisfied wisdom was so boyish and swast that for the mo paent I hadn't the heart to interfere with it. So I sent a pleading look | $o Father Andrew and XS both re-
 mained silent while Neal plunseo ahead: o,, bo++ar sunni
 than letting this place to a stranger Nv place is too little for us, so why sshoupdn't we sub-let that and take this department instead They come hlgh'
 oue .Who? You and Phoebe! What do you mean?" l gasped-
 "IsnTt Father Andrew back? what l do YOU think I nhean?" asked Neal.
 ..You cant mean you're thinking of getting married without Jim here to s1ve Phoebe away" ! countered
 .It isn't Jim." I cried. "But I don't feel sure you'll wish to go ahead [ after we've told you--
 "Vvait a minute, Babbsie," implored sFather Andrews voice unsteadily; "1t my place to tell this to my boy f Then standing and racing Neal eye | ko eve Father Andrew cried in
 Ush of words tumbEng over each oth- 'sSon-the man I went up to the Northwest to see, claimed he was lu-
 Gins (.IIucky'') Lee, my blessed Mar tha's first husband, and the father of
 our Babbsie here. I went up to find | out And I brought the man pack
 w5tb me. You can figure out ] wouldn't of done that for the world laf could have seen the way to avoid tM But I had to. He's our Baop' ! ESe,s real father. Neal. You know E%vhat that means, I reckon-my tBoy?''
 \ f9 Neal rocked off his feet as he faced 1 sae steady, compelling gaze of his l father's eyes. But his lips curled back in smile that was robbed of