Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-05-10

Our money is running pretty low.
Mona. We can't AFFORD to waste any"
II suppose not" said Mona regret
fully.
Anyone who was sufficiently inter-
ested in the two girls to speculate
about them at all must have supposed
that they enjoyed comfortable in
come. They were not what is known
ways to have enough for their needs,
and II was the natural presumption
that they possessed. II not a fortune,
comfortable and independent means,
at least.
Yet. nothing could have been fur
ther from the truth. Both had, in
the beginning seemed to be assured
OF just such a comfortable, protected
life as such conditions insure. Both
had been thrown upon their own re-
sources. And both, thanks to their
attractiYeness, had had the same bit
ter and disillusioning experience. Men
had sought to prey upon them, un-
willing to allow them to do what they
wanted-which was to earn a living
by such work as they were fitted to do
They had been resolute enough to
resist every snare, every trap that had
been baited for them. And they had
come, in the end, to feel that they
We're justified in obtaining from the
world, by the exercise of a superior
intelligence, that living which they
felt it owed them, and which they
had been unwilling to accept at the
price they had been asked to pay.
They had for some time levied tribute
upon those who had believed them
likely to be easy victims. They had
played upon the credulity. the desires,
the weakness of certain people who
had made It practice, in one way or
another to take advantage of pre-
cisely such weakness in others
Not once. since they had determined
to live. 80 to speak, by their wits.
had they despoiied anyone who did
not richly deserve to suffer for some
meanness OF character. More than
once, indeed, they had. with only
incidental profit to themselves, right
ed wrongs and brought happiness to
those who greatly needed It. Their
methods had been unconventional, but
they had avoided conflict with their
own eonsciences as well as with the
"oh, cheer up" said Mary. after
time. Something will turn up, Mona.
You know-we're pretty lucky. and
so altogether wrong even If some
people would call us adventuresses
II they knew"
Let them" said Mona. 1--WE are
Advantage of anyone who didn't de-
serve 1t: But-oh, I wish it would
with a firm gesture Mary drew down
she shades and switched on the cleo
trio light.
"a little mental science is the treat
ment for you" she said. with deter
mInation. "Now-it's cold and clear
dark. We're glad to be home. after a
orisk walk-and We'll read the even
ing papers"
Mona laughed, and sank. still smll-
phoned down for the afternoon pa
pers to be sent up to them In a
few moments they were both settled
in easy chairs, reading. And, sudden
Mary - iisten!' she cried. I'VE
can't AFFORD a vacation-but there's
no reason why we shouldn't go South
on business, Is there?"
her own paper
"well-there's a story here from
yellow Springs-one of those society
page stories that the hotel correspon-
ents send ont. Mary-Letty Nc
Lean is therer'
"Letty-spending the money rooms
cost at yellow Springs prices! You're
seeing things, Mona!'
rheumatism! Gout! sciatica! Just
the sort of things you'd expect her to
havew
Lefty McLean" said Mary.
even with her"
"Do you know herT asked Mona
"Yes-but not the way you mean.
She doesn't know me, at any rate.
glove counter. another girl and 1 had
a wretched little flat In a tenement
house she owned. One of US got sick
and she had us put out because we
were a week late with the rent. The
collector almost cred-but said he
couldn't help himself that she was SO
mean she'd fire him in a minute II he
let anyone have any time Oh, she's
the meanest old wretch alive-and
she's worth millons-simply mil
lions"
well - why shouldn't we see
what's to be doneT'
"Hm" said Mary doubtfully, "I
believe 1t would be easier to borrow
money from a bank without security
than to get anything out of Lefty,
but-well, there's nothing else in
sight, is there? 1 don't know that 1t
would be risking SO very much! Let's
try it! We can turn around and come
back IL we see that It's hopeless"