The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-06-07
CHAPTER 579
 Copyright, 1920, King Features Syndf-

CHAPTER 57s
 Copyright, 1920. King Features Syndt-
 cate, Inc.
 The game of conversational battle dore and shuttlecock Carl and Car lotta were playing was so timulating that couldn't help joining in. Per haps 1t was pique which made me so anxious to do my share of shining.
 Each of us was on his mettle, and by the time dinner was over we weI @ in state of exhtlaration which hadn't a thing in the world to do with the cares and problems of the day. Carlotta, leaning forward across the table in her mermafd's green and law eender was a bewitching-lookingc crea- ture. When she slipped coffee,wreath- ing her ruddy head in clouds of gray smoke from her own cigarette she looked alluring in the ultra-mode ern way I can't learn to like. I wonder ed if the very sophisticated young person with her cigarette, the fam boyant Carlotta of smart plaids and gay colors, would appeal to Anthony Norreys as the wistful girl of the past months might have done.
 But Carlotta's effect on Carl was unmistakably pleasant. for when she tapped out the light of her cigarette against her saucer, tilted her cup for the last drop and then swept regaIly to her feet Carl fairly leaped to draw out her chair. Again I felt the prick of not being first with this old friend and had to reprimand myself with a reminder that if he weren't courteous to his hostess and interested in my friend I'd not be at all satisfied. And now, children, all aboard for a coZy chat in the sun-parlor where, if I were as new-fangled as like to think I am. we'd have been served with coffee,'' cried Carlotta gayly sweeping toward the door.
 I'd taken 1t for granted that Car lotta's departure from the custom of having our coffee in the sun-par1or was due to the fact that she felt 1t would be easy to leave us when we left the dining room. Now, when we three started together for the sug- gested "cozy chat,'' recollection of the Derringforth situation and my grave need of Carl's help and advice jumped out at me as if it had been lying in ambush and waiting for me to give it an opening. I looked at Car1otta questioningly. Had she temporarily forgotten that the idea back of the dinner was for me to have an oppor- tunity to talk business with Carl?
 Almost of their own volition my brows went up a fraction of an inch. CarlOtta lauShed consciously ana flung up her hands in a nexotic ges- ture of self-reproach as she dec1ared:
 i've Just had a tiwnge of con scfence-a signal from my better self I've definite duty tonight. and we're all such good friends sby now that no one will hold me sternly to social for ma1ities. So exit Carlotta where duty calls. May we count on you to come and cheer two lonely women now and then, friend Car1?'' There was a bur1esQue note in her voice which jared me unp1easantly. Then I found my sympathy rushing out to her as I put myself in her place. The feeling that she was in the way couldn't do much to cheer her loneliness. She had stood aside chiv- arously for my friendship with Tony. She was making a gallant exit from a jolly party which was helping her for get herself. And I was being left in poss ession of the centre of the stage and the society of this splendid blond giant of a big brother.
 Which-considering that She's the lonely bachelor maid and Pm the hap py married woman-was manifestly unfair.
 "Carlotta dear" bust out. ''I know your capacity for getting things done.