The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-09-05

furTlVen0SS du0 the QudhlhS oPPA - hension of a convict escaping from the oenitentiary, always expecting 10 encounter her Nemesis in the hall. or in the elevator, or on ne streer morner. On such occasions, too. she always took the precaution of wearing a heavy veil. Nor was this her onry disguise. On the day that that the Ho1dens moved in she had stood be- bore her mirror for an hour, dressing her hair in a new way. The change was not becoming to her. Her hus- band complained that it made her look ten years older, and the ref1ec- l tion she saw in the glass told her that l his criticism was well founded. She 1 persisted, however. in thus disfigur- | ing herself. Her vanity was sec
 ondary consideration. if only she l could lessen the chances of her being
 recognized by that dreadful man across the hall. | But even these subterfuges did not 1 allay her apprehensions. She had 1 read that even the most ingenious Of | disguises were not proof against the 1 scientific methods of Identification of | the up-to-date policeman.
 | One evening her husband told her
 a bit of news that he thought might | interest her.
 l l neighbor across the hall, this morn | ing" he said. You know-thar po- l lice inspector who lives in Apart
 ment 34. We rode down in the sub- tvay together and got to talking. l Pleasant sort of chap, and very gen. t1enanly. We'll have to ask him and
 his wife over here some evening. I'd like you to meet him, dear" 1 He was astonished by the agitation | which Janet displayed.
 1 'I-I won't meet him!'' she cried, passionately. How could you-how | dare you suggest such thing!
 eeWhy not? What on earth can you have against him, Janet?"
 Helm net-his wife is a coarse,
 vulgar woman," Mrs. Fremont falter- ed. "I've met her already, and I am
 not anxious to renew the acquatnt-
 ance They can't - they're not the
 sort of people I'd care to receive in
 my home, and you ought to be asham-
 ed of yourself for thinking of asking
 them here.''
 Her husband shrugged his shoul-
 ders.
 Hanged if I can see it that way,''
 he rejoined. "I don't know about the
 woman-Tve never met her-but
 Holden is certainly a very likable sort
 of fellow, and refined enough to be
 asked to anybody's house.
 "Besides,' he continued ,,theyre 1 our neighbors, and we ought to be
 on good terms. The way we New
 Workers keep our distance from each
 other is all wrong. If there were
 more c1ubbiness in this burg 1t would
 be a better place to live in. Even if
 Mrs. Holden doesn't quite come up to your social standards, what harm can it do to play a game of auction :. | Hrid xxyitI,
 all events, I'm sure you'll find he1
 husband interesting"
 "I'I1 tell you I won't-it isn't tc
 be thought off, ,'~Jane gasped, and suddenly gave way to hysteria. Do you-are you hrying to tor.
 ture mel" she sobbed. "I can't stand any more of this! It is cruel! It is un-
 hun1anI"
 If Allan had persisted he might have wrested her secret from her al that moment In fact, she half sus-
 pected that he knew everything and was deliberately trying to goad hel into a confession, and she was or
 the verge of blurting out the truth But, with a depr ecatory shake o1 the head, he hastened to soothe her ''All right. we won't quarrel about it, dear" he said. I'm sorry to set : that you are becoming such a little snob, but if you don't want to mee the insepctor, that settles it. of
 course.' He paused, "How you dc . go up in the air about trifles, thougf . lately, What on earth is the mat = ter with you, Janet? ?"
 "Ethere is nothing the matter 9 with me-"
 Well, you certainly have been act ! ing very queerly for the past few 2 weeks. I can't make you out at all l Your nerves must be in rotten shape think we had better have Docto . Kennedy look you over.'
 In spite of her protests he did cal a up the family physicion, and the l next evening pr. Kennedy paid a pro j. fessional visit.
 Your wife needs a little excit n1ent," he reported later to Allan
 She's been cooped up too much il
 the house lately, I fancy, and that
 not good for any woman. I've pre-
 scribed tonic for her nerves. bu K what she needs more than anything else is-er-the proper kind of di r version"
 o Acting on that advice Janet's hus band made a suggestion which h O thought would please her.
 Some of the boys at the offic are arranging little party for to T morrow night" he told her. "Tney'r = going to take their wives to a shoy - and after-theatre supper. Wha = do you say if we get soTneb ody t. = take care of Buddy, and join them e grille? It'll be a jolly crowd and A can guarantee that you'll have a e good time"
 't Janets face lighted up for a mo e ment. Then she thought of the risk F. She might encounter that awful DO IS lice inspector on her way out of tn d apartment. Even if she escaped hin > there the possibility of her conin c face to face with him in the theatri g cal district would still menace her. n t'I don't think I'd care to go," sh t, declared with a sigh
 1t "Nonsense," Allan persisted. '1 es would do you good. You know your of crazy about dancing, and after tn le show the crowd is going to the Caf
 DArtagnan where"
 nj He did mt finish tae sanfencH. Hi