Show I I I I r rr I z o 42 ill ck THE CALL CALL FROM I HOME E. E That night Claire relieved her heavy heart with a a. good cry Sho could not havo have told why or at least she ahe would not acknowledge any more than that she was waa l losing for tor the time a friend And d John Reaves had seemed such Buch a asure sure aure dependable friend But It is not for tor a time she sobbed He Ho thinks I am bad I know it He Ho will never come como again of at his own accord And I cant oh CANT CAN'T speak of ot it first Her loneliness after alter that became in intolerable In- In tolerable Several days later Reaves called her up at the office to tell teU her he was waa sailing that afternoon the date had hd come without warning schedules were not given out in advance these days he could not meet her before sailing etc ete He lIe was sorry wished her well Would write She Sho wished him luck Good bye Good bye good luck That evening she ahe he went to Mrs boarding house for tor dinner She would have braced a whole accusing accusing ac ac- ac- ac cusing casing world rather than be alone that night She felt even Jane Brownings Browning's peppery pepper friendliness would be bo welcome She h longed t for r a sight of ot tho the house the boarders the servants even It would be a a. sort of at friendly call Old Mrs greeted her with scolding heartiness Claire Berton how dare you how I f r your our face tace here hero after neglecting me like lIle that she cried shaking her Too prosperous to know your humble bumble friends eh Too roo proud In your your pros pros- Shame Shamo on you Then as ns she saw the tears spring to Claires Claire's eyes she clapped her to her breast Come come Ye le cant can't wait walt dinner for tor you OU forever Run into my room and wash up up Brownie Is Ss alone at her table too to- to o night Ill I'll como come and Join you Claire felt like lIk a condemned criminal I p with a reprieve She clung to Mrs embrace embraces as s long IonS as she could without drawing attention to her agi agi- tation You dear old Gorgon I sho she cried sniffling her tears back hack How is everybody Well Vell to me everybody means first of at all John Reaves Mrs Irs said with a quick scrutiny Im desolate Im I'm font fond of at John He lie sailed for tor I France today I Claire dabbed her eyes Yes 1 met him and antI he told me she said sald And hows how's Brownie Dont dare BREATHE HER NAME to me Mrs blustered if it weren't for tar you jou she would never think of leaving me mc to keep house for tor herself in a dink dinky little flat tInt But of or course you had to put fool notions In her head So she's looking for some other young oung fool Cool like you ou to go partners In Sn Ina Ina a 3 flat fiat with her Claires Claire's heart leaped like a starved prisoner at a chance for tor food toad and antI freedom She did not wait walt to prink but went into the dining room and took Jane Browning by bj storm You old Brownie darling she cried kissing her Will you take me meas meas meas as a mate flat J Jane ne Browning forced her down into a a. chair Sit down and behave yourself and I get ct out of or my soup she said an amused twinkle In her eyes Of lOOt I course Ive I've got to take you jOU You'd kill killme mo me if It I 1 dl didn't I suppose I would would almost almost Claire said earnestly ear ear- nestly I That evening she spent almost happily Jane Jano Browning and Mrs Terming bothered and bantered her Then she aho and Brownie planned their flat tInt together A week later latel Claire and Jano Juno were at home in It It was wa a sensible modest reasonable little room four flat tat in West Vest Twentieth street in a winking new apartment house for tor which they paid 45 a n. month From Froma a storage house came a lot of decent old furniture which Tan Jane Brownings Browning's family famil had owned for tor ever With some somo additions the two girls furnished an Ideally convenient and homey bachelor nest for tor themselves Between good work good g company company- the two girls found each other really Teany congenial congenial and and a 3 pretty home Claire was happy for tor fora a 3 few weeks Then one night when she came home work she found a telegram She tore lore It open her fingers trembling with premonitory fear tear She read MOTHER IOTHER VERY ILL ILIJ CO COME IE AT ONCE O BRING THINGS FOR INDEFINITE INDEFINITE IN IN- DEFINITE STAY ANGIE To bo be |