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Show GIRL ALONE "ZTE.1 (Continue fleas Preceding Pssel 4 serious than ths physician had anticipated an-ticipated It would be. There wers even several fear haunted days when Jim doubted that hie father would recover. James Guthrie Sr. wanted his son with him all of ths time. He Insisted on using the (cant strength hs had to plan for th futurs of his bustnsss. He wanted Jim to give up hi bank position in Centertown and com Into hi business. "Please don't talk about It, Dad," Jim said time and again. "Just li still and rest. You must get your strength bark. As soon as you're little stronger I'll go back to Center- town. f "Then I'll close up my work there. I msy have to givs the bank I a couple of weeks' notice. But I'll ' come home just as soon as I can. I "We'll make the James Guthrie I eatabuahment bigger and better than ever before." 'The business will be James Guthrie A Sons, now?" the sick man would say, gasing at his son proudly. "Oh. Jim, I thought you'd nvsr gst that foolish notion out of your haad of wanting to b a banksr." On Hi. Own "I really didn't want to be a banker. Dad. I Just wanted to be on my own. I guess every fellow want a little independent fling." "la It s girl you r sending tele- grams to every dsy, Jim?" Guthrie Guth-rie Sr. saked one day when Jim pus-sled pus-sled over the writing of a telegram. "Yea, Dad. Ths very sweetest girl In the world." Ths convaleecent man grinned. "They why keep sending her telegrams, tele-grams, Son? Give her a real thrill and write a good long letter." "I will. Dad. I'll writ a long letter tonight. I'll tell her that I'll start back to Centertown in a few days. You'll be well enough by then." Back In Centertown Beth worried wor-ried about Jim more than a little. To be sure, she heard . from him at least once a day. His telegrams were always cheerful, cheer-ful, but their very brlefneas made them seem almost cold and cure Jim Vary Busy "Why doesn't h write?" Char-' mion asked, secretly glad that he did not. "Sham on these people who don't care enough to take time to write letter. Isn't that what you say. Beth?" Beth would always defend Jim. "Jim's busy, Charmion. His fathsr has really been very III I'll receive re-ceive s letter In a dsy or so, I'm sure." "Maybe." Charmion said dolefully dole-fully as though she wanted Beth to have the letter as much as Bath desired it. Charmion took a great deal of care not to let her stepfather step-father overhear her questioning Beth In this way. And most certainly she did not confide in Mary. Instead, Charmion Char-mion played her little game quietly and by herself. It was an unfortunate fate that sent Beth down to work at the drug stor on th afternoon that Jim's lettsr came. She always waited for ths morning morn-ing mail anxiously. But mall arrived ar-rived so rarsly In th afternoon that Beth hadn't dreamed a letter might com for her then. It waa Beth' hard luck then that the letter came In the afternoon when she was away, Charmion met the postman at the door, took th letter. It was addressed to Beth in a bold, masculine mas-culine handwriting, Sh. Tslst Lottar Charmion cloaed ths door, slipped the letter In ths front of her blouse while she stilt stood In ths hallway "Any mall, Charmis?" Mary called. "A magaiine " Charmion took th magaxine to ner mother. "If you'll excuse ms, I'm going up snd take nap. I guass this climat makss me sleepy, I yawn all of the time. (Continued Thursday) (Copyright, 1MT, for The Telegram.) |