The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-01-11
When 4 Girl
 Morries
By ANN LISLE.
CHAPTER CDLVII

glimpse of Tom Mason and Daisy
 Condon dining at the little lakesid
 Inn where l was chaperoning Phoeb { and Neal for the weekend Month
 also had slipped by since the happ. 5 evening when Jim and MT. Haldan. rom and his white-haired housekeeE
 CT in the big old-fashioned house h
 SUI Keeps up. In all that time,
 hslqn,t caught glimpse of Tom.
 ILfe in the city has a way O
 sweeping folks along into patterns
 or while there's one group iI-
 which you will find yourself center
 ed Then you drift into another edd. 5 ana the former one recedes from you knowledge or runs along parallel [.
 Hand parallel Hnea never meee
 Then presto. The streams mingIe
 and you find yourself back with the
 group of friends you knew and say
 a lot of month before last day be Tore yesterday or years ago.
 All this sped through my mind aa hurried from my taxi into the red
 velvet lobby of the hotel where Evvy
 nad asked me to meet her and Tom was very late, but Virginia had in
 sisted on my going home to rest after
 my little visit with Neal, and there
 hadn't tried. One struggle with Vir- gdnia during any given day is enough Tor any eH'Hvalescent person.
 when I saw Evvy's sombre figure coming toward me. In her simple black costume, unreIieved by any caily childish and sweet. Gone is the girl who flirted with every other womans man and spitefully taught Phoebe to use a 1ip-stick. In her who mourns Sheldon Blake and what
 ne might have been.
 Hello, nice persons, I hope you're as well as you're bonny." Evvy called, adding, she c1asped my hand in both of hers: Toms gone to make sure they're holding the table he wants. He decided against dinner at home because he has things to say to you that he prefers not to have even his beloved 'Bihy' hear. Somehow he doesn't mind me. Isn't it wonderful that my dear big cousin Tommy feels so chubby with me all of a sudden?"
 She tossed her head as she chose those words reminiscent of the old Evvy. but I knew that she was hid ing real elation under her manner, so answered simply and honestly:
 '"Tom feels the wonderful change proud of his cousin and proud too. no doubt. that she always had faith in him.
 ''Even when he couldn't have it in me- laughed Evvy wistfulIy, adding with quiet emphasis. Toms the salt of the earth, Anne. And nothing can make the salt lose :ts savor, you under few disappodntments of the sort with which I managed to ruin my poor Sheldon. Maybe he's made a few human blunders because of 'em. But he's real folks just the same the salt of the earth, tell you. And Ahe'll prove it before you're through Arith him.
 "I know he's an honest, square
 Asiness man. He's proved that a1
 And once he had a chance
 LOW just what quality of loyalty
 felt for linn It was eighteen sJarat-and all wool and yard wide | and everything to justify your pride-' < Evvy smiled: leave it there, dear-for here Tom comes"
 A moment later my hand was seied In a hearty grip. and Tom was saying: |
 s'It's loyal of you to come. Donna Anna. And no one but little Evvv | would have pulled up stakes from her cozy country place and trotted into the city just to furnish the chaperon you demand. I've fine table in the alcove behinds the palms. so let's go off to our quiet nook"
 chosen dinner which seemed it's own excuse for being All Through it we talked of things in gen eraI and people in particular. Daisy Condon and Irma Warren. Daisy is making good at Toms uptown shop Showing a marked aptitude for the Tom deals. Irma is striking home ward from her trip to Alaska with her uncle MT. Haldane. They are due some time soon.
 These facts I assimiliated while | was waiting for Tom to get to the real point of our meeting. At last. when the theatregoers had finished | their dinners and drffted away, and leaned forward. fixed his eyes stead fly on mine, and said;
 'Donna Anna. k 0w you think I'm a rotter about women. Maybe, you were right at the time you formed the opinion. I've changed, but we wont stop to argue that now. It I think you believe in my loyalty to men-Pat for instance-and Jim. | Perhaps you're all the more inclin- ed to pin vour faith to my business 1t to counteract the tendencies you don't like. Do you follow me?"
 "Yes. Tom,' I answered; making no protests on the score of the side of his nature which I'd seen unpleas- antly emphasized in my own case. where Valerie Cosby was concerned. itself in regard to Daisy Condon- 'sYou've called me here for some bus mess matter Pm sure it's one of inn portance or you wouldn't have asked me to come" '.It is important" replied Tom. 'Tt's of vital importance. I want you to know I'm ready to stand by you and .srhe way you did once long ago. when Dick West had a plan to ruin Jim ?'' I broke in.
 Tom stared at me. Then he laughed shortly
 ssAre you a mind reader?'' he ask : ~5. s"This is about Dick Vest Hes G town again-plotting mischief, I'll E bet my stake. And Jims away--nYs- absent from town. Donna Anna. if you need a friend. if there's -nything pal can do for you. won't you call on me? If you want some nne 10 fight West here and now-if ,sou want someone to go after Jim mic and haul him back, won't you give me the chance? ?" "A lump. came into my throat III sat staring at my hands folded in rront Of me on the white cloth. Those hands could work. I felt Evvy's eyes nn mine and looked up to face a smile warming in its good fellowship Snd unfierstanding Suddenly she laid