The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-11-14
When A Girl Marrie5
By ANNIE LISLK

1 With an ar A pTlIu 1OTL1bdilLys W1SrS- I upon Ralph Lacy smiled. waved his 1 hand on farewell and plunged into | the shadows of the outside hall Then called Mabel. There was a great deal of delay in getting the 1 connection. I got two wrong mum 1 bers in succession, a busy signal and 1 then another wrong number. Ner- 1 vously I asked for the managers of l flee and had to endure more delay | before getting that. And when final | ly the manager said she's call my | number and ring me as soon as she could get it, there was nothing for me to do except sit back and com pose myself to what patient waiting could manage.
 Then in walked Mabel. Hello, dear. I'm afraid I've let you in for a bad quarter of an hour" I cried. "ManueIo Ortiz will be here any minute. And Ralph Lacy's com ing back - probably bringing Park. Do you want to run away or hide m the inner office or do anything else pleasantly nelidramatic ,"TIl stay and face the guns" said Mabel grirnly. If there's any firing maybe Wayne Parkinson, third, will be a nice, chivaIrous lad and protect me. If his friendship can't stand up under Manuelo's malice I might as well know it''
 You're funny!" I replied dryly, thinking how little Mabel suspected the potentia1ties of just the situation she was sketching.
 And the Manuelo Ortiz appeared in the doorway. I saw at once that his manner was guarded and eau tious. fife was nystifed at my send ing for him and didn't purpose to let me get any advantage that would dis please Rosa. Tn one moment he con- veyed this In the next he caught sight of Mabel Then he froze into hard imm obility. Only his eyes glinted malicious1y as he cried with seeming nonchalance:
 Here am | Mrs. Harrington. So fast I come like the wind. and so quick again I blow me out after 1t IS that do whatever it is you say.''
 "Mr. Ortiz,' I replied at once," I'm puzzled over the motive this Pancno Mateixa had in promising to put you in touch with Dick West. Do you think 1t was just a blunder-or was there something back of tt?''
 "Oh, 1t was just a nothing" replied young Ortix lightly, snapping his nn- gers carelessly.
 Could you arrange to have me meet this Senor Matei0a and ques- ton him?'' I asked
 To my astonishment young Ortiz swelled up into a pompous figure or importance and replied with evident irritation:
 'Me- question himl Me-I pro- tect the interests of Madame Cordo- va! Me-I know all there ts to be known!'
 "Of course.'' said soothingry. "But don't you think 1t wou1d-have it's possible advantages for me also to know him? Something might de- Velop when you were not-so easily available as you were tonight
 "Pancho does not speak the Amer 1can," replied young Ortiz sullenly
 He was ignoring Mabel most elab- orately. Something impeI1ed me to keep my glance on his angry face and to permit Mabel to shrink back into the shadows. The boy was at once angry, indifferent to my existence and holding firmly to some preconceived plan of campaign. I felt that he had something to tell and was hold ing it for Rosa. And I wasn't sure that she'd give me her full confidence even to serve Jim.
 Are you convinced that he had no notive?" I persisted. "It all seems so useless unless there was an idea back of it. Why should he suggest your meeting Dick West? why bring some one along you might be fooled into accepting'-
 Fooled-that it isl" interrupted young Ortiz eagerly. FIt is to have some of the horsep1ay with me that Pancho does this. And I turn on him the saddle when I know 1t tsn.t Senor West he brings See? We are both young and we like to make or each other monkeys. Pancno ana l.. At home Pancho is not much and here he thinks to make with me intimacy by bringing to me the some body who shall for me pry off the nu rom the town? That is fti More nave not to say-to you. And now I go. Blenas noches, senora-senor- ita' he added venomously and de- parted
 Mabel sat silent for a monen+ Ths she arose. tiptoed across inc room opened the door very cautiously ana peered into the shadows of the nal, There was som ething almost eerie in her manner when she return ed.
 T should say Tancho Na+a,~a wasn't In the Ortiz social setI'' sba cried. There's feud between inc two families. The Ortiz huncb ra celVed the Mateixas. Pancho 1vo,,1d never speak to Manue1o without 2 purpose. wonder if the purpose concerns only them-or if if bas to do with us?'
 H there's a feud between the Ma texas and the Ortiz clans" I said. taking my cue from MabePs words
 then it's fairly evident that there must nave been a sinister motive m what young Matefxa did. But all this IS reasoning in circle. Ralph Lacy and l were uneasy about it from the nrst. Only Rosa and Manuelo Ortiz were bound to beiittle it. I wonder why?''
 wen best find out why," replied Mabel dryIy.
 "Waitl I think I have tor at least, part of it. I cried. "Manuelo Is very young and swanky. He ad- m1res Rosa intensely. He likes to strut before her like cock O the walk He'd hate to confess that he let himself be done and by an