The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-01-21
When 4 Girl
 Murries
CHAPTER 466
By ANN LIsLiE


 "I've come to warn you.'' went on flushed face. There is a man whc seems bent on smashing this organi- zation- I don't know whether his m motive is hatred or revenge or if his own success is dependent on Harrison &S Company going to the wall"
 Miss Storrs leaned back, relaxing from the tension with which she 2 listened at first. A smile played mouth, but this time it brought nc dimples into play. Goaded by her manner, I went on impetuously:
 ''This man is dangerous. There's nothing at which he seems to heSi- tate. He's determined to carry us down in complete smash"
 Are you always so I fanciful?,. T sr smooth white hands in front of her and studying them critically. Surely you don't suppose I'm going to fail to take every possible precautton to guard MT. Harrison's interests They are just as safe as if he were here. l have MT. Harrison's ultimate suc- cess very much at heart This is my first big deal I'll swing it. Perhaps I'll be able to manage better Just be- cause I'm not-fanciful-'
 "I'm sorry if my sensitiveness to impressions disturb you," I replied with elaborate coolness. But thls situation has nothing to do with fancy or magination--or nerves
 "Just what is it then-in plain English?'' asked Miss Storrs with a smile, which robbed her question Of
 My husbands ex-partner has re- turned from the Northwest" be- gan, but with a ripple of relieved laughter Miss Storrs broke in:
 "Oh, you mean Dick West? He's been back 10 days at least. Surely you don't imagine I've let that fact escape me?'
 "I don't know what you mean by all the while Mrs. Harrison Nat ura11y, in going over the books when I was preparing to take over the mana cement of J. H. Harrison & Go. I came across records of the old part nership. Richard Vests name isn't new to people who know the oil game The mans reputation in the days when he posed as an engineer down in the Tampico fields is more or less of an open book to me So I ques- toned MT. Harrison rather closely"
 Skimming over the words she had just uttered with such serene self-pos- session, I darted after what seemed to me the snub of the argument:
 'Do you know Dick West person. ally?"
 omabIe about their depths as she steadied them to meet mine. And then she moved uneasily In her chair in a manner which jerked her gaze from mine.
 sI beg your pardon" I cried 'T didn't mean to pry into your affairs in the rude way that question sug- gests. You gave me the impression of knowing about Dick West before you came across his name on our books, and he's so dangerous that want to gather every bit of informa- ton I can-and fight him with it.
 You're quite free to ask any uucs- lions you like, Mrs Harrison" said Miss Storrs, her placid-ty restored But the memory of her unfathomable eyes was not vanished from my mind
 'T want to assure you" she went on, "that you're doing Senior West en- tirely too much honor when you per init yourself to fear him. He's what they call a bad honnbre down South. He's sly, interruptions and dishonest, of course. But he's also weak
 She snapped her thumb and fore finger together scornfully as if that up dismissed Dick West as l factor in our conversation and our ives leaned forward and fapped Tor emphasis on the shining wood of he desk as I marshalled my facts be- fore her:
 Miss Storrs, Dick West has sur -ounded himself with friends who are ,irds of a feather-a black feather. Crooks. I'm being shadowed- This fice is watched"