The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1922-04-25
When A Girl
Marries
By ANNE Isle.
CHAPTER 544

We drove along in silence after
Mabel Storrs had told me why it was
that she felt bound in honor to serve
Jim. I know that whatever her feel
ings for Dick West had been-indeed
whatever they might be even now
she would not permit them to count
for one moment against my husband.
That Jim had saved her from herself
as well as from Dick, was plain. How
much she meant by that I didn't dare
allow myself tr think, Still less
could I say a word of comment.
Our silence was not awkward, how
ever, for it held much of real COM
-radeship and understanding. When
we arrived at her apartment, she
asked quietly:
VIII you come in for a little while
please? There are still things for
me to say to you-things I think you
have right to know now, though
once I might not have thought it
safe-or right
Her voice trailed off. It was evil
dent that Mabel and had come to
crisis in our relationship and had
gone beyond it to a definite basis of
healthfu1 sanity toactua1 friendship.
AS 1 followed her into her trim
neat little apartment, I thought how
splendidly 1T reflected her own per
sonality. It's very trigness managed
to be ornamental It's simplicity
wasn't expensive, but it had an air of
distinction. Added to this there was
the absolute sweet cleanness which
seems almost fragrant.
The wicker furniture and the soft
blue-gray rug Of the little living room
suggested GOODNESS and inviting to
carry out the hint of aloofness which
L had always felt in Mabers nature
She patted the pillows of deep
wicker chair into an inviting nest,
and 1 caught a glimpse of a woman
who-beneath her goddess Of libe rty
serenity and reserve-hid warm
sweetness which would spell happi-
ness for the right man. Having es-
tablished me comfortably. Mabel left
me for moment-and I fell into a
sort of revierie.
I thought I'd reached the culmina-
ton of my hatred for the man when
L found that he was my husbands
enemy and would stop at nothing
including the attempted murder of
my belived Neal-to succeed in his
schemes.
But now I found that I had discov-
cred one more reason for despising
Dick West. 1t is the lothing any of
US feels for the man who is actually
standing between some fine woman
eating Dick West and showing him
up for the scoundrel and weakIing
he is had taken on an added meaning
1t would probably save Jim. 1t would
surely save Mabel Storrs from the
ugly witchery of remembering the
days when she'd given him her first
love-
Every happily married woman
wants to see the girls of whom she's
Mabel Storrs' clean little blue ana
gray and white apartment aroused
in longing to put a little coieu- de
all my matchmaking instincts. And
rose into its color scheme 1 found a
new reason for lothing Dick West
evil geniuss
I awoke with startled sense of
actually not full knowing where 1
was when Mabe1s voice broke in on
my musing.
Anne, what would you say If I
told you that I'd known all along
that Dick West was right here in the
city,? Would you think I'd done you
an injustice in keeping it from you ?"
ct probably won't think so after
you've explained your motives" I re-
piled.
But what If I don't explain
them 90 she insisted a shade wtstful-
ly.
I thought for a moment. I wanted
to give her the assurance she craved
But I wanted still more to establish
our friendship on basis of absolute
frankness.
Il wish you would explain" I said
at last. "a number of things requir-
ing absolute secrecy may come up
But, somehow, Dick West has to be
an open book between US now. We
must be frank about him. Each of
US knows too much to be satisfied
with half confidence where he's con-
cerned. You agree. don't you?"
"Yes-and nor she smiled whim-
sically. I've told you there is one
chapter I can't read over with you
now. Some day. maybe don't
know-there's so much at stake
Her voice trailed off into a tone of
reverie. But after a moment she
puller herself up brisk1y and went
on in her old starched-white-line
tone:
st know Dicks haunts know
his mental processes. And from the
that matchsafe turned up in
the ruins of your burned home I
knew I'd better tell you that Dick
is hiding where most folks would be
least likely to look for him"
Where's that?" I asked
TN the most gilt-edged and expen-
sive hotel this town boasts. And in
the most de luxe suite in that hotel"
How could he afford it?'' I gasp
ed. He was down and out when
he left jim"
Down and outt" mimicked Mabel
That's his game. To pre-
tend to be, I mean. But he has only
to mix in one or two gambling places
and bring in a few of the 'gilded
youths whom he can win just as he
can with other folks-or the card he
needs-and he's flush again. Dick
wants a steady, dependable fortune
a sure income. I believe he'd go
if once he had it But he'll
stop at nothing to get it, and he's
a spender whenever he gets hold of
thousand or so. He doesn't think
little sums worth banking"
You sound as If you knew" 1
IN a sort of daze.
Ca he