The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-05-19
BY Ann Isle,
Whose Serials of Married Life
Have Won Big Popular
Success.
(C0pyright, 1923. King Features
Syndicate, Incl

<IwKY q won't fight over
" Mason said Carl,
grirply, adding with an
ugly attempt at facetiousness: If
one cavalier isn't enough for you,
Mrs. Cordova. do you want to tell
US where he can reach your"
Then Ralph Lacy surprised me
in turn:
Mrs. Cordova is dining with
me, Booth" he said good-natured-
ly. but emphatically. I'm not in
viting an extra man TO prevent
our-exchange of condolences"
As he spoke remembered the
anonymous letter he'd mentioned
receiving, and wondered If he
connected 1t with Rosa Cordova.
At all events, / felt assured that
IL Rosa's enmity to Mabel could
be checked, Ralph Lacy was the
man to do 1t. So / was rather
pleased than otherwise at our
division Of forces.
Rosa gave me a parting shot
when we got down to the street,
and she and Ralph embarked in
a taxi and drove off in the direc-
ton opposite the one Carl and
Jim and I were to take:
You don't mind my stealing
your nice Mr.. Lacy. do you, White
Lilac?" she Knocked.
II don't even mind YOU saving
such an absurd thing I per-
nnitted myself with a. note of
laughter to cover the attack.
"So-it's common talk" 7
heard Carl muttering under his
breath.
/ knew he was not referring to
Ralph. ] would have given a
great deal to prevent. his coming
to the apartment where Tom and
Daisy were waiting.
Got key?" asked Jim. when
the elevator deposited us at the
door Of our apartment at the end
OF the afternoon spent in plan.
ming his advertising campaign.
No. you'll have to ring" I
said. uneasily conscious that
Carl Booth was watching US and
weighing every word az If wait
ing for something on which to
pounce.
There are two keys, aren't
there" suggested Jim argan1en-
tatively. Seems to me you
might have one of them
along
"oh. 50 ahead and ring Har.
rson." said Carl testify. Don't
you realize that the-decorators
must each have a key"
Jim. who is by no means an
imaginative person, turned and
peered at Carl in the half ligh:
OF the hall. Then. without com.
ment, he pressed his finger 20
the electric bell and took one
step that set him directly IN
front of the door. But when il
was opened moment later. he
stepped aside and let me go in
first. And as I passed him ]
saw that his face wore an ex.
preston of relief conical in it's
effect. In another second I real
lied why Jim was acting so
queerly, It was Envy Mason who
let us in.
Say. who got me fitting at
windmills," whispered Jim a mo-
ment or two later, when Envy
had flashed a greeting to us
and was welcoming Carl in turn.
Am I good little sport. or
am not. Anne demanded
Envy in her throaty little voice.
When Tommy 'phoned me that
you couldn't come and help get
your apartment in order to move
into tomorrow. flew to my
best first.aid mood, dashed into
the blue roadster and came to
town and here I've been the
best part of the afternoon"
That's like you Envy" I re-
piled gratefully. IT'S not the
first time you've done won
derfully sweet and gracious THUS
for me"
Envy smiled UP at Jim with
the unconscious coquetry l no
longer resent in the girl whose
faults have cost her so much.
Hut her worAs had the conscious