The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-10-18
When A Girl
 MUrries
By ANN LESLIE.
CHAPTER CCCLXXXVIH.

CHAPTER CCCLXXXVIH.
 You've sold the car!' I gasped. You've discharged Lyons and sold How
 And then I stopped. My mind swept back for some reason-some explanation in the happenings Of the thing. But none offered itself-in- deed, not a single thing-not the shadow of a quarrel, even-presented itself in explanation of this amazing act of Jims.
 Then the grayness of his haggard face forced itself into my thoughts, it scattered them and brought me back to the moments need-to Jims need. For Jim seemed to be waiting for me to say something more, to De watching my face with greatest in- "Of course, we still have the little car," I offered in place of what had been on my tongue. And I can drive it tt,1 myself-yerg t,erys we'll xouve saio
 "Yes, you do drive well-and you still have the little car: That's what I thought. It's all right, isn't it. But let's have dinner now.
 So foreign to Jim's eager nature was this postponement I ought to have understood right then that there troubling him It is impossible even now to forgive myself for not under standing instantly. I may never be able to absolve myself in my own account it to my credit that in this moment I remembered my long-ago promise to Jim that he should lead, and sol didn't insist upon an inn mediate explanation. slipped my arm into his and silently entered the dining room with him.
 | Strangely enough all through our almost silent dinner, the thought uppermost in my mind was not Jim nor yet my loss in selling his car. What troubled me most was the fact that Lyons had lost his position with us-the situation in which he felt the need, and had the stimulus to keep straight, to do the right. What would | this sudden dismissal mean to Lyons and to Bertha, the woman who has stuck by him all these years, and who felt him safe so long as he was with us. What job could he obtain now? l How would be conduct himself when away from Bertha?
 The loss of the octagon gold piece came to my mind. It came as found it. perhaps where had drop ped it knotted in my handkerchief- and kept it? Would he think, would Bertha fear-supposing she knew of that Lyons had taken the octagon, nor even that he had seen it. But the whole situation loomed in my mind 
 which I must take instant action. Leaving Jm to finish his dessert alone, and giving but the flimsiest ex- cuse, a forgotten message to Virginia, I hurried to the telephone. Oddly enough, Jim didn't protest. He seemed content to daily with his des- This came to me even while I spoke with Bertha, who, luckily. answered the Dreamwold phone.
 Without wasting words or 1nincing r 4oI4 ho Ich hof hl6 happened-for yet she knew noth- ing of her husbands dismissal- promised her that I would try to place him and asked her to have him call upon me in the morning. The gasp with which she receved an explana- ton told me how deep the shock, how great the fear was to her.
 him quick!'' she walled. What will he do! What will he dol"
 Tell Mrs. Dalton that I've just ask her to telephone me if you may come into town for me-then you can find him and bring him to me tomor- row yourself
 It was an undiplomatic thing to do, this freak" of mine in ordering my sister-in-law's maid to come to me without asking Jeanie's permission. But I was urged to the action by the noise of Jims chair pushing back | from the table. In another moment I knew that he would be within hear ing, and I didn't wish to add this an noyance to his burden whatever 1t might prove to be.
 With a hurried Bless you. ma'am." Bertha hung up and I swung around Jim. The tenseness had in a measure fled from his face, but the grayness still was there. And his voice held a metallic ring as he said:
 | "Got a minute you can give me now?"
 He was seeking a note of playful ness, but sensed rather than knew how much the effort cost.
 l Even now I didn't understand. As | I look back upon that moment I won- der why I didn't comprehend, why l did not help him tell me what he had to tell me And yet how could I
 Jim didn't put him arms about me as another man might have done with his wife. Nor did he even put one arm about my shoulders as a comrade might have done with another com rade. He simply slipped his arm through mine and led me into the lfv- | doors sbehind us that we might be secure from interruption, safe from ears that might even innocently hear. 1 I'm worried, dear,' he said, limp ing about the room nervous1y, then back to face me on the couch to which I had sunk to rest Worried more you haven't been watching the market 'No" I confessed. Then I caught the glfnts in his eyes in the gray mess of his face. I began to compre- hend ''why, Jim!" I cried. Whats the matter? You haven't-you aren't?"
 | Perhaps I am-whatever you may meanl'' he laughed, in a tone far diff ferent from any I had ever heard his voice hold. Heres the straight of 1t. There's something funny about the biggest of the oil wells on which I have been p1unging. I've got to tell you about it. Listen.'
 Gro Be Continued.)