The Washington times., 1923-08-20
BY Ann Lisle.
Whose Serials Have Won q Big
National Success.
Copyright, 1928, King Features
Syndicate, Inc.

III ~
hurts to be thanked.
When you come right
down to it what else was there
for me to do? Through my
brother the credit of q big, fine
old firm was threatened. 1 real
lied that without the Tompkins
strip you couldn't make good in
a million dollar deal to which you
were pledged, Carlotta. knew
how terrible 1t would be for Pat
If this thing crumbled to bits and
your credit with 1t. You were
away and Pat helpless. Old Tomp-
kins wouldn't see Pat. He would
see me. And it came out right.
That's all there is to it. Don's
thank me. ] had to do 1t. 1t was
for NEAL
"For Neal?" repeated Carlotta.
There was a suggestion Of dis
belief, even of resentment, in her
tones. I. realized suddenly that
Virginia was sitting silent behind
her coffee urn, taking no part in
the discussion and smiling qu1zzic-
ally as Carlotta and I went around
In conversational circles.
80 Neal wouldn't cost you the
credit OF your old NAME" said
awkwardly.
Then it was for u.s." repeated
Carlotta, mot for Neal. You did
magnificent thing. I'll never for
get it, Anne. My fathers name
and the business he built up might
have been destroyed by your broth
er's embezzlement."
I gasped at the sheer brutality
of the word. But before could
speak Carlotta went on: "Tll for
get all that and never prosecute
Neal. What you did saves him.
You've earned his exemption from
paying for his deed. Don't you
say SO, Tony?"
I'm sure that Anne would ex-
pect just that attitude from you,
dear, and justifiably," answered
Tony.
I felt as If I were In q night.
mare. 1 stared from one to the
other.
Surely you don't think Neal
took the money!" I heard my voice
blaring and collapsing.
What else?" asked Carlotta.
I'VE won't let the world'in on this,
of course. But here among our
selves, what's the use Of posing
and pretending"
You see, dear" Virginia broke
in suddenly.
1T don't see," stammered, un-
able to believe that Carlotta and
Tony were actually in earnest.
"You can't believe Neal a thief?"
demanded, forcing the alien word
to my lips. -
turned to Carlotta, holding out
my hands pleadingly.
Don't you see that the boy was
half mad? Don't you see that he
didn't know what he was doing?
How could he keep sane? Wasn't
Pat mad to send him on such. a
mission at such a time? know
Pat meant to help nim-but I
never saw how 1t would be possible
to go through with what was ask
ed Of Neal. I felt something in
his brain was bound to snap-and
I'm sure it did"
ANNE, dear, don't be romantic
and absurd" said Carlotta with a
touch Of the old flamboyance in her
tone. 1.-THE boy knew he had sixty
thousand dollars and an honest
use for 1t. He didn't put it to that
use. He vanished and the money
went with him. It's all painfully
clear. But your part in 1t is mag
nificent."
"Tony" cried. desperately.
"surely you see the truth as I
do?"
Tony's ice blue eyes smiled at
me pityingly-but he shook his
head. Then he went over to Car
lotta's side and laid his left arm
across her shoulders.
If one hundred people had told
me that Carlotta and Tony would
condemn Neal, I'd never have
believed them. Even when it
happened out at Dreamwold,
where they took their first meal
after returning from their their
honeymoon trip, L could hardly
credit my own ears.
1 was glad when Carlotta and
Tony drove away to their own
VV-.C1-s De-