Carmella Commands
Sargle was a means to an end. One does not remember such things.
“But⸺” began Miss Sargle.
“I’ll wait,” repeated Mrs. Barrington.
Miss Sargle went out, debating in her mind. She was alone in the house, so far as management went, and could not well leave it. Yet Mrs. Barrington was not the sort of woman one denied. She began to have new respect for the sponsor of the sewing class.
On random chance, she climbed the two flights of stairs to the canopied roof playground. There was no class at that hour, but two small dark-haired girls sat in a corner, reading books from the settlement library.
“Hello, Elena! Hello, Giulia! Does either of you know where Carmella lives?”
“You mean Kid Kate?”
“Yes,” said Miss Sargle.
The two girls stood, bright and well-mannered. They were members of the Girl Scout troop that Hope House fostered. Giulia spoke:
“Sure, I know, Miss Sargle. Just over on Doty Street. In the yellow cottage there—just all to themselves one house. Her dad’s rich, I bet.”
“What’s her father’s last name, Giulia?”’
Both girls shook their heads.
“I never heard it, Miss Sargle,” said Giulia.
“But—I mean—what is Carmella’s—Kid Kate’s—whole name ?”
“Oh! Carmella Coletta. But she’ll slap you if you
[5]
