The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-02-20

ing what know lowe jim. But
there's more to II. than that, Car
lotta; ! am doing this because IL I
assume responsibility for Betty it
will leave -''
Beg pardon, Mrs. Harrison
sounded Bertha's voice from the
doorway. There's gentleman
on the wire insisting that he must
speak to you at once"
And must run along cried
Carlotta with great effort at
jauntiness. Bertha. ! know Mrs.
Harrison can count on you for
any packing she wants done. So
long, Anne"
As Carlotta whirIed out Of the
room with a great show of energy
I turned from Bertha's Open
moutl1ed establishment to answer
the urgent telephone summons.
Hello, Mrs. Harrison" came the
greeting over the telephone wire.
'This is Ralph Lacy calling at this
merciltss hour with malice pre-
pense Did / rouse you-before
breakfast?"
''Ths top o. the morning to you,
and you did not" replied gayTy.
You merely contrived a word
with me on the eve Of my racing
off to business at my usual early
hour"
''Mny I step by to see you?''
was Mr.. Lacy's response on
note Of sustained seriousness
that astonished me. rive some
thing to 90 into with you, Mrs.
Harrison, and it seems to me the
quicker we establish lines Of
communication the better. I can
be there in five minutes, il your
brook that delay"
4 "I1l wait" I agreed, chastened
by the decision in his voice.
Goodbye till then"
When I came out into the hall
I found Bertha there, uneasy and
incapable Of hiding It. I realized
at once that she was worrying
over Carlotta's message and
didn't know what to do about It.
SO I took the plunge for her. i
Bertha, I'm leaving here"
said, ''I'm going to take care of
poor Mrs. Winston for a while
She needs me and Miss Carlotta
doesn't"
"Still and ALL replied Bertha.
miss CarIotta can do with a
little babying, and to keep my
self from noticing how soreIy I'll
miss you, Mrs. Harrison, dear,
TIL take the liberty of looking
out for her the best I know how
Thank you, Bertha" I re-
piled, deeply touched by the
woman's tact and good taste
coupled with her kindness. "I
might have known that you'd
look at Miss Carlotta as a sort
of-sacred trust from me-"
IT do, ma'am-excuse me,
ma'am. I think I'd better be
making myself scarce, but you
known I'm here when wanted"
And Bertha vanished suddenly.
leaving me near tears and well
aware that she was having
trouble to restrain hers. I felt
that the wisest course to pursue
was to go down to-, my office,
straighten out things for the day.
with my ever-reliahle Miss May,
and then come back to the Stur-
ges house at noon for my pack
ing. It would be none too easy
to leave the place, as was
about to do, but at least I could
spare Carlotta and myself the
double agony of having her there
when I went.
Mr.. Lacy's Five minutes" were
short ones, 50 hadn't much time
to brood.
Good morning. he said brisk
ly, coming into the hall when l
opened the door. "I've an APP
pointment within walking dis
tance OF your house, so I'll send
you down to your office and have
my young taxi call back for me
If the plan suits YOU"
"It does nicely, thank you, Mr..
Lacy" I smiled, appreciating the
full value of his thoughtfulness.
'"Then I'll just take a minute to !
tell you something think you
ought to know" said Mr.. Lacy q:
quietly. Last night Norreys and
Miss Sturges came into the very
. restaurant where our party was
dining. I'm not sure-but think
he saw US before I had a chance
to face out the picture. Miss
Sturges didn't. He put her where
she couldn't see up. I thought
you might feel better knowing
this from me-"
THANK you," I gasped. ''Im
. glad you told me. What would
yrl do II you were II"
I'D tell Norreys exactly what
it's all about" replied Mr. Lacy
quietly.
To Ea continued fOn0rrmaw