The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-06-22
CHAPTER 592
Copyright, 1920, King Features Syndi-

| cate, Inc.
| I've often fallen short of my own
| ideals in feeling petty form of jeaI-
ousy, known as pique, when I've found
that two of my friends have entered
on an intimacy in which I am not the
! factor. So there was a double salts
faction in the rush of joy felt at real
izing that Tony had seen Carlotta be-
| fore coming to the office, and that
they'd talked things ovep-even if
those things" happened to be my
affairs.
| The mere fact that Tony would
quote Carlotta's expression your lit
| tie new baby of a BUSINESS at the
very time when he wasn't acknowl-
| edging their meeting showed how
| much it had impressed him.
With this. thought in mind, I re-
peated the phrase without premidi-
| tation when I made my final &C
acknowledgement that I was ready to
| take Tony's help.
LAS you say, I can't let my little
new baby of a business fall
Tony smiled again. The whimsi-
cal twist of his tender mouth became
quizzical.
You don't pry or ask embarrass-
ing questions, do you?' he question
"Oh, Tony didn't mean to be
funny. I wasn't mimicking or trying
to hint at anything''-I exclaimed in
distress.
Til confess that 1 told you a little
story tantamount to white He,"
epected Don't hurt Carlotta by
Lyons told me you were making your
home with her. So 1 telephoned to
the home of my two fine friends the
first thing after I got in. And Car
lottta suggested that I surprised you
by coming over to dine"
$50 you'd had your dinner when
you brought me here and forced
yourself to eat a second time rather
than let me realize"- 1 gasped.
Not bit of it. We waited for
you. When you didn't come CarIot-
ia began to worry. Then your sec
rotary telephoned to see if you'd
been able to arrange the matter of
the Star adertising account with Mr..
Hcadley. I'm her agitation she told
a bit more than she realized Car
lotta filled in the gaps
I'VE called the Hoadley offices and
when we found that gentleman had
gone to meet you Carlotta suggested
that 1 drop in on the conference at
your office. She has a wonderful
way of estimating folks, Carlotta has,
She sent me to you. She told me
that though you'd been too proud to
ask her for the help she would have
loved to give she thought you'd let
me stand by in need. And-you know
the rest"
"Carlotta doesn't like Max Hoad-
Iey?'' I ventured, driven to touching
on the dangerous topic I was so
grateful to Tony for avoiding.
"She preferred to have you take
me on as business adviser replied
Tony in an even, unstressed voice. 1t
told me that he would never allude
to what he had seen and had guessed
when he came to my office and found
Max Hoadley Hereunder slightly
different circumstances from what
even the astute Carlotta could have
expected. Don't hurt Carlottta by
refusing her advice as you refused to
turn to her for - more substantial
help"
1T like the twinkle in your eye,Tony
I replied acquiescently.
I'm honor of that twinkle then, |
will you save me from a ladys
wrath ?" demanded Tony. "Carlotta
will never forgive me if she finds out
that I told you of her part in this |
She begged me to come to you as if
it were entirely on my own initiative |
She wanted you to feel that nothing |
had broken or interfered with the |
clear current of our friendship"
please don't bind me to secrecy"
I begged.
please don't refuse me-" insisted |
Tony "I'll be square with the rest
Of Carlotta's condolences. But if you
tell her that I gave away her very
first one. why. there probably amt
a-going to be no more. So I'm count
ing on your silence"
You can count on it" I agreed
But I wish I could tell
with her? Speak, mani Or must
.?''
at know him I've seen him.