The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-02-11
SECTION
When 4 Girl
 M0rries
By ANN LESLIE
CHAPTER ASA Copyright, 1920, King Features Syn


 Miss Storrs bowed her head so the
 expression in her eyes was hidden from me. But as she sat focusing her gaze on the hands clasped tensely before her on Jim's desk. I got the impression of 8 struggle. I'd seen her in one new phase already this morn ing-gay and friendly-where before she'd always been curt. incisive and business-like. I wondered if now was to behold another revelation of
 her character. A confession of weak ness would be the most natural thing in the world.
 '.Is that the reason you're going
 back to work?" she demanded sud denly in a jerky voice.
 "Tm going back to Haldane's be-
 cause Pm bored by doing nothing.
 because I want worthwhile inter est in my life, Miss Storrs. I'm amazed at your lack of understand ing. And still more amazed- I stopped, realizing that I was on | the verge of expressing the very thing I didn't want said between us. But Miss Storrs finished my sentence
 for me-
 You're still more astonished at my venturing to dictate to you," she said.
 My position here is very difficult.
 Mrs. Harrison, but you've been very
 sweet. about it'-
 | Then she in turn stopped abruptly
 and we sat staring at each other across the chasm of things we couldn't discuss. After a moment | when the silence grew unbearable. I
 plunged into the midst of what we
 could and must settle between us: You evidently think my return to 1 work a great tactical b1under." I said
 smoothly. ''But it won't give MT. | Harrison's enemies any vital informa- l ton or present them with one ad- l vantage they can use. In fact tbe
 more money they see coming into our | coffers, the more discouraged they will be. And as I'm earning a decent | amount, which is actually more than
 I need for my living, you may as
 well turn the sum you've been send ing me back into the business. Under | the new circumstances which have arisen that's only sane."
 "Yes, 1t Is true," replied Miss Storrs after a minute two of considera- 1 ton.
 The mere fact Of her agreeing to this point, made me realize that thing were in a very bad way. So, bag, I held it out to her. Might as we'll start now" I said. | And there's another matter. How about the rent check we get from my apartment every month? Will that be of more real service to my husband fund against his return or spent to put away in the bank as a sinking carry his interests here?'
 Miss Storrs hesitated- Twice she opened her lips to reply and twice she closed them again, while back of her steady eyes, I could a1no see the thought Finally she took up a pencil and began figuring on the pad lying before her on the desk. She was so tense in her concentra-
 ton that she forgot to mask her real
 feelings and I could see how nervous
 and hard-driven she had become in the last few days. At last she look ed up and said quietly.
 ''We'11 manage without your help, Mrs. Harrison. It's best to have a. reserve fund-for emergencies.' ''If you need the rent money, how
 ever, you know it's at your disposal" !" I said, then added half-humorously.
 See how I trust you? I wish you felt assure of me"
 1 "PleaseI' she replied very gently. Don't think I lack faith in you or fail to recognize that you're 8 sane and generous woman as well as a. very able one. I've seen you face a situation you couldn't be expected to
 sympathize with and-face 1t down.
  | to spare you, if he hadn't wanted | to make things easy for you, would he have put me here? That's why I feel as If I'm falling him when l don't find some way to make life more like a bed of roses for you." laughed to relieve the tension and | because I was afraid that the senti- ment her splendid frankness had aroused bordered on the n1audlin. HnnSf 1T1xa heda nf rQaeSi nre- l fer stuffy offices if I can't get into the modern efficient sun1it kind,' I | declared. "And think how much fun | it's going to be for me to bring you
 a little check every week instead of | taking one"-
 "You won't do that!'' cried Mabel Storrs tense1y-
 bring in my contribution to the
 campaign fund?" I asked. still trying to relieve the situation of its over tense element.
 Mabel Storrs leaped to her feet and thumped her hand down on her desk with the second display of uncon- trolled emotion I've seen from her.
 In an instinctive flash my mind con- nected this moment with that other one when she'd revealed that Dick West was an old acquaintance of hers. tT can't let you-gtve me money,
 she cried. I'm supposed to be able | to manage things here while MT. liar
 rison is away. I've got to do it. I'd never respect myseif-ff let you go back to work to help support the job that was entrusted to me. couldn't" :" Look at 1t logically, my dear" I said soothing1y. You were able to be sensible about stopping the month 1y check my husband wanted sent to
 me-
 while" he repeated, shaking his
 drowsy head up and down and pat