The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-02-08
SECTION
When fl Girl
 MQrries
By ANN LISLRA

iSOpyrlShIy lS2O, King Feature Syndi- cate. Inc.
 CHAPTER 4s1
 C1enching my hands and steadying
 ! myself so that no quaver should be-
 | tray me, I said:
 Jim isn't here to betr the brunt of
 ] what people say. So-Fm willing to.
 I must-and alone, if you won't stand
 by."
 Come home with me- said vir- gin coldly.
 l "I can't"
 "Anne,' muttered my sister-in-law 1 with an undercurrent of bitterness, | you ignore me and my feelings and
 my rights Jtm's sister and head of
 | the Harrison family. You ftaunt your
 | Independence by rushing out of my
 home and living in a hotel. Can you
 say one word of elf-justtf1cation l One word to gloss over the insult by
 | leaving me as you've done?"
 There was flat fnality in Virginia's s
 1 tone. l wanted to cry out my excuse that I'd left her home because of Phoebe. But I couldn't betray Jin1's
 | little sister. So I stood with twisting i lips trying to meet calmly what I felt 1 coming.
 I've tried to do the right thing
 for Jim." said p1eadingly.
 That's your last word?" sneered
 Virginia. Here's mine then: Good by,'' and the door closed after her. "Jeanie!" I called. "Jeanie, don't l leave me like this. I can't bear much
 more-alone!'
 spoke. But I didn't open it. What | use was there in rushing after
 Jeanie? For Phoebe's saks
 couldn't go back to Jeanie's apart ment and risk driving the desperate young thing out of the home where she had more right to be than l. For Jims sake I couldn't give up the job which meant money and might help tide us over if a crash came. So what had I to gain by reopenfns & discussion which would only antaEon- iZe Virginia?
 For a long time I sat at the win dow, staring down into the city be- low, resenting its careless gaiety At last arose and began mechanically to make my preparations for the night. Then I crept miserably Into , bed, actually forgetting that I'd had practically nothing to eat all day. Hunger and worry gave me a restless night, and I was a haggard-looking creature when I started off early the next morning to visit Neal. Forum ately, his bedroom was not very bright and NeaPs attention was thor oughly occupied with the doctors | promise that he could go out for a short drive by the end of the week. So got away without any embarrass- | ing revelations My course went straight to Dad Lees hotel They told me at the desk that MT. Lee was at breakfast and I bore down on the dining room reso1ute1y. The head waiter led me toward a table where Dad Lee sat with his back to me and all his at tention focused on 8. comm on-look- ing man I'd never before set eyes on. As approached the table the strange l man began speaking in a harsh and throaty voice:
 And if you ask me I'll say they'll ! never get. Dicky boy. I'll say he's
 not 1ettin' the dope make him forget i when he's good and ready. So no At this point the .obsequious waiter drew up at the table announcing: Lady to see MT. Lee.'' Dad Lee Ieaped to his feet, looking 2 for all the world like 8 cornered rab- 1 bit, with twitching nose and water ing eyes. But as he seized my arm and steered me toward the door I mo- 1 ticed that the grip of his thin fingers . was powerful and purposefu1 not rabbit-like at all.
 Well, well, m dear" he scolded. | eff you're coming to surprise your old guv'nor, why don't you tell him? Here I aint even had a shave, and | I'm wearing yesterdays collar I ! ain't fit for my daughter to be seen ! with. I'm going to take you to the writing room while go and get dolled up, the saying is.' - You needn't,' I said significantly.
 "I came on business" Had your breakfast, rn'dear?" he asked with insistent cordiality. "T was just thinking that as soon as I'd 1 got into some glad rags, we'd have l a party on dad"
 ''Hav't you finished your break 1 fast 2" I demanded. | Dear, mol" he replied. "rd just
 got into the dining room and sat down with an old fellow used to know And he was telling you not to | worry about your friend Dick''-I | cried, attacking quickly so he's haaye ! no chance to be on his guard. Dad Lee threw back his head and cackled:
 "He told me not to worry about g. pony named Dicky-boy. I had money on that horse and l thought some rival stable was fixing to dope him. How I happened to be setting with that old fellow was to get a line on Dicl,y-boy. I've made little kilnn' on him already and that's why I'm able to invite you to breakfast on dad, m'dear."
 "I've had my breakfast an nounced co1d1y. Let's sit here. It's cosy and-private." "I must have a shave"-he persist ed. 'T'm ashamed to have my Ally see what a homeIy old hoss her father 1t. Back in 1 5 minutes, m'dear." There was nothing to do but to sit and wait and hope that some verbal thrust of mine would get under the guard of the old man and make him betray himself for the imposter longed to prove him. CT can't come from such stock" told myself, dropping into my habit of talking things over with Barbara