The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-03-27
CHAPTER 519 Copyright, 1920, King Features Syn

dicate. Inc
 Bertha took her place in our househ old at once. Zabelle saved us expense and trouble by giving notice and f1ouncing out almost in a. breath. Her continental snobbery was no doubt affronted by the idea that one of "her ladies' should receive a maid in the library and as a friend.
 On the day after Bertha came to us. which was also my last day at Haldane's, Lyons telephoned me at the office.
 ".Im that grateful to you. ma'am. that I haven't the words for it," he said. My Bertha couldn't get along with Hedwig at all, and it means a lot to me, since she had to give way to the other, it was to go back to you. But Mrs. Dalton seems to be taking it hard. She holds me some how responsible and acts as if rid ing in the car I drive would do her some hurt. Could I see you about it, ma aam?"
 It was on the tip of my tongue to cry angri1y, if' with a smile in re- serve ?''
 But I stopped myself Lyons doesn't presume. At least not with out some definite purpose. And the und der1ying current in his voice told me that he had a real purpose in wishing to see me. Experience has taught me that this brave and loyal servant has deeply at heart the de- sire to ''serve'' me-not himself when he asked the favor of seeing me. So instead of reproving Lyons for wanting to discuss Virginia Dal- to with me. said:
 fIyons, you could q O me a favor this noon, if you're sure Mrs Dalton doesn't want the car. I've a couple of errands to do in widely separated parts of the town and it would be a ] blessing if I could have the car to drive 1n.''
 1 What time shall I come to you. ma'am? ?" Lyons asked, falling in at 1 once with my scheme not to commit 1 myself too greatly over the tele- phone.
 T may need you for a couple of hours. Will you have them free at l one?' I asked.
 T will that, nla'am. MT. Dalton l told me to call back for him at the l office at 4:30, seeing as how he's l driving down to Dreamwo1d. And l so. if you wanted me until as late as I 4, I'd be free for you" l That's splendid, Lyons. Call for me at once, then,'' I replied, adding 1 my good-by and hanging up with the | feeling that something valuable and | useful for J. H. Harrison and Anne his wife, was about to be accom- l plished.
 Turning from the telephone, I p1unger into my work, tying up loose
 ends and putting everything into shipshape order to hand over to Car and his assistants.
 Two sets of considerations were | lurking on the fringes of my con. sciousness, but I resolute1y kept then | there, lest they interfere with my 1 leaving a clean slate at HaIdane's l Looking back, I can see how a1- l most masculine was my deternina- i ton to keep strictly to the job and | not ponder over Lyons return to the | scene of activities yet Virginia's | relation to my already complicated | scheme Of things. The very force
 with which I threw myself into my
 work affected my whole attitude to- ward life. It produced in me a de tached state of mind which probably
 had a great deal to do with what l followed.
 Shortly after noon felt that things 1 were in shape to close with about ar hours work in the afternoon. Ther 1 they'd have to be gone into with. Car l and arrangements made to delegate 1 various types of work, I rapped or