auto_ptr returns garbage

[Tischnoetentoet]

I have a singleton settings class which is initialized and contains the right data. Then, in another class (UI), I want to store the pointer to the settings class so I don't have to retrieve the pointer every time again I want to use the settings class.

In the constructor, I have this code:

CSettings * pSettings = CSettings::Instance();

The instance function looks like this:

CSettings * CSettings::Instance()
{
	if (sm_inst.get() == NULL) sm_inst.reset(new CSettings);
	return sm_inst.get();
}

sm_inst is declared as this:

static std::auto_ptr<CSettings> sm_inst;

and initialized as this:

std::auto_ptr<CSettings> CSettings::sm_inst;

When I check the value of pSettings after the assignment, it has a valid pointer, but all the values are garbage (strings are bad pointers, etc). However, when I step through the code, it does get the right object. Somehow, it seems that the sm_inst.get() is too slow or something like that.

When I take a look at the object using QuickWatch, the object itself is scrambled, but the sm_inst variable does contain a valid copy with all the correct values.

Now I have 2 questions:

1) Is it a good practice to store the pointer to the single class, or should I call CSettings::Instance() every time?

2) Why does the singleton class does not return a valid object immediately?

Thanks in advance!