The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-03-22
By Ann Lisle,
Whose Serials OF Married Life
Have Won . Big Popular
Success.
Copyright. 1924. King Features
Syndicate. Inc.

EEXYES, I suppose so; but
not q fine one" Betty
replied in a tone of
appraisal. However, when a
woman like Ruth makes a plea
Tor help, no one who had ever
been her friend would refuse.
You see that, don't you?
"She telephoned me just be.
fore you came out to ask me to
30 home to dinner with you. She
was in a great hurry and a little
Mustered. It seems that she has
her statue-the Young Aviator
out at her country place."
The once near Yarmouth Hills,
I said half to myself, remember
Ing the time when Ralph had
hurried me there to Jim's bed
side and when Gracia MacAvoy
had shamed me with her pity.
Yes, the Yarmouth Hills
place" Betty agreed. "She de-
cided suddenly to have the statue
Grated and brought into town.
She says she couldn't do another
bit of work /out there. don't
understand just what it's all
about. But she couldn't bear the
thought Of going out to Yarmouth
Hills alone tonight, and she said
In her brusQue way that she's
fed up on the MacAvoys. So
when Ruth put it that she'd no
one else to count OIL prom
tSed to go out there with her.
And as tomorrow's Saturday, and
only a half day, I thought I'd
stay till Monday. 1 believe she's
closing up the place for the sea-
son."
Please don't sound so apollo.
getic," gave back with a sorry
attempt to laugh casually. I'm
not a stern partner who minds
your taking a Saturday full-holi-
day And I'm not an ex-
acting friend who wants to cost
you Ruth Gregory's friendship"
$50 it's all right?" asked Betty
IN tone of great relief.
"Of course" I insisted cordial.
". You old dear, don't be so
sensitive for me. It's not neces.
sary. My skin isn't tissue paper"
But if it had been I think the
rage in my heart would have
burned through it, for as Betty
went out of my office I realized
that Ruth Gregory had undoubt.
eddy telephoned for her just after
I found out about Jim's going
South.
And l wondered if Jim had not
found time to say good-by to
Ruth Gregory. My mind circled
back to his brief message to me.
tried to imagine his farewell to
Ruth Gregory, and again a
strange sense of not caring came
over me.
What's the use?" 1 asked my
self.
The minute I began to connect
Ruth Gregory's sudden reaching
cut for Betty's friendship with
Jim's departure for Mexico I found
myself on the verge of a mental
bog too black and dangerous to
contemplate.
I decided to go home and to
endure the solitary dinner had
been dreading. It was painfully
clear to me that if I didn't think
my way out Of the morbid tangle
that was forming in my brain I'd
get into a state of hardness or
cool desperation.
After / had a good, refreshing
hot dinner, which I had to force
myself to eat in spite Of my hun
ger. got into comfortable clothes
and established myself on the
living room couch to think things
out.
Strangely enough I began to
pity Ruth Gregory.
Am as Indifferent as all
thisT' I asked myself. "Once I
was bitter about Ruth Gregory
and her friendship for Jim. Once
resented his pride in knowing
this celebrity. Now why am
plying her? Is it that I'm willing
to let Jim go-even II he goes
60 herr"
After a while 7 gave it up. And
instead of lying sleepless, as I've
90 often done before when Jim has
hurt me or failed me, I fell into
q sound and refreshing slumber