The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-08-14
l suppose you're insinuating your

| sisters so much Detter than l amp
she said.
"Well, l should hope So" replied the
unsuspecting Patsy. with emphasis.
Your sisters so much better than 1
am-that's the best laft I've had this
season"
"Oh, Miss Simpson Nora began to
plead.
Don't Miss Simpson me-" she almost
screamed. I'm sick of your giving
yourself airs and pretending to be so
good and virtuous. You're a little
sneak. do you think I'm going to put
up with your sisters impudence and
me knowing what l do about you?"
Patsy went pale.
What do you mean!' she demanded
What do l mean! Ask her about
her friend Crawford"
Crawford"
Yes. your sweet little sister, who's
too good to associate with me. is carry
ing on with Dick Crawford, going out
to lunch with him. making dates after
The show, playing his tips. We're all
playing the tips be gives her."
Its lie!'
The words came hoarsely. raucously,
as though she were choking.
ASK any of the girls. Look at her,
and then tell me it's lie"
Patsy turned to Nora. The girls
face was buried in her hands. and she
burst out sobbing.
Say it's lie! Nora. honey lamb.
say it's lie." entreated Patsy wildly.
Nora did not answer.
Simpson. her triumph complete, swept
toward the door. AS she went out she
stopped for a moment to gloat over
her stricken foe and DISCHARGED this
Parthian shot:
You'd better look at home, Miss
Patsy o'Brien. before you cast slurs on
other peoples characters"
When Simpson had gone Patsy re-
manned for moment speechless. gaz.
ing wildly at her sobbing sister. Then
she went to her. pulled her hands from
her face and held her by the shout.
ders.
Mora. look at me" she commanded,
Have you-have you gone to the bad ~
The girls sobs stopped instantly.
She threw up her head and looked her
sister in the eyes. while an angry flush
suffused her pale cheeks.
| why. Patsy" she exclaimed.
There was an indignation. fearless
ness. in the words that rendered doubt
impossible.
Patsy clasped her to her heart in
frantic joy.
"Thank God: Oh, thank Godw she
cried.
For few minutes the sisters re-
NAMED close clasped in each others
arms. Patsy was the first to recover
her composure. Then in her business.
like way she started in to learn all
about it.
"Now, tell me-what about this Craw.
ford?" she questioned.
Nora told her that they had met-by
chance-and he, had spoken to her.
She could not refuse to recognize him.
Was he not Dams partner? He had
been very nice. and the next time they
encountered each other on the street
he had stopped again to chat with her.
Now and then she met him that way,
that was ALL She didn't see any harm
in it.
"But Simpson said he'd been BLOWN
you of to lunches Is it true? Have
you lunched with him?'
Eyes. once" admitted Nora reluc
family.
"Only once? Are you sure?'
"Well. may have been twice." she
owned. becoming FESTIVE under the
cross examination. Hes very kind"
"Kind! The dog! Is it kind gettin
you talked about. compromisin' YOU
you little fool?"
This time Nora broke out in open re
bellion.
II don't have to tell you everythin,
do. I'm not tied to your apron
strings" she answered deaantly.
A hard look came into Patsy's blue
eyes. Her sisters attitude and disip
clination to talk reused her suspicious
She determined to get at the truth al
any cost.
Nora" she said sharply. don't give
me none Of your lip, or you'll he sorry
You're keepin' somethin' back. Hand
1t out. an hand it out quick. If you
don't. I'll find it out anyhow, an I'll
put pop an nom next to your COINS
on. You know what that'll mean
You'll be yanked home so quick you'll
think You got there by wireless"
There amt anything more to tell
she said. weakening.
Don't lie" warned Patsy. "What is
there to them tips Simpson yawped
about? Have you been playin' the
races on his say so? Out with it,
"Ye-es." she faltered.
"Well?"
He helped me to win money, and be
helped me out Of debt" she said, hang.
ing her head.
debit echoed Patsy, astonished.
"Who d'you owe money to, I'd like to
know?"
1.-The girls"
"How. the girls? What d'you mean o.
Il placed their bets on the Montgom-
cry handicap. Mr.. Crawford gave me
the tips. They won. but-but wanted
some things to wear to 60 to lunch
with him. | felt mean and shabby In
those swell places They were awful
dear. especially the furs, and-and |
didn't have enough left to pay all the
BETS"
But what did YOU do with the
clothes? amt seen you with no furs