The Washington times., 1923-02-22
A GIRL MARRIES
AN ABSORBING SERIAL OF EARLY Welded LIFE
Anne Tries to Give Tony Hint That Car
lotta Is Lonely and Gets an An
swer That Puzzles Her.

ing I'd like her to do. She made
no comment, but listened respect
fully and busted herself at once.
I, too, began working, arranging
my small personal belongings first
with q feverish attention to detail
and q grim determination not TO
think what It all meant. Ny
weekend case and my bags were
all In my bedroom closet. and it
was not until had packed them
that It occurred to me to 90 out
to my 1ivingroon. whore Bertha
had carried my dresses and coats.
To my amazement d found both
my trunks there and one already
packed and strapped. ),
How did you get these up 90
soon?" I asked.
Lyons. ma'an," replied Bertha.
when he stopped in this noon, as
he always does when not busy for
Mr.. Norreys, I told him. He car
ried up your trunks at once, say
ing-if I may make so bold TO
repeat 1t, ma am-that 'twer0 o
wise move you was making"
"a wise mover" repeated,
wondering why Lyons should call
it precisely that.
"And he asked me to give you
that message, Mis- Harrison, ask
ing you to take 1t kindly as 'twere
intentioned. without thinking him
a presuming man, that had no
idea whatever Of his place at ALI"
Bertha, you and Lyons need
never fear that I'll misunderstal1d
or resent your faithful interest in
me-" I replied. Loyalty isn't a
thing to be acquired on every
street corner, you know, and /
get a great deal Of comfort out Of
yours. I-hate to leave you
''You-wouldn't want me to
come with you, ma'am?'' asked
Bertha. eagerly.
"Do you think I'd take you
away from Miss Carlotta?" I
asked. reproachfully. Ct go
mo, ma ami know you would
not, fna'am. But tits one Of those
things that has to get itself said
for. the comfort OF ell concerned.
I was just by way OF telling you
that I'll go with you or stay by
Miss Carlotta, whichever is the
most loyal way to be acting for
you. And IL go or If I stay It's
my best III be doing in either
spot"
81 know that, Bertha" agreed.
I'D find it harder to leave Miss
Carlotta If she didn't have you
So hurried feverishly and had
a sense of great relief when the
last Of my bags was strapped and
the, little French clock on the
desk marked the time as being
only little after five.
My establishment knew no
bounds when I found both the
trunks gone. Automatically !
went to the stairs and down to
the foyer hall. There was one Of
my trunks-the other was no.
where in sight.
AS 1 started forward nerVously
the door opened and in came
Tony, smiling, debonair, an amaz-
ing Tony indeed.
"Why-what-how did you get
here?" I stammered.
"Carlotta," he replied quietly,
his eyes ice.blue and remote as
they searched my face.
"She telephoned your" I asked.
''She came to my office and told
me-" he said curtly.
"I don't understand" I STAN
mered, cropping for the right note
to take.
"You don't need to under
trand," was Tony's crisp yet
good-humored reply. I'm sure
that I understand you Anne. /
think you've done the right thing
but a rather Spartan right
thing. It will be wonderful. how
ever, for Betty to have you. She
WON'T
He hesitated, and waited
breathlessly for Tony to conclude
by saying, "She won't-need me
then" If he said that I would
know that my sacrifice was not
in vain and that Carlotta was on
the high road to happiness.
"She WON'T said Tony, con-
GLIDING to my astonishment on
the note I've heard sounded 90
often recently-'ever forget.
Betty will stand by you, too, Il
the day ever comes when you
need her" >~.
1.-THE day has como now"
said. struggling for composure.
when Carlotta needs standing
by. She'll miss me and be hurt
by my-desertion. I'm sure of
that. Betty has mo now. Car.
lotta Is alone"
"You needn't worry about
Carlotta," said Tony finally.
It may have meant everything
or nothing.
To He Continued Tomorrow,