The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-05-16


 T want you to hear about-rny | father" said steadily. "I think you | ought to know-for both our sakes." So hastily sketched the career of Lucky Lee from the vaguely remem- bered childhood days when he had deserted my little mother and me right up to the time when Dad Lee came back into my life a repentant prodigal
 Carlotta listened gravely. At the | end of my recital she asked odd | question:
 Does he seem as much your father as that glorious.s big Highland man you call Father Andrew ?" | T love Father Andrew" I replied, because I can't help it. He was | the only father I knew for long, happy years. He's the father of my heart I try to love Dad Lee because I ought to-
 Do you succeed 2" Carlotta per sisted.
 l 'No," I confessed shamefacedIy, | And I sometimes think it's too late for him to reawaken his own love for me. He adores Dick West. He'd | stand by Dick at any cost-and you've seen how that pleasant drug fiend re- wards the poor old man."
 Runs off and leaves the friend who was probably hurt trying to help l the West man get away" replied Carlotta thoughtfully. Anne, laugh if you like, but I think your poor misguided Dad Lee is rather a chiv- alrous persons. He has everything to gain by winning his daughters | love- He risks it all for a devotion l that brings him nothing but abuse 1 and danger"
 'Carlotta, you've said it!" I re- piled excitedly. 'I think we've the | clue to the whole tangle. Perhaps | Dad Lee tried to keep Dick from running away and Dick-beat him up 1 for his pains. Then this Rogers man who is evidently another of our fascinating Dicks stanch adherents, must have taken orders from Dick and worked out a scheme whereby even if Dad Lee decided to betray Dick to me, I couldn't make a move to keep Dick from escaping. He's the friend who went to Canada! You heard Rogers say that so Dad Lee would be sure to hear--didn't your"
 T think you're right said Car l lotta slowly And I fancy that from now on, your Dad Lee will be on your side. It was about the final touch when Dick deserted him."
 "I wonder" I said slowly. "I won der.''
 When Carlotta and I met for an early breakfast on the morning after our strange experience in the hotel ! where Dad Lee lay battered and bruised we looked at each other searchingly for a moment, and then Carlotta's eyes crinxled up and a giggle escaped her lips.
 There wasn't anything particularly funny about being shut up in a tow | err like the old time prisoners, but the contrast between our present snug and smooth safety and the i'm agined horrors of the night before, sent us off into peals of nerriment. | Here we sit eating four-minute boiled eggs.'' gasped Carlotta- Just as if we hadn't come near being pris- l oners for life.'
 l '"That isn't the worst of it." I re- piled, taking my cue from her ban | tering tone. we liked that tower go back for more.''
 "Yep!' breezed my daring compan- ion. And here we are swallowing our coffee sca1ding hot so we won't waste a minute getting to MT. Rog- CTS nice little hotel and being stuck for the day maybe"
 "Oh, everything's different in the daytime,'' I replied cheerily. ''Fd be game to trot down alone and take some of Bertha's splendid hot broth | to poor old man Dad Lee" | Don't snub me-or I won't give you the suggestion I have in my mind. N'TWhy don't you telephone and inquire for your father, Mrs. Harrt- son?" asked Carlotta pursing her mouth as if shsd just had a spoon full of quince.
 Would you do that?'' asked sol- emnly. Well, somehow I think I won't The wires at the hotel are so overstrained, and I hate to bother dear Mrs. Rogers sweet, obIiging op- erators."
 Just then Bertha came into the room to announce that Lyons was waiting with his car ], 'tBut thought he'd started to meet MT. Norreys?" I flung out interroga- lively
 1 "cNo. ma.am-" He figured that if I'd pack him @ lunch for this noon and tonight, maybe he could start at 10 or so and drive straight through all day without losing time And he felt he'd like to be with you this starts away said Bertha respectful | ly.
 knew, without being told, that Lyons had not related to Bertha the precise nature of the service he was rendering me Part of his loyalty was to accept my attitude of reticence in regard to my prodiga1 father, and to follow my lead in the matter even though he didn't know where 1t was carrying him
 That man is a wonder" Carlotta gasped. "He shares our taste in ad- venture nicely. Pack him an extra good lunch, Bertha-add dozen sandwiches and all the cake in the house."
 'Yes, ma'am,' said Bertha respect fully. astonished at the regard for