The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-02-21

Ralph Lacy. gently. I'm glad
you don't resent it. I wasn't 60,
ing to say a word. But lie ever
there's anything you want to
stage count on me for any job.
from carpenter, to fdirectorsgen-
eral, and make up your mind III
90 to It,. even il I 50 1t blind"
So hurried off to the MORN
ng's jobs and fell upon it with
vigor. decided to. postpone tell,
ng Miss May of my change of
address until she. got ready to go
out for lunch. Then I'd give her
the information, casually when /
asked her, to get me sandwich
in order to save time for pack
ing. But my plans miscarried.
For toward the end of the morn
ling Virginia Dalton, walked in
as calmly as il. my. office had not
hither to been the one place she
most carefully. avoided. She ac-
/. ceptd her introduction to Miss.
May in a gracious and aloof man
ner. And then she suaveiy asked:
viii you take me into your
private officer, Amer
I'm just going to lunch, !" said
Miss May. nervously. I'm hurry
and let you have the place to
yourselves .
I'VE hope to have an office boy
in day or two said lightly.
Then girding myself for the fray,
I added: "And I'm trying to
persuade Betty to come in and
learn the business
Splendid" cried Virginia.
That's the best idea you've ever
had. How does Betty take it?'
She's willing to have her
thinking done for her. isn't she?Y
suggested. She'll come be-
cause say so. But think she'll.
stay because sI1e'H find work
filling. her mind and driving out
the agony of remembering and
remembering all the time"
She'll make good" commented
Virginia. Betty is the sort OF
woman to make a go Of anything.
she gets interested in. But
there's only one. problem. She
can't live alone. You can't pull
up stakes and leave Carlotta
Sturges to go to her. Pat and /
have talked that over. He feels
that you owe Carolotta something,
too. So we're counting on you
to stand by Carlotta ana make
Betty see that the only solution
for her is to come back to us.
I'm sure she ought to be crate
full to us for wanting her after
she ran away from US"
"Betty won't come back to you,
Jeanie," I said gently, and yet
with a weary distaste for the her
culean task of making this clear.
! "She needs to he in her own
home. She requires the. sur
roundings that were hers before
she married Terry. She needs
love and companionship. ] think
she can take from a lonly per
son better than from two happy
ones whose contentment with
each other constantly reminds,
he" .
There's more to it than that"
said Virginia shrewdly. You're
genuinely fond of Carlotta. You
know how much Pat and ad-
mire her. You would never slight
her unless there were some big
reason for your actions. Fond
as you are of Betty. you would
naturally feel that you'd done
your full duty by her I'm giving
her a chance in your office. Are
you leaving the Sturges home
to arouse sympathy for Car
lotta?" =
''I wouldn't say that" I began,
hedging uneasily. q -
Are you trying to get Betty
out of the center Of the stase?" ,
persisted Virginia.
Please" protested. s.:
But leaning forward and fixing
her eyes on mine with a stern.
ness that startled me, Virginia
said: .'....
Its Tony you're playing up to.
Anne. Well, we won't interfere.
But think it's going to cost YOU
Carlotta's friendship. And 1t
may not bring her the happiness
you're hoping to give her. Have
you balanced your ledger and
made up your mind about the
debts and credits side?"
Yes, Virginia" acknowl-
edged. But If you mean to stand
by, you'll never breathe a word
Of this--to anyone--not Tony"
Virginia. got to her feet and
took my hands In hers. She
laughed unsteadily as she cried:
Anne HARRISON, you're :.
brick. When the day comes for
you to fight for your own happi
ness-count of me. Goodbye,
dear"
1Icl exit was so hasty it left
me GREATNESS.
~ =.