The San Francisco call., 1904-11-27

pected"
All"
The explanation drew an under
standing nod from him
So came Hes sent me 70 borrow
money from you"
ITO borrow money? What. is
john"
Yes. he's in great difficulties He
wants a lot Of money at once
But why didn't he come hiuself2
It's rather odd to
I suppose he hated Il, too. He has
done Iu once. / mean, he's been 20
Grantley ImasOn- And - and he
thOught-you'd be more likely TO do It
If I asked"
Did hez Does that mean"
No. no. not IN the least He only
thought you were-that you liked
pretty women" She held out piece
OF paper Hes put il all down there.
l think I'd better give it TO you II
says what he wants. and when he must
have IT, and how he'll pay it back
promised To tell you all that. but you'd
better read it Tor yourself"
He took the paper from her and stud
led II She looked round the room,
which she had known very we'll II
was quite unchanged. Then she
watched him while he read He had
grown older. but he had not lost his
attracC1veneSs- For a moment or two
she forgot the present state OF things.
Fifteen thousand It's a bit OF
money" This remark recalled Chris
tines thoughts. Has ImasOn lent him
that?"
~ Yes on the same terms that be sug-
gests there
We'll. ImasOn's a good fellow. but
he's q banker. and-Weu. I should think
he expects TO get it back 1 say, Johns
been having a bit Of a plunge, ehs
Consequently he's in dep water now?
Is he very much cut up2"
Terribly. 1t means ruin. and the
loss OF his reputation. and-Oh, don't
know what besides"
Poor Old john He's a good chap,
isn't he?'
She made no answer to that, and he
mutteTed:
Fifteen thousand"
Frank she said, I've done what I
had TO do, what 1 promised TO- I've
shown you the paper I've told you
how much this money means 10 Us
I've told you IL means avoiding ruin
and bankruptcy and all that disgrace
That's what John made me promise
10 tell YOU and lis all 1 have To tell
you from him I've done what I said
L would on his behalf"
Yes. yes. that's all right Don't
distress yourself, Christine L Just want
10 have another look at this paper,
gOOdish bit OF money, you know But
then old Johns always been good
friend Of mine. and II times weren't 50
uncommon bad
he wrinkled his brow over the paper
again
And nOw-I have 10 speak on ny own
account Frank you must md some
good. some plausible. reason for retus-
ing You mustn't lend John the
money"
'HaHOl"
You see. John doesn't know the
truth" she answered
He rose and stood by the IRE, look
ing down on her LhOughrfully-
No, OF course he doesn't, Or-Or you
wouldn't be here" he said, after a
pause.
Then he fell into thought again
And If he did know. he'd never ask
you for the money" she said
CayleSham made WY little grim
ace That might be true OF john.
but ne would hesitate TO say the same
about every fellow Christine, however,
did not see the grimace-
And you don't want me 20 lend it
not though IL means all this 70 john
I don't want you 10 lend Il, what
ever il means Pray don't lend it.
Frank"
rs that Well. I don't quite know
how 70 put IT. I mean. is that on
Johns account or on your Own2
I cant give you reasons; 1 cant
put them in words It's Just terribly
hateful TO me"
He was puzzled by the point OF view
and still more by finding 1t in her
Perhaps the last six years had made 4
difference in her way OF looking at
things, they had made none in his
And II I do as YOU wish, what are
you going 10 say 20 John? Are you
IN r0 n ha
you told me not 20 lend the money!"
"Of course not 1 shall say that you
said YOU couldn't, you'll have 70 give
me the reasons
He lOked disCOntelted-
"Tu look rather shabby" he sug-
gested-
~Oh. no, It's a large sum It would
be quite likely that it wouldn't be con-
venient 10 YOU"
rs he expecting TO get it?'
I don't think that has anything to
do with it, I sUppCse-weu drowning
men catch at straws."
She smiled dOlefulIy-
The phrase was unIucky for her pUr-
pose II stirred CayIesham's pity.
Poor old JOhn," he murmured
again ''Whatu he do il he doesn't
get to" Al 81
know"
get down TO the root OF her objection:
and she could not, or would not. put
it plainly TO him She cOefd not ex-
press the aspect OF the affair that was.
as she said, so terribly hateful 20 her.
But it was there All she had given
she had given long agO-given freely
long ago Now was she not asking q
price for ir-and a price which her
husband was 70 share2 Only on that
ground really was she there. For now
the man loved her no more; there was
no glamOr and nO~screen- After al
these years she came back and asked
a price-a price John was 70 share
But the case did not strike CayIes-
ham at all like this John suspected
nothing. or John would not have sent
his wife there John had been a very
good friend; he would like 70 do John
a good turn. IN his case the very cir
cumstances which so revOIred Chris
tine made him more inclined 10 do John
a good turn Although he could not