The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-02-14
BY Ann Isle,


Nationwide Success.
Copyright. 1922. King Features syndi-
cate. Inc.
VIZ HEN I arrived home after
" my astounding glimpse Of
Envy Mason brazening it.
out of town after she'd given US
all to understand that she waited
to go away on a trip. I had an
other astonishing experience. AS
/ opened the door to let myself
into the house Bertha fairly
bounced upon me.
Good evening, Mrs. Harrison"
she cried in an excited whisper.
i've been hiding in the living
room, waiting for you to come.
My George leaves town tomorrow
and he says he's fair got to see
you before he goes. Can you man.
age 1t this EVENING""
II can manage nicely" re-
piled, glad that l could count on
Carlotta to accept without COM
ment or interference a statement
that / had matters to talk over
with my ex-chauffeur. Tell
Lyons to be here at eight-thirty.
I'll see him in the library. And
you needn't make mysteries,
Bertha, in this house. Miss
NSturges is one of the few persons
in this world who let's her friends
do as they wish and doesn't offer
free criticism or advice"
AS l made myself tidy for the
evening meal, my thoughts, how
ever, were not on Lyons but on
Envy Mason. l couldn't believe
that she'd slipped back into her
old ways.
1t doesn't seem possible that
Envy has forgotten Sheldon Blake
20 soon. Is she turning cynic now
remembering perhaps that Shell
don's tragedy had come through
Valerie Cosby!
But who was the man in whom
she appeared so absorbed? And
what had her smile meant as II
flashed out at me while l was driv-
ing by in her little blue car?
A tap on the door interrupted
me. 1t was Carlotta, pale and tired
looking in the black garments
which seemed to have such a de-
pressing effect on her.
Good evening-hope I don't in
trude, but I've got a lot to tell you.
Anne" she said, throwing me a
kiss of greeting. And I'd rather
not discuss matters before the
maids. So Wen have a chat right
now, If you don't mind having din
ner postponed a few minutes"
60 ahead. lady" answered.
"You look as If you had vital
things to say"
Il have" she replied seriously
and gently in the subdued tone
her. Anne - don't you know
there's always some trouble COL
lecting the insurance on a fire of
incendiary origin? And the fire, in
your apartment was clearly that.
went over there today with the
insurance agent and when he saw
the walls practically untouched
and the floors in good condition. he
knew the yarn James, the door
man, told about how the fire
started from a chatting dish that
blazed up in the apartment below.
was-a yarn"
Yes, 1t was-a yarnv" I replied
with a mental twinkle-of-the-eye.
But. dear-if that interferes
with your collecting the insurance
won't you be in a - rather bad
way?" asked Carlotta anxiously.
1T won't keep me from collect
ing the Insurance." replied calm
ly. You see, have proof that the
fire was set-by an enemy of mine.
See for yourself"
whereupon I held out tho
matchsafe Mabel Storrs had dis
covered in the ruins of my for
mer home. Carlotta took 1t, ex-
amined 1t critically for a moment,
and then with a practical, imper-
sonal expression which represent
ed. fancy, her business face"
she said.
please give mo all tho particu-
lars, Anne"
So I told her how Mabel Storrs
had found the match-safe on the
floor OF my apartment, how we'd
both realized that though tin it.
self was merely circumstantial evil
dence, It nevertheless offered a