The Washington times., 1923-06-08
BY Ann Lisle,
whose Serials Of Married Life
Have Won Wide Popular
Acclaim.

~ 51A~~~ 49, ANA~
here by mid-afternoon. /"
said Ralph Lacy practically Now
get on your bonnet and shawl and
III take you out and buy you a
lunch
"Please-won't you ask. Betty
instead? She's so worried over
Miss May. and besides she hates
lunching alone" begged. in a
low tone.
"Ill do-whatever you say"
he answered. "Only-I wanted
to take you
/ determined to do all In my
power to- foster this friendship,
And then inconsistency enough,
/ felt suddenly very lonely when
Betty and Ralph Lacy went out
{ together.
As long as Betty was in the
office her terror over Miss
Mays non-appearance compelled
me to act calmly and not
display any nerves OF my own.
But as soon as she and Ralph
Lacy went out to lunch together
found a lot of ugly conjectures
swarming into my brain.
/ was too worried to go to
lunch. and I wanted to be right
on deck If any message came
from our missing partner. So
j sent Walter. the office boy,
out to fetch mo my usual lunch
of milk and sandwiches. / forced
myself to go on working, but it
wasn't easy to keep my mind on
what was doing.
Again and again / tried to. get
Miss, Mays apartment. but al
ways without result 1t occurred
to me that might call Max
Hoadley. but decided against
that. Miss May has always been
SO delicate and reticent where
he Is concerned, and felt it
would be pampering my own self
ish fears to call him into a mat
ter which could trust Mr.. Lacy
to handle.
Betty and Ralph Lacy came
back sooner than I'd dared hope.
he brought some delicious grapes
and :" wonderful dollhouse
melon.
II knew you'd hold the fort"
he said warmly. Now, I'm TAX.
ing charge. 1 don't regard the
situation very seriously. Still
I'll call up our news service and
get the hospital returns. That
won't mean any undesirable pub
licity. It's the logical first STEP"
Betty and l ranged ourselves
expectantly in the big armchairs
of my private office. while Ralph
Lacy sat at my desk waiting for
Walter to get his office on the
wire. We were so absorbed in
the thought of Miss May lying in
the emergency ward of some hos
pital that we didn't hear a foot
step or notice anyone approach
ing. Then a muffled voice chal-
lenged us from the doorway.
"Hello,s children Here's your
aunt--your happy little aunt" it
cried, gaining strength SO that at
the last words it beamed with the
effect of the sun coming from. be-
hind a cloud.
4 There in the doorway stood Su
sauna May. My first impression
was Of a mass of wonderful roses
and orchids, with a palpitating
little woman back of them.
Then, my eyes made a mechanical
inventory OF a pearl-gray suit,
with hat to match. and as she
took a step toward us. I was
aware Of gray satin strap pumps
and sheer stockings.
A queer tumble of feelings
went through my head. I didn't
do anything so coherent as think
ing. Suddenly I heard Betty sob
bling. Leaving her to Ralph
Lacy, I ran out to Miss May and
held out my arms.
Were so glad you're here
and all right-and looking so
lovely" l stammered. ....
And why shouldn't l look
lovely. this once in my life?"
asked the little gray lady in the
doorway. A bride ought to-
. I think my arms went around
Miss May of their own volition.
L heard Betty scream. Ralph
Lacy's warm laughter doomed
and then out of chaos came the
"a voice Of her who was Miss May
= no longer, .
81 wanted to surprise you.
Max and thought you'd be a
little astonished. We were proud
of our secret. We decided last
SUNDAY and waited for Wednes-
day because the old rhyme says
4. it's the best day Of all. He's
gone over to his office to tell
them there. We both thought