The Washington times., 1919-03-22
By Ann Lisle.
CHATTER G,
Copyright, 1919. King Features Svn-
dictate Incl

dictate Inc.)
GEn AT lunches here almost ev-
cry day shall you mind
IL he walks in on US"
asked Carlotta Sturges, waving the
waiter aside TO serve our chicken
,Clinsarge and artichoke.
as that why you brought me
hereto see how I'd take a meet
ing with my -brother-in-law?"
asked, wondering IL Carlotta meant
10 confide in me after all.
But Carlotta only leaned across
the table and put her hand over
mine.
"Anne Harrison" she said, 81
liked you from the first. And you
stood by me at the canteen the
other day. You're q thoroughbred.
And IL I can ever do anything for
you-Why, name it. But in the
meantime want you to answer one
question. VIII you?"
"I1l try" I replied earnestly 10
her earnestness.
well, now, it's this: Do you
see any harm in my being friends
with Pat Dalton? He's married,
know, but he isn't living with his
wife. Now, don't see why he
should be cut off from friends and
companions while he's trying to
find out what Mrs. D. proposes TO
make OF the smashed-up bits OF
their lives. Do you?"
Not when you put it that way
agreed unwillingly.
"HoW else can 1 put it?" cried
Carlotts, her eyes bright with
triumph or some other even more
Stimulating faelfnr
pat Dalton and Virginia are
married. They're separated-that's
true. But perhaps they'll find each
other again. I think marriage is
Q-permanent thing-not just what
the minister has said, but how peo-
pie have felt That ought to be
sacred
Correctly Interpreted.
Carlotta narrowed her eyes and
tapped the fingers OF one hand
Aervously against the back OF the
ether.
~Evidently you don't believe in
divorce. Evidently you think
hope even-that IL no one" she
hastily corrected herself, that If
nothing comes between Pat-and
Virginia, they'll find each other
again instead Of something just as
good That's it-isn,t it,"
That's IT," agreed gravely,
wondering how she would take it.
She sat quite still and motionless
for a moment, staring ahead Of her
OF mischief came into them, and
she turned to me almost sauciIy:
Il warned you-but you didn't
Do And
Tgess who's with him?"
aut before 1 could guess. a voice
Of greeting sounded over my shout
der:
@Hel-lo, Lady Tenant! So you've
found the best restaurant in town.
Patrick Kerence O'Maragh Dalton
and I drop in for a bite now and
again-and today I think we've
found fine company-unless you OBJ
jet TO Dalton
His voice was SO unruffled-so
assured-that only by affronting
Pat could I hope to rid myself Of
Tom Mason's unwelcome company.
So all in the next minute our
table was stretched TO accommo-
date four-and the men ordered
cocktails, in which Carlotta almost
dehantly Joined them.
This is a posy little foursome,"
Tom Mason declared jovially after
bis second drink. Suppose you
girls fool round over your sweets a
bit, and then we'll take you to a
matinee or for a spin up the road
in Pats little new car"
Carlotta beamed and clapped her
hands.
s'oh, that'Il be jolIy-well go up
the road and have a dance and
some tea and promise to make
the boys drink tea, too, Anne"
winced-as much at her inti--
mate use OF my name as at the
situation.
Anne at Last Explains.
ct couldn't" I said-and then
repeated in uninspired fashion,
couldn't"
why mott" asked Pat. a little
belligerent. You were happy
enough till came-is IL me you're
after objecting to, Mrs. Jimmie""
"Oh, no-yoU know it isn't that,
didn't I have tea with you:" I
cried unguardedIy, stupidly-and
regretted on the very period to my
words that I hadn't bitten my
tongue out when 1 began the SEN
tence.
''Tom and you-Pat and L I