The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-12-09
When A Girl
 Marries
CHAPTER 764.
By ANNE LISEK,

D1Ck west 1SS CSdu! l SaSpSQ, re- beating Dad Lees words in amaze
 nent and disbelief. How can that be? Why-everything been going on just as if he were here! F When"
 My voice trailed off in a maze Of recollections. There was much could fit in with declaration-nany things to bear it out. But as I sat putting the parts of my puzzle to- gether, Jim burst out over the other telephone:
 tNhat's this? When did it hap pen? How do you know? What's West to you, Who is carrying on for West and baking us at every turn Who has the papers,
 These were the first words Jim has ever spoAAI to my unknown father! They came as If he were speaking to voice tralled off into nothingness. realized that the wire was dead. We were speaking into space and to our the Star. Dad Lee had made his great announcement and then had cut himself of, vanishing into the void out Of which is voice came.
 Jim and I rattled up the receivers we were impotently holding and a snar1 came from him. But the Star operator reported:
 'Your party's hung up."
 That's the darndest mess!" he cried 50 that was-tl1e great and whether Dick is dead or alive? Like ly story that a precious scoundrdl ' like West would have the decency to i--shuff1e off his way What does it ? all mean?''
 Every word he spoke was addressed directly to Ralph Lacy. The quality of his fury and Of his impotent rage at being thus ''so near and yet so far" from his goal was held in leash by the fact that he had a sense of restraint in dealing with Mir. Lacy. in his voice.
 T know just how you feel. old man" said Ralph Lacy in a charm 5ingly. good-feHow tone.
 That's the last of him-Lee, I mean. He blurts this out and makes his getaway muttered Jim. T get perate-near the last ditch. No more use to fight. But they can do one thing, and that blocks me as com pletely as the whole darn conspiracy they hatched They play dead and vamoose with the papers. And I'm as badly off as ever. HelplessI Can't prove title Can't touch the best while we go broke trying to develop now properties. love, it's madden 1ng!"
 Ralph Lacy forcefully. But though that's exactly the way things look from the street it's not the way Park and I planned them. And I'll stake my last dollar that Park won't fall down on this commission" Turning te me he added: You know Park, S been pouring himself heart and soul into his new business concerns. and when I tell you that he hasn't been near his shop fer two days, but has been en this job, you'll know it's go- ing to-be seen through
 q believe it, absolutely" J said. | wondering if Park had been working 1 out Of pure loyalty to Ralph Lacy | and disinterested kindness where I'm | concerned. or if he knew something | of MabePs fear and hatred of Dick 1
 ''Wi1l you make a few things clear l to me?" asked Jim, turning to MT. | Lacy so nOticeably that I trembled | for fear he'd see how was being ig- l noreG and sIighted.
 "Of courze,'' said MT. Lacy with | just the proper taken-for-gran anted air. Nothing seems quite so clear as when 1 1t has been put as man to man and | in terms of business lingo, as the 1 cteverest woman hasn't yet learned | to talk it. Fire ahead. i'll add my bit to Mrs. Harrison's."
 Do you-agree with Mrs. Harri- son?" said Jim with a gulp, as he l found way to cover the fact that | he'd had very little information from | me Do you agree that this Lee is
 ''Yes.'' replied Ralph Lacy curtly ment-
 to what ! could fancy Jim had heard ! from Rosa-must indeed fill him with disgust and shame. If only I'd managed to break the facts to him have been so much less terrible. But now Jim's Harrison pride was bend ing to the galling facts of Dad Lees infamy. and I hadn't done thing to ease the shock.
 ''Mrs. Harrison's father has worked to destroy us?' sepeated Jim.
 'Nr. Lee has worked for Dick l West, whom he adored with a love that surpasses understanding" re- piled Ralph Lacy, his eyes seeking much of kindess that I managed to strai ighten back my shoulders and to | throw up my head. Perhaps when we come to judge him we can allow for thnt''
 Jim laughed curtly.
 Small mercy I'll feel for man who &dores the sainted Dick Vest had , t1uSh suaVity to avoid offend ing Mr. Lacy.
 I wanted to plead for my poor lit tie prodigal father. But I dared not risk a direct remark to Jim. I felt his smouldCring resentment of every thing I'd done-and left undone-I to me and my feelings. So I set my lips in firm line and ig- nored my heartache-
 Now What are we to do?' de certain respect that suggested he had l a flicker of belief in the i-9 advertising Ci the star w III we get a ] from your friend young Parkinson? Do we wait for that?"
 Parks or the job. But he won't i close in suddenly. Hes trailing. But If he had been in a position to act | he'd have brought Mir. Lee here. So we can't hope for more just now 1 still the llnowledge that West is dead Is a lot isn't it?'
 Jim smiled enCagingly in response to Mir. Lacy's eager words.
 ''You're. a great old scout, And lrNr~C | leg to stand on-I'u show my grati- Sde better. Now I want you to r&Iize that I think you and Par 1iTAson are a couple of-bear-cats, no esS&