The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-11-20
CHAPTER 746.


 CHAPTER 746.
 When I woke on the second morn ing of Betty's business career - the day after Daisy's strange dinner party | fully expected to find her sti1 Tn the apartment. But again she had rushed off early, and so again I found myself preparing a breakfast for one. This time Rosa did not interrupt, so as I did my household tasks, and sat down to my tiny festive board" I had time to review the strange events Of the whirling Kaleidoscope into which my evening at Daisy's had re- solved itself
 Evvy's return was in itself suffi- ciently startling. But the calm and casual way in which she brought Pancho Mateixa upon my horizon was even more so. And that Pancho should speak English after all NeIIo.s declarations to the contrary, gave me a terrific feeling of suspicion.
 In spite of my worry and puzzled fears lest Rosa and Nello working hand in hand shut me out of all the salient points of Jim's affairs, found myself remembering Irma Warren and the weary unhappiness on ner lovely fresh young face. But the inn ninent necessity was to hurry through the household tasks and down to the office. There I found Betty hard at work again, and Miss May wearing her proud smile of discovery.
 Into our atmosphere of proud and happy work. Rosa Cordova came whirlng like a young tornado It was amusing to see her natural dererence for Miss May. who has managed somehow to win Rosa's wayward, but evidently staunch affections But her snobbish uncertainty about Betty, whose "class' Rosa seems to sus- pect, but whose position in the office she can't make out, amazed me How ever, if Rosa can't interpret Betty I'm sure that her cleVerness isn't as dia- bolically certain as I sometimes fear She isn't the brilliant person sne sometimes crunDles me up by seem- ing.
 After f1inging word or two to the other occupants of the office Rosa demanded curtly:
 Is it maybe to the private office we can go to discuss what is only dis turbing if we talk here now?"
 Indeed it is best mot to interfere with the important things Mrs. Win ston and Miss May have on their books I replied taking my cue from Rosa.
 Once in the private office Rosa doffed the mask she seemed to have been weiaring over her feelings. Her face twisted into a darting mass of frious emotions.
 Where is that Dad Lee of yours ?" she snapped
 ''I wish I knew'-I began
 And who is the girl with the vel low hair and the blue roadster who takes from me Pancho just when it is think I shall find something out?" she went on.
 Why ask me?" I inquired suave- ay. remembering that I'd been de- ceived about Pancho's knowledge of the English language, and doubtins the advisability of revealing to Rosa that the yellow haired girr' is my friend Evvy Mason.
 ''Why ask you. indeed?" repeated Rosa, scornfully Why expect any thing from any of you Americanos? You are a strange-how you say bunch! But maybe we are just so funny, We who are fire-eaters. We'll, 1t is waste that I make of last eve ming. First it is Ne1lo who sits and seowls all through the supper. so that Pancho is afraid to make friendly | with me. And then comes the little l Miss Mason and takes away Pancho | in a minute She is one fine fiirt this | little Miss Mason, I think And me | am detective. I know her name, | anyway
 I. was saved from comment on | Evvy by a knock at the hall door. II opened it to find crisp and capable | looking boy standing there. He was | a sturdy urchin. rosy checked and | bright-eyed. and his snub nose had | an engaging slant.
 ''Tm Frank" he announced "Mr | Lacy sent me up on Jerry's recom- mend, and NIT. Lacy he says to put | me right to work and then read this | here letter.
 Suddenly I was conscious of the door-ajar, making il quite a simple | matter for Rosa to hear each word | the boy said. I found myself with an acute distate for her to hear any, thing, but I couldn't betray this by | closing the door. So I steered young Frank out to the big office and pre- sented him to Miss May with a friendly admonition to start him out with a jump.
 with jump it is ma'am." ne Ga-eerfulIy. sI'm built for speeo