The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-11-13
When A Girl
 Marrie5
By AWE T.ISxE

And can you put your finger on Ortiz?"
 If he's at his hotel I can." agreed
 Then suppose you have a goo at it right away, Mrs Harrison. The miss ing link in the story is--who promis- ed this Pancho Mateixa to put him in touch with Dick West? If il was someone very close to West, we've n real problem If it was just some one Mateixa and Ortiz both knew down at home or even merely someone Ma crixa knew. it may mean nothing. The Mexican is undoubtedly more or less of a stranger here. Some chsap he'd known down in his home territory might easily enough think West could show him his way around the town. and failing to produce West, offer something just as good. And if it was-Dad Lee, for in- stance. that puts entirely diTsrent construction on matters, doesn't it7'' asked.
 "You said it!' laughed Ralph Lecy admiringly.
 Luck favored me, when carried 1 out his suggestion a moment or two later I got Manuelo Ortiz on the wire and had difficulty in making l him understand that 1t would be a i great favor if he'd come down to my d 1 fsed to be with me inside the half 1 hour As I turned to MT Lacy to tell 1 him of my success, he asked: 1 Have you put Miss Storrs in pos l session of the facts? She may Know I of someone's younger brother or 1 cousin, who looks like Dick West and l likes to play practical Jokes Let's not l leave a stone unturned- | you're right, I agreed. at loss how to explain this seeming remfss- l ness But I knew there was nothing 1 I could reveal since my actions had 1 been based on the necessity of keep | ing Mabel's secret. l Fortunately Ralph Lacy was pursu- i ing a constructive train Of thought, l and was not the sort to cross question l me in any event, as l Knew In Nhe l back of my mind. 1 "Iisten!"' he cried with boyish en- | thusiasrn, "why can't we take Park in l On this-to certain extent? You've | got me roofing for you. and I'm proud l to think you've certain sense or I safety and satisfaction in knowing | you have the old pirate Rafe to counr 1 on. But Miss Storrs strikes me as l heinz mighty near alone in the world l Her young Oliver is a responsibility. He wouldn't be much of an asset 1 when 1t came to lighting off a real pirate like this West chap. Don't you think we ought to give her the full 1 benefit q Parks chtvalryE
 I've never liked Ralph Lacy better than in the moment when he sat striv- | ing to find just the right word with which to describe Parks interest in Mabel But when I answered 1t was with seeming inrrelevance- "You asked me to join you and Park tonight. Shall r" . "Of courser he cried. hooking up q my words with his own question "And if you're game, we'll try to reach Miss Storrs and ask her to join us. Then we can go into this phantom 1 Dick West business and have the benefit of Parks fresh viewpoint and Miss Storr's facts. You don't think I'm trying to asidestep responsibility, do your"
 "of course not'' T cried. you're assuming il"
 try to reach Mabel. MT. Lacy leaned dowon and asked eagerly:
 ''We won't take them into our se- screts, will we?"
 A note in his voice startled me- | put back the receiver and stared at I'm trying to sidestep reaponslplhty'
 CHATTER TAI
 "what you mean, MT. Lacy?" de- handed with a co1dness I couldn 1 keep out of my voice.
 "By secrets!" he asked tensely. 1 Then he strengthened up and said d. | most curtly: "I mean that even with these good friends, I don't thlnK there's anything to gain by discuss = ing the letter your husband gave Mrs Cordova and which came to you 24 hours later than there's any casua' way of accounting for. I'm work ing on that-and I'd rather not dis cuss 1t until the clue I'm following leads somewhere.'
 "Ohr I said blank1y and with great sense of relief. Then added s.Rosa gave me a useful bit of in formation in that connection. TT way of accounting for. I'm work Maj hel"
 Mabel, as I knew was safe ir figuring. was still at the office. Anc when I asked her briefly. and more 1T the tone of a request than invita- tion, to dine with us. she agreed quietly and without cH Hestion.
 Shall I come to your officer" sn' asked
 of you will that's the eastes way of meeting.'' agreed.
 If Pm there In half an hour vii that be time enough?" asked Mabel
 'FSp1endidy I said. "Se you later
 Then I turned to MT. Lacy and to1c HlIH HOW ISO5d IldQ IIIdlASu tliO ASNS-1
 from Jim's building, buying th' special delivery stamp right at tn
 cigar stand.
 "But there was no special deliver.
 stamp on the letter. objected MT Lacy.
 Precisely I agreed. That strucl me as rather important
 Rather important? It's might
 important cried MT. Lacy enthusias
 tica1ly. "Tu have to chase out fo
 half an hour and turn this bit of in
 fo in where 1t will do the most good
 But I can't leave you here
 alone.''
 .twhy not?' I asked.
 With that Orti chap coming in
 after hours? It won't do. He ism one of our family" smiled Ralpl