The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-08-12
CHAPTER 657,

I hadn't the slightest idea where his call came from.
 CHAPTER 657.
 As I turned from my brief and one sided telephone conversation with Tom Mason, I realized that 1t wasn't going to be pleasant task to inform l Miss May and MT. Lacy that I could not dine with them. But took the plunge at once.
 That was MT. Mason,' one of my l husbands oldest friends" | explain l ed. He's been out of town perform | ing a very great service for us. didn't know he had returned till | heard his voice just now. He cooTly announced that he muse see at once and would be right down. Then he rang off. So guess we may safely assume that that's that.''
 ''Oh, I say. can't we all dine to- gether?" asked MT. Lacy. Mr. Mason was very urgent" [ | explained at a loss to make the mat ter sound as imperative as I felt it to be.
 "of course. said MT. Lacy quietly after an instant. ''we'n run right along and meet Park. And Mrs. Har- rison-don't think me intrusive or impudent for adding this. But if circumstances compel you to have your dinner with this old friend of your-fanaily, don't imagine I'll be fool enough to take offence or feel unified or anything like that. I hope I'm not talking like fresh-country | pumpkin
 You're talking like a dear" an- nounced Miss May with astonishing assurance. Mrs Harrison under stands perfectly that you're releas- ing her without the slightest thought of misunderstanding. And don't see why we should risk her not having dinner at all for fear of hurting our feelings. So it's just as we'll to have everything settled before we go."
 Mice people!' I cried. "I might have been silly enough to starve to death if you hadn't given me permis- sion to have a sandwich and glass of milk with Tom Mason"
 My bantering tone sent them off satisfied. But couldn't help feeling worried. Toms tone had carried some hint of agitation. Nervously going over the possibilities of the sit- uation, I paced up and down the of I flee waiting for him. Finally he burst into the office looking so agi- | tated that I could scarcely believe this was the suave and imperturba- ble Tom Mason. Without a preIinni- nary word of greeting he demanded:
 where's Daisy? Have you any idea?'
 ''Daisy?" repeated stupidIv Whats the matter with her?'
 T don't know" replied Tom grim ly. That's what I'm asking you where's Daisy? Don't stand staring at me as if you think me crazy. TelI me what you know about the-noor kid.''
 Why, Tom" answered slowly you're sweeping me from my bear 1ngs. You sound so-mysterfous T thought you'd know where she was. They thought so at the office
 So you did miss her!" cried Ton, in tone I couldn't fathom. "Sha d1en't slip out-unnoticed. The noor little thing isn't friendless''
 "Of course not" I said "yo,, couldn't think that. I tried to locate her almost week ago and they seem ed to think down at your office that you'd sent her instructions to 20 off on a buying trip. Evidently vol, didn't. That leaves us ready to start off from the beginning if we,rs going to figure"-
 When did you see her last?', in- terrupted Tom.
 About two weeks ago. I suppose. I'm not So sure of that. as I am of the first time I missed her., an swered, interesting myself to ask But why are we standing here star ing at each other like two wild pee- pie? There's nothing the matter Why should we act as if there were ?''
 Let's not bluff ourselves or each other replied Tom curtly. .aThis ie ugly. The studio is locked and si- lent. They don't know a thing about her at her boarding house Mrs HiH Is in the dark. The poor kid die hasn't any friends. At least none that I know of. There isn't any place to turn or anything to do but in form the police"
 "Oh, Tom, wouldn't do that" l cried. Betty Brice was out of reach once for a while, and it wasn't any, thing"
 Even as it slipped out I was con scious that I had given Betty the name that was hers before her mar riage to poor Terry.
 Gro Be Continued)