The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-11-10
CHAPTER 73g.

Max HOadley accepted his dis missa1 from Miss May with the same timid gentleness he seems to have for any wish or mood she expresses. He bade us both farewell and then strode heavily toward the door. where he paused to ask very humb1y:
 May I send my car for you at five thirty or so. Miss May?"
 '"That will be very kind" she re- piled simply ''I'd call it real friendly of you.''
 As Max Hoadley parked out a fare well and went on his waE, I turned to hide smile at once wistful and amused. Dear little Miss May is so coquettish with Max Hoadley I'd so that her changes from severity and austerity to puzzled and grateful gen. tIeness But what interested me Tnore than the flavor of her friendship for hin1 is the note of eagerness with which she said there was something ! she wanted to go into with me and l at once.
 l You brought this on yourself" cried Miss May. smiling up at me and 1 then lapsing into 8. mood of business like impressiveness. "Its about Mrs l Winton I want to talk to you. think-I don't think you're on the 1 right tack with her. 1 Please don't join the chorus of those who think shouldn't have gone 1 to live with her." I replied, a trif1e I impatiently.
 ''That's done. so there's no need of l discussion said Miss May, with ou1et | dignity. What worries me is the idea of her having tantrurns that keep you | home mornings and working eveA 1 nings."
 Truly, I'm not working tonight l just because she delayed me this l morning" I protested Its something ] entirely different that's Keeping me l from a placid evening at home"
 This time it is. But for her own 1 sake, as well as yours. Mrs. Winston ought to be able to stand little more on her own two feet,'' persisted Miss l May
 But her grief is so recent. She l hasn't learned how to bear it. The | wounds open -"
 l My dear. that big. beautiful Betty Winston of yours is meant to be 2, ] leader declared Miss May, with @nirit. "If she were a namby- pambv l I'd say let her have her tantrums and get 'em out of her system. But when every one has to gather round and prop up fine and naturally up- standing woman like that, it seems 70 me that her upsta anding days are 1 doomed unless she rears up and takes 2 ffrmer hold on things right away quick!"
 "Bettv'lI be all right if we iuss- see her through these first terribl> l weeks" l persisted
 She's morbid Was she always morbid 2" demanded Miss May
 "She got that wav when her arm didn't come out of !, the operation cured." I explained. ''so many things piled on Betty at once. Her husband was killed when his airp1ane crasne1 l down-hlazing. Her hand got hurt while she was driving ambulance during the war. Terry Winston wa her husha nd's buddy. He tried to ne her friend-and fell in love with her. She fought it-because she felt that l she owed a nonsensical amount to the memory of the man she hadn't really 1oved"
 'fSo she was morbid about that ?" interrupted Miss May.
 Tt wasn't that alone" I went on "She felt sure her hand wou1d never be rief1+ again, And she didn't wart to handicap D Terry. She was very brar'a and strong about it. Ard finally sl'o ran away to go through her oDeraf5on | alone so we wouldn't worry abo17t l her We found her And Terry vert 1 to the hospital and made her marry l him"
 "A fine history" commented Miss May dri1y.
 'eWhat do you mean?" I indig- ! nant1y demanded. Last night I got | the impression that you were almost l adoring Betty Today there seems 1 nothing too cold and critical for you 1 to say of her. don't understand. It 1 isn't like you. Susanna May. It isn't i-sweet.'
 Thank you. dear. And thank yen 1 still more for knowing that 1t isn't 1 due to any upset of my plans tonight l that T1n-1anding on Betty Winston
 We both laughed at the idea. But I fancied there was something pen sive in Miss Mays mfrth.
 -Oh, you. wouldn't be petty" l I cried.
 (To Be Continued)