New Britain herald., 1928-03-05

She appeared 10 sway for second or two, like pendulum, between the retort distinctly discourteous and that governed by the quality he continuously preached-reHtraint The latter won after brief strug- gle. \ smile flashed out to replace the signals of anger that had flut- tered for a fleeting moment, as she looked him straight ill the eye and replied to his question.
 T was in bed, Father Pat, in my room at home, from z o'clock last night until 1c:5o today. I've told Jack. If he chooses to disbelieyc me. whose fault will 1t be?"
 His eyes. with their strangely di- latiug pupils, continued for another brief instant to probe hers. What lie read there must have been emil nently satisfactory to Father Ryan, despite the ambiguity of his reply.
 That may depend, my daughter, on whether you are as sensible in talking 10 your husband as you arc to your priest" he said.
 She then told him in greater de- tail the story of her experience on the evening before: how she had come home alone after failing to lind Jack and had gone to bed with g. sick headache, neglecting to in- form Clara of her arrival. She hoped Father Pat might see Jack and make him ''sae the light
 It was o'clock when Jill enter d the apartment they called 'home." Whether it was a home or just an address and a convenient place i'll which to house the chll- dren. was getting to be question in Jil's mind. During the week just passed, she recalled only one meal that Jack had eaten with her in the apartment, That had been breakfast at 1o:39 on the morning before.
 Miss Sweeney phoncd 10 tell you that Mir. Stuart was m the hos pital." Clara informed her, as she came into the kitchen, where the children were having their supper. She seemed to sense an inquistorlal note in the girls bell-like tones. Clara Morgan had musical comedy aspirations and lived in the drean1- land of a star-iit future,
 "Mr. Stuart was in tn hospital last night bu. he came home today said Jill. trifle testify, recalling hat it was Clara's transformation to Father Ryan that had caused Jack 10 think she, Jill, had been out all night. She continued:
 What time did Father Ryan telephone last night?'
 He called three times said the in her light-blue eyes. First at O clock. I told him you weren't home yet and to make sure, I went to your room and 1t was locked. I knocked but of course got no an- swer. Then he called again at 10. and the last time just before lo.'
 But l came in few minutes be- fore 7." said Jill. trying to remem- Der whether she had a shred of ex- cusc for making Clara the goat ill her alibi. She recalled, however, hat she had let herself in quietly and bad gone immediately to bed. her head tied mp in a towel satnrat- d with cologne. The girl stared in surprise at her statement.
 "Before q" she repeated and then added, a bit belligerently: You must have come in awful quiet. I never heard a sound in your room until Mr. Stuart came home today
 "T had a headache and went straight 10 bed said Jill, and she knew. even a.s she said if, that the girl believed she was lying. \ feel ing of impotent anger. superinduced by a sense of helplessness, crept over her. If Clara thought she was lying, how could she expect Jack to believe her?
 What time did Miss Sweeney call"" she continued, remembering he girls had told her about seeing Jack riding in the Sweeney roa dster.
 Not more than 70 minutes after you left
 And did she say Jack - AIr Stu art-was in tn hospital, or had been in tn hosptal"'
 She said: Tell M:s. Stuart her husband is in the hospital.' Then she rang off
 There was q note Of flnal1ty in he girls voice that seemed to inn ply that she. loo. was about ready 10 ring off" But Jill forestalled