The Washington times., 1921-03-03

ley had forgotten his existenes;
still he was going and he boAsted
OF Ia. When his crontes doubted
he tapped his inside pocket stgnin-
cantly as though IL contained the
open sesame SO eagerly sought for
and SO hard to get.
For Stover did not belong to that
self-respecting minority that didn't
care to TO where Il was not ask cd; F;
he had no such scruples.
Ordinarily he would have con-
Quoted his unihvitedl self to Dar-
isy's Office and there traasacted the
little business he had planned; but
the call at Darlsy's house would
give him an opportunity OF seeing
Miss barley. and 10 see Miss Dsriey
was worth n good DEAL.
Let the bitter truth be told.
; Slower at forty-three had fallen head
over heels In love with Carlotta-
From the momentary glance he had
garnered on his recent visit he had
built up castles in the air which he
wanted to make solid with concrete
facts.
Carlotta herself knew nothing Of
this wild resolve on the part OF the
ex-warden; II. she had. she would
sumptuous for q man to attempt to
pay his addresses to q young wom-
an already engaged. but Slower
was not bothered with the fine
points of the fitness. OF things. He
had characterized Cariotta as
peach and Homer rs a lemon. His
Characterization of. himself is not
relorded, but perhaps II Mr.. Car!e-
ton had stood six feet. two or three
Mr.. Slower would never have made
himself an added starter In q race
where he did not belong.
Peter as well as Clere was kept
busy preparing for the great event,
and when at last the evening ar
rived and with 1t the favored guests
who were to, paFtake OF the hQspi-
tality of the Darieys. the menage
OF the big house functioned with
the precision Of q small card party.
Miss Darfey had never looked 80
fascinating; Homer had never ap-
pearcd so proud Of her. and Peter
unsmilinE, watched the two with
an occasional glance at Glare when
she passed! her way. a..
"Our day. will come" he man
aged to whisper to her.
Hope 1t will be soon." she smiled
back. ..,
Carlotta paused before them.
Have you seen Mr.. Carleton. any
body?" 80, -,.. ..
/ Nobody had. ..-
won't you look in the library,
Peter--maybe. he's smoking with
the other men,"
Peter returned with the wanted
Information.
.'.. CLEVER GIRL.
eyes. he's there. Miss Dirley."
She flashed q smile at him and
going to the doorway called to
her fiance. ''t :
"come along, Homer, you're to
what. with all those tall Eiris?"
The men laughed -wCarlotta
laughed. ''
"You've got to do something to
amuse them-I know-Tll make .
conjurer of you card trick man
--how's that-no dancing, but In re-
turn you show our guests what
wonderful sleight-of-hand artist
you are" .a.
Mr.. carleton agreed. II wouldn't
10 THIS IOT, any UOuy .ciSS Oee yoo'
Carlotta-you realize that"
"Of course I do; and you
mightn't do 1t IL we weren't en-
gagged, and maybe after were mar
ried you won't see 1t In the same
light"
.Clever girl" said Carleton rs
they walked toward the ballroom.
you stay here while get
mack of cards" T. .H
Stay where?'
Fright hefe. You ca n think of
your sins and prepare yourself for
the ordeal"
Miss barley whisked away, and
Homer was left to gaze At the
animated groups that formed q
fringe around the big room. There
were q good many girls whose
names represented the oldest and
richest families in town, but none
could compare with the girl who
had promised to be his and who
wore his necklace ~ q mark Of
appreciation. 'r...
Mr.. Carleton stroked his small
nustache and wondered Just how
he would fare when once tho mar
riage service had been read. He
longed to appear before his future
wife in q role more heroic. than tho
one ne now played: but he had
wished that many times and to No
avail.
Ts Ne Csnti,seA Tsoerrsw.