The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-12-13

possibilities l oldn [ want 10 budge. I found myself staring around the re- .cepLion hall with eyes that were al- most furtive- The apartment seem ed hostiIs in it's emptiness. Betty's Keys rattled and tangled on their ring. It was a full moment before realized my hand was shaking and caused the chatter.
 the hall. flooded the living-room with light and sank down in a big couch, drawing my feet Up under me for there for a long time. I was almost too numb to think. Or perhaps lectures and fears were knocking at the door Of my imagination. 1 didn't dare open it a chink lest an idea that would have power to hurt beyond en- durance, creep in.
 looked at my wrist watch. It was only quarter past eleven. We had left Carlotta's early in view of the long drive Pat and Jeanie had before them. I visualized them on their way to Dreamy wOld-together I remen1b 1bered the eagerIfess with which Neal had let me and had gone back to join Phoebe They were together, too. As for Jinn-how did I know W here he was or with whoIa?
 The unwelcome thoughts had found Q. chink and had crept in- I didn't dare sit still since I was now so easy 6 prey to my imagination. Hastily I arose and went down the dark hall to my room. For now the dark had no terrors for
 flung off my street clothes, Ian 2 hot bath. took a hasty plunge and slipped into fine sIlken garments that caressed me and cOmforted me. Then again I sat and waited. Surely Jim would cone soon.
 .. After a bit I began to realize that Jim would be cold and tired and per F11aps even hungry when he came. So 1T went out to the kitchen and pre- Fpared the smooth, strong chocolate he likes. Then I tossed a salad to- gesher and got bread ready for toast 1
 It was midnight when the tele 1 phone rang ilnperiously. I felt sure 1t must be Jim. But it Rosa's voice that jerI1ed out at me almost without 8 preliminary word of greet ing.
 'Is Jaime there?"
 Have you Q message? Is there some thing. he ought to know?" back Rosa's voice in such a lifting l cadence of relief that terror caught | IRt my heart.
 I couldn't ask if Jim had just 1 joined her. Yet I felt that her sud 1 den flare of contentment could mean | Snothing els GO could dIi hear Q blur of
 'It's all right now. I'm sorry if l rhaye disturbed you. Good night, |
 something of scorn, of easy tri umph in her tone seemed almost to | drive me mad. rattled the receiver frying to get her back, but suddenly tCentraTs voice shrilled out wearily: |
 sI have a call for you Wait a minute, please. Hold the line. All fright Go ahead
 Then Jinl's voice:
 Well. Anne-this is a fine mis- undarst8pdirg!"
 "Where are you? 2" I demanded l more franticaIjy than he could know.
 "Out at pr=alnwold. Jeanie just got in I thought you'd be with her 1 Thought of course you'd come here. 1 Where else-in the name of com l mon sense would we expect to find each other?'
 ''Why Jfm-I told you. I showed you Betty's keys,'' I stammered in a sort of exasperadon that all my preparations were for nothing, that n1l my worries were also for nothing.
 And how was to dream that you'd take up that offer? You ing around among your friends can remember once when you almost threw Betty's keys in my face. But now there you are all hunky dory and here I ar. and its midnight"
 Couldn't yop drive in % I began ,,,rLt9 ,LAnd Keep Jean1e,s zttfnl man up all the little car, which you'll suggest next and do the driving at this hour: NoDI guess we'll have to stay put" sure m'' I said blankly trying to keep a. trernble out of my voice note in his laughter. I cut across iT with a nervous desire to alter his mood.
 l see anyone important"
 ''How much information do you think I can afford to give you over the phone 2' Jim's voice was curt.
 "Couldn't you risk saying that you did or didn't see soma one inlpor- fant 2'' I ventured. with an attempt 1 be discussing the foreign leon to Ru- ] ritaia or some mythical kingdom"
 ''T'In out of touch with all this re ! partee," replied Jim. Eve been off fin rough places working like a dog on a big proposition. I've got my hand out of the social stuff I'm not | much Of a Iady's man-these days. Jeanie told mo you had a bang-up | dinner at Carlotta's and that I was news when she said you were there and Neal took you to RettyS- Any way. the one thing that matteEsed wasn't the sort of subject I'd discuss. even with Jeanie-''
 ''vas that precious person known as Norreys among those present ?' getting all he'd said about caution over the telephone.
 "Of course'' I replied. accenting it deliberately. "If you think moment you'u realize he'd have to be at Carlotta's 's''
 ''sidestepping a bit, aren't you?"
 'No, I'm not" I flung back hotly ''Only this is another of those things we can't discuss over the telephone"
 elf that isn't just like a woman" snaried Jim. You'd risk tallingl . over matters on which-a fortune hinges, but a bit of-cbatter, gossip -is sacred
 ''Oh. Jim, I protested. near tears. Are you being fair to .ne2 I wasn't planning to plan any names when I asked if you'd unearthed anything important A Yes or a No wouldn't have committed you to much. It's hard enough to be separated from you again, but not even to krow-
 '"Whose fault is the separation?' asked Jim in his loftiest tone No sane man would ever think Of looking : for 1rnrr art-rvna-t hut Ieanie'S ] [