The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-10-26
CHAPTER 727.

1 going out at all, but was standing by ! Betty, desperate and evidently a run 1 away from Dreamwold. Without much hope that he could 1 handle the situation I sent an O 1 to MT. Lacy And Ralph Lacy. to 1 whom, if am any judge of charac- ter, the least deviation from the truth 1 must be obnoxious, lied with outward
 serenity-''like a gentleman Sorry old man. but we're a party
 of six. I've big taa to hold the | bunch, You have g. magnificent car. 1 noticed it as I came in. But it isn't l elastic to the point of our numbers 1 is 1t ?"
 '.sorry-but it isn't' replied Tony. Do I fetch you at the Star tomor- l row?"
 "Great-if you will. I'll have the | postponed meeting with your bully. l old car And now, before we start l along, may put in a phone call. Mrs. 1 Harrison?"
 l "Of course" I replied. daring to l breathe again "Then we won't wait. will we. Car 1 lotta?" demanded Tony. getting his l cue at last.
 T am hungry" breathed Car1otta 1 in a troubled fashion. "Run along, children" cried, 1 waving them away.
  1 parted.
 The moment the door closed after them I sank down on the stairs, with 1 a half-shamed, truant-frRn-schoo1 feeling and a half-relieved sense Of l triumph.
 "oh. I hate to trick Tony I said. And I can't explain why Put you In a position where you had to help"
 t'It's clear enough" replied Ralph Lacy giving me q searching look which made me wonder just how clear it was. You didn't want his evening spoiled, and you knew if it came to toss-up between your break ing an engagement and his doing he'd be gallant. So you made the sacrifice. I hops 1t is one" "Oh it isl" I cried. jumping up and making a little curtsey in response to what I took for his effort to 1 brighten matters up by a. serio-conaic i tone. And l was so 'no-bur that 1 wouldn't let Tony and Carlotta suffer l when I could bear their burden in- stead!
 MT. Lacy smi1ed-but his smile had certain quality of holding things In reserve. I felt that he had & far clearer understanding of the whole situation than I wished-or. indeed. than he imagined I wanted him to have. But when he spoke his tone was intensely serious.
 ''You've acted just-as I'd have ex- pected. You've thought of every one but yourself. I won't keep you from Mrs. Winston another minute. And I'll make it clear to the rest of our lunch that you couldn't possibly ar ~anee to be with us. That's all I'll reed to say. They're all regular per sons and true friends. They'll un- derstand and accept without Ques- tion''
 Realizing that there was no doubt of this, I bade MT. Lacy good night and hurried up to Betty. I found her pacing up and down my room with some of the vigor that had once been her chief characteristic.
 You've upset an evenings plans for me- she stated rather than ques- toned. 1T understand after you were gone that you were stage managing the situation I created so you wouldn' hurt my fe1eings. You're not denying it-are your"
 'Why should I? I laughed" You seem to know. Now-where do we go from here? %
 ''The plans haven't changed. have they?" asked Betty timidly.
 Not unless you've changed then,' I said soothingly.
 'No-I want to eat my dinner at home. Can we start right away?"
 "Yes,' I agreed. "We'11 vo out to the corner, hail a taxi, stop 1t in front of g bright and shining Rotisserie and carry ooff a fine meal for two hungry girls. I hope you're as nearly ramfsn- cd as I am. Betty. I don't want to feel like a piggie watching you nfbbIe while gulp.'
 Betty smiled vaguely Then she turned and led the way toward the stairs, announcing quietly:
 T don't think I've eateS for days. Pm getting weak. I think I'll be. be able to manage when get-nome-
 There was a peculiar emphasis on the word. But I made no comment, and did my best to make Betty feel that there was a high adventure in walking to the corner, finding 8 taxi and deciding on our probable pur- chases at the Potisserie. We bought 3 chicken hot from the spit. French fried potatoes, slaw, baked apples, a loaf of bread and a nut cake. Adding coffee, tea. sugar, butter and cream from little provision shop next door, we went back to our taxi and drove 2. to Betty's apartment.
 When we pulled up in front of the building out came the door man and greeted Betty as if she were c long lost friend. There was nothing of surprise in his manner. I put this down to the dignity and self-control of welI-drilIed servant. But when Betty opened the door of her apart meth and the man staggered in with our burden of foods, I discovered that there was more back of his serene greeting than mere training
 T hopes everything is in the prime of condition, Miss Winston, ma'am" he said. When you phones this morning I gets me out directly and finds a right smart girl to clean the place good and proper. And I ain't