The Washington herald., 1917-05-28

Il didn't have to ask Mr.. Curtis" sd-
mitted Helen. IT'S the money he gave
me for the maid. I thought you'd rather
he didn't know"
You'll have It back Thursday-Thurs-
day morning! feverishly. "Oh, I can't
tell you what this means to me
I'm very glad I could help you." try
ing to believe that she was. But 7 wish
you'd promise to give up bridge"
oh I'll never get in debt again-IH
promise that! I'll not need another les
son. I'll send her the money tonight
by messenger-and demand receipt.
Don't you want to help me write the
note? She's been so hypocriticsI-I want
TO say something scathipg-something-
I'm afraid can't stay. Mr.. Curtis
never likes to be left alone"
With swift side glance az the RING
still lying on the table. Helen rose to
90. Mrs. Wendell had accepted tho
money without any further reference 10
the ring, and now she continued To ig-
more it.
Perhaps some day can do something
Ior you was her parting gratitude as
she followed Helen to the door.
1t was with a depressing uneasIness
That Helen went upstairs Had Mrs.
Mendel forgotten or purposely ignored
the ring? 1t was not that she wanted II
she was not sure she would have taken
h-yet she was conscious of a ranking
resentment that It had not been offered.
Through gadding about?" growled
warren rom behind his paper as she
Was l long, dear?" Then recklessIv.
Oh. might as well tell you'll know I
can't keep 1t. IL loaned Mrs, Wendell
thirty dollars"
The devil you did,"
But it's all right" confidently. She'll
return it Thursday"
oh, she will. eh?' with scornfll
side-step it?'
Some woman threatened to write her
husband about bridge debt" LAUNCHING
INTO a oreathless account of Mrs Wen
GERS difhculty-exploiting her offer of tA.
ring as proof of her sincerity.
wen you are gullible! Swallowed the
ring blum. to, eh?"
Dear she Just forgot it-she did intend
TO give 1t to me-"
Not for a minute! You'll never see
. your thirty-but it'll be worth that n I'm
teach you not to fall for a touchl That's
tales" '1' taii
Curled up on the window-seat. HeIen
was gazing broodingIy down at the
mist street lights. Had Mrs,
Weldel really intended to deceive her
- WY hlSHOntSls She wanted
10 believe in people. But warren's
philosophy was to ooubt every one,
and his sceptical cynIcism was grad
ually undermining her trustfulness.
From Mrs. Wendell, ma'am. Her
maid just brought it up" announced
Nora coming in with a small package
Excitedly, Helen tore il open. II was
the ring, with a hurried note.
Il forgot to give you this-keep II
until l return the money Thursday.
feel l have no right to accept such a
loan without giving some security.
M. L. W."
There" with rhrilled triumph
thrusting at Warren the note and ring,
You never believe IN any one. Admit
that this time you were most unjustl''
When cornered. Warren would never
meet squarely the issue. Now. seeking
refuge in further denunciation, he
threw down the ring with a glowering.
Fire it back! Tell her you're not
running a pawnshop."
But Helen was too happy to mind
this evasion. To her the ring meant
more-a great deal more than security
for her thirty dollars. It meant a re-
stored confidence and belief in the in
herent honesty of most people-which
she determined should never again be
shaken by Warren's chronic scepticism.
Copyright, 1917