The Washington times., 1923-08-18
By Ann Isle.

WHOSE SGtA0t8 u WC00c0 A>AAO
Have Won . Big National
tcopyr,ght. 1923, Kins Features
Syndicate, Incl
~ ETY. didn't interrupt my
thoughts. She sat quiet
and understanding. waiting
for me TO find words. At last
they came.
1--WE been ready to haye-any-
one turn against Neal. II Jim
couid'-I dragged It from my
soul. 1T was afraid circumstan-
tial evidence was too convincing"
Betty parted her lips to speak,
closed them again, rose and went
to the window where she stood
for q moment with her back 20
me and then turned with a Ques-
ton that astonished me:
Doesn't Jim mind having
Ralph fight your battles?"
Hes q dear about that? !
cried, happy that it was so.
Betty smiled dryly. almost
wryly. Then she cried eagerly:
Ralph is the best champion
you could have. won't offer
help that might clutter up things
for you. But I'll do anything I
can. Have you a good photo
graph to have reproduced on
handbills IL you want to paper
the country with offers Of re-
ward for finding Neal?"
mo-" / cried sghast. There
are only Meals pictures in uni
form and they ali had his
cap on.
'sYou might give me a collec-
ton OF all the pictures You
have" Betty said brislxly. I'm
see what can do
She eyed me searchingly. But
I. knowing full well what was
in her mind, said quietly:
''I'n gather together every tin
type and snapshot and photo
graph there ever was Of Neal.
I'VE even a lock cf his hair. And
you know Ralph Lacy has a sort
Of look Of Neal in spite of being
sandy where my boy was car
rot top as he called himself"
1.-THE picture is important"
Betty replied tersely. I'm do
what I can for you-and as soon
as I can. I'm sure you'll want
to get out the handbills at once.
II they could be printed in color,
it would be even better. But
with a collection Of photographs.
and with Ralph TO pose
She broke off suddenly. I'm
acknowledged between us was
the fact that Ruth Gregory is a
supreme painter Of portraits.
knew Betty was planning to go
to her for help in my search for
Neal. I could see that this
might have it's huniliating phase
in the light Of my realization
that Jim is deeply interested in
Miss Gregory.
'I'll leave this to you, Betty"
I said. "Of course, you'll need
to consult Ralph. But he'll en-
ter into any scheme you're think
ing up. And won't care where
you go or what you do or what
you-call on me to do, If the
result is q portrait of Neal that's
sure to make any one who ever
glimpses him, know him and
help him on the-road back
to me-"
II thought you'd feel that
way" said Betty.
"Ill do anything I can"-she
said.
with you and Ralph inter-
ested," began, but Betty in
terrupted:
Except for this, I'm going to
leave the case to you and Ralph.
Too many folks are likely to
clutter things up. I want you to
lean on Ralph, Anne. Now I'll
go off and tend to the dinner
e,,,AefC ona kAAfr oho cad an1S~1~
ment."
Then she whirled out of the Of
flee shutting the door with a firm
ness amounting to finality.
Grimly I turned and stared out
of the window. Casting up ac-
counts of the day I could see that
I had potentialities for ruthless
ness, where Neal is concerned.
The lad has always appealed to
the mother instinct in me and for
his need would sacrifice all my
pride-all I have. Recognizing
that was going to let Betty ask
a favor of Ruth Gregory for me,
TeallZlnS Inat was absorbing
Ralph Lacy's time and interest,
though I know how deep-and
wasted-that is, found myself
wondering how much I'd sacrifice
to get Neal back again into the
warm circle of my arms.
Suppose it were even to mean
unhappiness to Jim?" I asked my
~a1P