The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-05-15
When A Girl
 Marries
By ANNE LESLIE.


 been trained to do tive crouched against the door-eayesdroppi listening at a crack! In another mo- ment or two it was evident that Dad Lee was talking to MT. Rogers and though I didn't get a very clear idea what it was all about, nevertheless l realized that there was a certain amount of pickering going on. Car lotta and I listened in a silence on when we seemed mutually agreed. I doubt. however, if she made much more than I did of Dad Lees husky whispers. After a few moments he turned from the telephone and said Tn tone which smacked of self conscious, righteousness and benev- l olence
 You cars down stairs-and that | man Lyons is in 1t. Run along, dear my nurse will be here in a minute | and you won't have to worry about the old mans being alone. You don't have to worry about me at all. | There's life in the old dog yet I'll l tell the world Lucky Lees still a win ner."
 Undoubtedly Carlotta was as aston lshed as l to find Lyons and the car | actually waiting for us when we | reached the street after our unimped- ed exit from Dad Lees hotel. Did you get Dick west?" was the greeting I gasped to the man who had striven so hard to serve me.
 T told you I'd failed-that I were too conservative, ma'am.'' Lyons an- swered deJectedly. He slipped | fusstng over your fathers being hurt. But he's gone-clean as a whistle, maam. with no sign to show ] that ever Dick West or a MT. Rich ards was boarding up to that swell hotel where I'd a-nailed him if I was worth my salt to you or anyone | else"
 l He's gone," I repeated utterly cast | down for the moment. Then feel ing of sympathy for Lyons came to take the place of that first reaction
 You did your best. Lyons," I said quietly. Its I who have blundered tonight"
 The bitterness in my heart was black indeed. I felt that I'd been sadly tricked. Hadn't Dad Lee with his own lips told Carlotta that if it came to a choice between Dick and me. he'd side with Dick West? And even after that I'd wasted my time and let myself be kept in incommun- icado until it was judged safe for Dick and his plans that I should | nave IHy 1Te0UOnl.
 I wonder if can ever again be as ashamed as I was when I faced my friend, Car1otta Sturges, and Antony Norrey's chauffeur, Lyons, with the unspoken thought between us that my father had been 2, party to the ruse that had enabled Dick to get away.
 Then Lyons b1urted out something which he had meant or which may have been a gallant effort to save me from my own thoughts.
 Mot very loyal to your father, Dick weren't-if you'll excuse me for mak- ing so bold, ma am-to light out without stopping to see if the poor old gentleman were mashed to a jelly or had come out with bone or two whole"
 What makes you say that?'" I gasped, turning back on the point of entering the car and waiting for Lyons next words.
 Didn't young Stafford tell us, ma'am, the condition your poor old father were in when that unfriendly taxi driver were ready to drop him to the sidewalk in front of the hotel ? Doesn't that show how Dick lit out with his own hide whole. not caring what became of the friend who'd l ) sick?"
 "sYe''-I replied thoughtful1y, as ] followed Carlotta's lead and got into the limousine. But I leaned forward to ask one more question of Lyons Did they stay up at the hotel where you went to look for him-that the man they knew as MT. Richards had l been sick?"
 They did ma'am." replied Lyons And very sick at that. He were compelled to change his rooms only today as there's too much noise fol him the front of the hotel where he were at first Took quiet little rooms higher up and on a side-court where there weren't any racket al : all. And they said he were skin and bones and the color of putty and that when he went about, he | leaned heavily on a cane and heav- fer still on the little man who was taEzin' care of him. It's all too muck for me. just now, ma'am, and when get through hating myself for the way my sIowness bungled things rol you I'll try to see what I can do tc make up for lost time"
 Thank you, Lyons," replied gravely. At least through you W. F have my poor little father out of tht , power of a drug fiend. Home now please And tomorrow when Tn , not so tired perhaps I can tell yot f what a friend you've been-and how
 feel about it.''
 Dent say nothing ma'am-I fall I ed," muttered Lyons, so miserably l that I got a new measure of hi , loyalty. And tomorrow I start tt , meet Norreys so won't be ab1s to do nothing at present to mak, r II up for how I bungled this job"
 put out my hand and laid it fol l a moment on the bowed shoulder O p the man standing at the door of tn P car I think that told Lyons bette
 than any words could have done hoy L I felt about him and his effort t. g find Dick, which seemed so clever t ? me in spite of its not working out
 saTonorrow he starts on the tril to eet Tony" murmured CarIotta a