The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-12-11
When A Girl
 Marries
By ANNE LISEE
CHAPTER T6E.

to break a speed record I realized
 this was his way of assuring me tha.t
 charge Of me. But felt Uneasily that had been thrust upon him and that
 was imposing on his chivalry. I
 5tammered something of the sort, but
 his reply set my fears at rest.
 ''Whose little job is 1t that's en- gaglng my attention, madam =, he Harrison proposition Pm engae&t in putting through, and how l serve the HarrisCn faction dOe@n't matter. w at does count is for me to serve. And now that I've refused to rise to the bait and tell you how delightful I lind this trip in your cOmpany-what are you going to do next about my bOorishness.'
 "To laugh at the idea Of your knowing what boorishness means," l replied gratefully, and proceeded to found myself recovering from the tenseness caused by the news of Dicks death and wanting to go fur ther into the matter.
 Dick West is-gone,'' I said slow 1y. Its a great relief to know this -i can't tell you how great
 T sometimes thought l ought to tell you my suspicious began Mir. Lacy and then hauled himself up quickly
 You knew all aIong,' I gasped in
 T surmised,'' he corrected. News paperman's hunch-that was all. NOIhlnS to boast aDOG--
 Seeing that he was uneasy I real ized that lis fine generosity was en- barrassed at getting any credit for what he had been clever enough to froce Dad Lee to confess.
 An uneasy reserve sprang up be- tween us suddenly. ! realized that a man of MT. Lacy's acumen, couldn't have avoided Se@lnS there was some thing wrong between Jim and me. I felt shamed and humiiated as I real ized how clear everything must be 4 61C f~J -I,- 4,-;,- so hard to avoid any sign of knowl- edge that would make me uncom- fortable. Then MT. LacS said very
 'Iu bet MT. Harrison had a huncfl about how to turn this knowledge to quick account. Dick Wests-exit, we can quite realize. MT. Harrison may be on the track of the papers he needs now. But I've an idea that nothing will do much good until
 He stopped quickly and there was actually a hint of a blush on his face. It was almost as if Neal were there in the car with me.
 ''rhank you, my good friend.' I said quickly, laying my haid for a Traction of a second on his sleeve. 'Women are-sensitiVe plants. I was making myself miserable over my husbands hasty--Tetreat. But I can see now how masculine impa- tience impeIled him to race off in the effort to follow this up.'
 ''You said it. smiled Ralph Lacy. And then we reviewed the steps he had taken in the DIck West case and he told me of how Jennings had been safely slowed away in a fine sanita- rum in the pine forests.
 By the time he req Ched my office was again calm and self possessed. With Q word of the deep gratitude I felt, hurried back to the little bus 'ess which seemed completely the . ork of my hands and established as such when Miss May told me that the hank messenger had arrived and that I'd find the paidtp note on my desk She added that Miss Sturges 1 had 'phOned several times and would 1 call again later.
 Almost reverently I filed the re- 1 ceipt in my safe. It seemed like a l wonderful dream come true when l realized that in a few short months | this baby of a business had grown big and strong enough to pay off ten thousand dollars For a little while | I was too exalted, too overwrought l to settle down to work. Then I re- | alized that I'd paid out all my avail l able cash to meet this loan and that | the business would have to earn a | little more. Therefore it was up to l the close of the afternoon Carlotta 1 telephoned to tell me that Tony had | commissioned her to say he was very | anxious to see me but had been 1 called to the country for the rest of the day.
 So we planned @ little dinner parry Il want to entertain JllQ, or course. Phoebe and Neal and .Jeanie and Pat will be here And we're counting on 1 you That's bound to give Tony a chance to talk to you,' Carlotta sug- l this little scheme would please Jim.
 Before l could say a word, Carlotta added brave7y:
 ..PIease invite Betty. too--for me. ! mustn't take any more time during office hours, but yOu'n come and bring Jim-and Betty. won't you?"
 ! l | best. dear''
 Then. hanging up the receiver. I wondered if Carlotta had now ar rived at a stage of courage where l she was ready ito put it to the touch to win or lose it all" Betty's pres eence would make things very hard more difficult than my own position. | Knowing Jim's resentfuI feelings to- ward Tony. l hardly dared risk a meeting All during the long after l noon my heart had bee naching with the lnoEIng for some message from him, even while my mind realized find what comfort l could ir the knowledge wanted to stay in my office. waiting. hoping. agonizing. But loyalty demanded that I go to 5S do invite t, Betty, So went out to
 I'm m Gsa na5rs sRs ga sasRsq 5Rs5 to gnss5nIy eo so lnerrymakings yet. And I'm too tired. might spoil the party. And tonight I'm just going to be in the mood to go home with Miss May. She asked me. Let me go, Anne. It's what want to dO''
 ''Carlotta mada point of your coming I began.
 But Betty. rising and linking her arm in mine paced with me to the 1 threshold of my office. ThSEe she paused and whispered nervoUsly:
 Anne. why doesn't CarIotta Sur gcS like me?''
 What makes you say such a thing?'' I protested searching around Tn my mind what it would be hu- namely possible to say to Betty. And l then. mercifully. in walked Tony NcrreyS ,
 Hello, gfrls,"r1e cried in his fine.