The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-01-05
When 4 Girl
 Marries
CHATTER @52.
By ANN LISLE

1 covering dishes, Nurse Whitcomb re- turned announcing that shed left the | others drinking their "demmi-tas- seys'' and had come up to see how her boy was doing. Then she popped l into the bedroom, so I was free to re- sume my discussion with Phoebe. l "Phoebikins, before we drop the unpleasant subject of Dick West, can you tell me where it was you saw him and the stopped little old man % l asked.
 | Let's see,'' returned Phoebe slowly. ''Pd just been over to the Avenue for a fitting and had crossed the city to get some thea-re tickets for Jeanie. And when l first saw inc two men, they were coming out of that hotel where Father Andrew was staying"
 "A stopped little old man-the ho- tel where Father Andrew was staying Dick West" mumbled with sink ing heart
 What are you saytng?" asked Phoebe. Come. dear, don't push the ] couraged way. I know you're tired, but you've kept up like a, brick so far and what you need now is some nice hot chicken Walt. Phoebe'n cut it
 'I can't eat. I've dope boo much soday I suppose. I'm all tn." I said faintly.
 Then with a jerk, I pulled myself up and smiled at Phoebe as if to apologize for my mood.
 i've got to eat" I said grin1ly. ''If we're going to sleuth this out, Dr. Watson, your Stperlcck's got to keep i in good condition"
 | Underneath my laughing words there was grim seriousness. I real, ized that the man with Dick West the day Phoebe cought her brief glimpse of him, was undoubtedly my father-Dad Lee. They'd met out in the Northwest, and nothing could be more natural than for Dick West to look up Dad Lee on his return to the city.
 For minute I was bitter against my prodigal father. I resened his association with the man who had once been Jim's partner, but now I had new angle on it. Undoubtedly Dick West hated us.
 Now that Jim was of on his mys- erious quest and his forxunes and those of all who trusted him were tottering, felt that nothing could be more menacing to Jirn's ultimate suc- cess than Dick Vests return. So in stetad of resenting my fathers ac- turn it to our advantage.
 That is why fell upon my hot dinner and ate it with gusto for the tonic properties I hoped it would have. rather than because wanted it. That didn't alter Jeanie'S delight when she and Pat returned and found my plaees cleaned as thoroughly as if both Jack Spratt and his wife had been feasting there.
 
 Jeante, '1s to trot our Anne home and put her to bed. Just because you're a brick, dear, and don't whim- per, doesn't make me forget that you've been a pretty sick girl"
 Can't I sleep here on the couch ?'' I asked.
 "No. Pat stays here." began Phoebe. and stopped short wiSh crim- son cheeks as Virginia flashed a warning glance.
 "Of course.'' I said in a matter-of- fact voice. That's just like you have much peace of mind in view of whats happened if there weren't someone here to-to look after things
 Suppose we don't go into the, mat ter any further tonight, Anne dear; you've had a bad day. We'll just ta- ble all discussion of your brtother- in better condition for digging into a few matters which cam: go much longer without consideration" an nounced Virginia with an air of final ity.
 Our glances caught and held. T read the message in hers, and req soned that although she would do everything in her power to save both Phoebe and me from unnecessary worry pwer what had happened to Neal, nevertheless the shoo. ing gave her new cauase for alarm about Jim. l could see that she was groping for | with NeaPs strange secrecy about his assalant. I wondered why. Phoebe unconsciousuy supplied the informa- Ion.
 ''Oh, couldn't rest if Pat didn't sleep here. where he can be on guard if the-tG1e-the-our enemy, I mean comes back. It wouldn't be so bad if Neal had come right out and told us who it was. But it's all so myste- rious. At first he didn't even want to tell Pat who shot him. But in his delirium he cried 'et 'Babbsie ought to know And how terrible Ii was for you that he'd let himself be shot when he should have done the trick Jeante decided that there might be dodn't think so at first, but now we've had our talk. I realize that there isn't any. Neason for anyone to shoot Neal on my account, so it has to be on yours''-
 tPhoebei You're absurd and mel odramatic!' cried Jeanie, who'd been lis enfng anxiously to the nervous flow of speech. There's no excuse for go- long, hard day. Now tip-toe in and | see if Nurse Whitcomb will let you kiss Neal good night And then we'll 1 drive home, where Amanda will have | the beds costly ready and inviting for tired travellers" l
 And lucky it is we have the apart- | ment," smiled Pat. Though maybe Anne's thinking I'm none too gallant But 'tfs this, Alanna, we don't like leaving Neal and the nurse a1one at all And how could the girls be safer than with this ithful Lyons of yours and Tony's driving the car? You have the outmost confid dence in him, haven't you ?''
 I wondered if there was anything deliberate in Pals question. Since I couldn't be sure, I picked my way carefully as I answered.
 He's Bertha's husband. And zloth- | ing suits me better than to see Lyons | on the drivers seat of the car I'm in" couldn't refrain from a smile at | that It was perfectly true, but it l didn't mean what Pat must read into 1 it.
 'I'd like to see Lyons at the wheel p | was thinking. Adding grimly in | my own mind, where I can watch | him."
 (To Be Continuedl