The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-10-06
CHATTER TOO.


 CHAPTER TOO.
 When Dad Lee disappared into the silence of night, the words he had just said seemed to echo all about me and to resound scornfully after him.
 Perhaps there was a piti1esS tri- umph in telling me that he knew where Jim is and then letting the night swallow up bothR Rhfrn and his information. But 1t seemed to me that some motive of pity had moved him. It was almost as if he were sorry for me because of what he knew. I stood staring after him as if I could so pierce the darkness of the mystery he had Suggested and of the hour itself.
 Then, because that was the onIy practical thing to. do. closed the door, shot the big nightbolt and dragged myself wear1ly up the stairs, my hand pressing white1y in the dark against the mahogany stair rail. I had no doubt that I was in for another so called white night'' of sleplessnesss
 My worst fears were confirmed. Still would have hated myself if it had been possible for ms to sleep while the problem Dad Lee had intro duced in his parting words, lay wait ing for some effort at leasfs to solve it.
 How do Dad Lee and Dick know where Jim is? How can they know2 Who can have told fhern7 Surely, since myself am denied this lxnowis- edge and since Mabel StorrB is for bidden it, the last persons in the world to whom Jim would wish this information to come must be Dick West and his friends.
 Iror them to know where Jim is means leak somewhere. But where? Have some of Jim.s pYans miscarried, 50 that information has filtered out. or is there some one who Is not true to Jin's best interests? MO matter how many aides have been delegated to take care of Jim's interests, I am the one to whom they mean most. since they also are my interests. So I must proceed care fully and warily in order Go make sure that no blunder of mine leads to greater t'1eakage'' than already has taken place.
 The time has come when i must manage to tie up the threads of Dick Vests weaving. Dad Lee is in the pattern. Before I move must get things clarified. Try as T have, can not see the way clearly alone. I must talk with some one. But with whom? A short time ago I would. without hesitation, have gone straight to Mabel Storrs. Now, though still trust her-and mean to make every personal stand I can on &nd for that faith In her-I cannot risk Jtrn's deep est interests in the hands of amy hu- man being on whom some one else know has dared to thrSw suspicion. can't go to Rosa CordoVa, Car Iotta, Tony and Betty are all out Of the question. Neithr Pat nor Neal is free to give me full measure or time I may need. That leaves only Tom Mason. I fe.l that l must go to him.
 At this point ceased tossing about, for it semed that a real decision was reached I ma1aged then to drift into ia state ressrn bling sfeep and to snatch a little tue rest.
 But I was a. ragged and weary be- ing when next morning entered the dining room Or an eight O'CLOCK breakfast was forcing down a glass of iced orange juice. hoping for the best from it's supposed medicinal effects, when Bertha came in to say that Miss Storrs was outside ana begged ne to see her at once.
 "Please lay a second place quickly, Bertha and then ask Miss Storrs to come n here. She can't have break fasteG so early in the m 1orning,"I said with smile which brought prompt and pleased recognition from Bertha.
 Two minutes later Bertha brought Mabel Storrs into the room. I leaped to my feet to greet her and then fairly arrested myself in nidmotion at Sight of my Goddess of Liberty girl.
 Her panor was like the coloring of old ivory. Her cheeks were drawn tightly over her cheek bones so that they stood out squarely in high reiief. Her eyes were sunken, and beneath them lay rpurpIish snnudges. She look ed like the dull image of the girl I'd seen yesterday shrinking from Ramon Ortiz and from the malicious triumph in Rosa Cordova's face.
 "Mabe1i" I gasped, shaken from anything that remotely resembles potse "G- good morning. Come and have breakfast with me. I hate eating alone"
 "I couldn't eat" Mabel nurmured without even the ghost of her usually vivid, clearness of speech.
 "You can drink 8 glass of iced orange juice" I replied firmly. Also you can take a cup or pIacK conee- Not only you canyon shant Am clear. young woman. my dear7 You must
 "Please Annie.'' said Mabel. If it had been anyone else, would have thought she was whimpering. ssYou come to see me at this un- earthly hour, therefore you are un- common anxious to speak to me, went on with 8 serenity I was far from feeling And you shall not say a word unless you've breakfasted al ready. Have you?
 fTo Re Continuedl