The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-10-05
CHAPTER 6sE.

l My father" I repeated w4rn . 1 shade Of emphasis, meant to mark 'az= 1 uncalled for Bertha's tentative: "tha person who calls himself your father" "Yesm,' she said meel1ly, but m 1 the tone of one who has seen her 1 duty and has done it. He's in the
 sun room. Shall I wait up? There's no need," I said at my stateliest Tt was very kind of you to stay downstairs to announce my father. But now that you've done your duty thoroughly run along to bed. I can unfasten this frock with out help.'
 And like queen you look in it, the Fates preserves you,'' said Bertha unexpectedly.
 Part of which Dad Lee repeated B 1 moment or two later when I arrived at the door of the sun room and my l footsteps aroused him from the cat | nap in which he was indu1g1ng. Ills ] head jerked up from his chest and he | ierked himself up from his char, standing to blink sleepily at me for a m moment before he cried out: 1 Look at her. Look at my Ally
 now! Fit to trot with the DICK Of the | paddock And if you were to drop 1 the wrappings. would you show sor- rel or roan and chestnut, m'dear?" | Good evening; your erand must De l i'm ortant to keep you so late" I re- turned coldly. and instinctively I drew my cloak tighter. Seeing the move ment, Dad Lee murmured placatingIy: Tt is kinda frosty in here so late | of the night. But though I got a chill in my old bones. I thought I'd | hot be able to kep my news over a single day. So sat up and risked rheunatics and dear knows what just to do my duty by my Marthas girl" Please 1eave-my mother out Of whatever this is." was rung from 1 me, and then, realizing my ungra- ciousness added: 1T appreciate 1 your waiting so late for me. It must ! me important, I'll try to forget that I'm tired and give you my best day 1 time attention.'
 You shouldn't be out 50 late, i alone" whimpered Dad Lee. "Td
 say t'were high time your husband l came home and looked after you g. ] bit.''
 | "You needn't say that," I began 1 hotly, adding more temperately: Not 1 that the thought isn't father to my
 own wish that Jim could finish up \ where he is and return here" l Where is he - broke In Dad Lee ! shrewd1y, 'ts one of the things I might be in a position to talk about ! to you later"
 Il " nat dO you mean E' demanded. ' By suggesting that you know l where Jim is?"
 'I only said-I might" he tempor- ized. "It's depending on other folks besides me what I'm going to be in a position to say to you, m'dear. SIows5 but sure is my motto and I got to stick to it if I want to be of any real
 use to my lilly anywhere but just at
 the starting post of this here race she's entered in."
 Slow but suret' laughed bitterly. Sometimes I think that if I were to l die they'd find those words engraved on my heart.
 Don talk about such terrible things" cried Dad Lee shrinking i back.
 I ''I was only paraphrasing a famous queen Of long ago." I explained. "I was just trying to put it as strongly as possible that this-waiting policy ts-getting on my nerves. Everyone in the world seems in a league to counsel waiting game and your slow but sure.' Som etimes I think I've waited about as long as I can. Sometimes I think I'll have to take
 the helm in my own hands and drive our ship somewhere even fit Is on the rocks.
 "Just like you said." sniffed Dad
  bound to go on the rocks. No-don't you go getting impatient, Anne, Don't
 you go spelling things for those whose
 plans you've no right to be upsetting.'
 Meaning yourself" I sneered,
 shaking a little with cold and dis
 taste, for all the soft warmth of the
 cloak in which I kept wrapping my
 self more and more tightly.
 That's a handsome garment. New ha
 suggested Dad Lee.
 ''It is.'' said, off my guard for the moment. It's going splendidly." Now I like to hear that md ear. Indeed I do. Because 1t makes it easier for me to ask what I was If firiven here to-request of my only | child. He sniffed. ar I felt that he
 was going to justify a claim for more money in terms of my handsome cloak and the patent luxury of Car lotta's home.
 ''Then you didn't sit up in the cold to do me a favor" I said bitterly, l But to ask me one.''
 "Yes and mo-" Dad Lees eyes 1 puckered. "I came to ask you a fla vor. m'dear. That's all there was in | 1t at first. But seeing how you weigh 1 in-makes me think you can give a. 1 little handicap. That's just my JoK- ing way of putting things. You have l to let an old man have his toKe once | in while, don't you?" ] Mot at my expense at one o'clock in the morning" I replied l grim1y.
 Well. you'll get well paid for what l ever you do-this time" came from Dad Lee in a tone that made me 1 writhe.
 l Lett not bargain said wes srfIy.'' 1 Tell me what you need want you l to be warm and comforta ble and we'll 1 fed. I want you to enjoy all can 1 give you regardless of the blood ties i between us." 1 f'Now you're beginning again. ac-= | cused Dad Lee. T thought I had you l all settled in your mind about me. 1 thought got it clear that being 1 your father was all the more reason ] for me to trail along with Dick - l Then his eyes lighted snrewdly and i he went on: Which brings me to- tAhe main track. I want to tell you why 'tis that I came. It's for notn