The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-06-08
CHAPTER 5S0
 Copyright, 1920, King Features Syndt-


 cate, Inc.
 Carl Boothr I exclaimed, aston ished and annoyed at the insincerfty of his attitude toward Carlotta- What do you mean by that Do we?' Didn't you make a point or urging Carlotta to return?'
 ..Not until you had made a polnt of it first" replied Carl noncha1antly, adding in a quizzical tone, Were you miffed?"
 'Carl, don't be si1lyl" I protested, my disappointment with him growing. "You acted as If you liked Car1otta. And now you try to make your en- thusiasm seem-play acting.'
 '-Could I do less thar be pleasant to Miss Sturges. She is your friend. was dining at your tab1e-which is her table," replied Carl. coolly.
 By this time we'd crossed over into the sunroom, a charming place built out into a circle of white-tiled flooring set about a cool fountain and furnished with soft gray wicker cush- toned in cretonne, gay with peoples and exotic birds. I sank gratefully into the cordial arms of a big chair and Carl pulled little one close to me and held out his pipe with a pleading look for permission to light that informal old friend of his. This gave De the cue 1 WdLtSu IL gested the simple, informal pleasant ries of our oId-time friendship.
 "Of course" I nodded. "As if big brother person couldn't have go at his old pipe when there's nobody but his sister about You know I feel as if my friend Carl Booth had come back-and that means a lot more to me than you can think"
 Does it, Barbara Amer" asked Carl. taking his pipe from between his lips and studying it critically. "Yes, 1t does. I'll explain just how much pretty soon. But first I want to finish the conversation we started 1 as we came in here. IT don't think it's quite worthy of you to be1ittle Carlotta by limiting to me that you could get on nicely without her, when you've just made her feel that we really want her-which we dol" Carl flung back his head and laugh ed boyish1y. I felt if the old days when his friendship had been the one thing to save me from loneliness were somehow recaptured. Having a broth CT would make having only a far-away husband much more endurabIe. The feeling of being frightful1y lon my own,'' which had come when Meals marriage followed so shortly after Jin's departure, seemed about to be banished. T felt as pleased as a kitty ! must feel when 1t purrs. And I hur- ried to put my feelings into words: Carlotta's such a splendid girl! really liked having you two hit 1t off. And one of the things I've never lost faith in for minute is your-utter sincerity. So didn't feel that 1t was l like you to belittle her by seeming just to use her. Seer"
 'T see that you're a dear-as you always were, Barbara Anne," said Carl, dreami1y puf1ng away at the l pipe and giving every sign of being just as cosy and comfy and contented as was.
 And you apologize to Carlotta for pretending to slight her in order to | be gallant to me, don't you?' I per | sisted, wanting to get this cleared ur l in a fashion which would dismiss the slightest suggestion that we were talk | ing advantage of Car1otta's hospitality and of her.
 ''You funny grill" said Carl with a puzzled look. "I can't make you out l But you'd be no true woman if you | didn't want the truth especially | when it's completely complimentary l Miss Sturges is all right. liked bat
 ting the English language back and forth with her. I enjoyed her com. pany at dinner. I'll be glad to see her | again. But''-
 | "But me no buts," I cried, satisfied | now that I hadn't let Carl cheaper | Carlotta to fatter me and even more pleased because my capacity for jea1-