Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-04-04

be ignored. Ans,UcrS 20 techntcaL 9u,Gi he
dHStpercd IN this column. The most intereS.t-
tig problems Of inqIirors 1tH De tCoVen "'to
the story Of Peter FHnt'
LIV
r WISH I were dead! Not one OF the
/ employment agencies got srheli a. q
lob for me l tried to sell DOCKS lol a.'
hour this morning, but had no success,
although cot one fellow TO say he d
take a set next week, but that doesn't
give me money now. My stock OF money
was down to SO after ! had palu my
room rent for the week
I went to Jim Barry, the money
lender, to pay him So. I thought IN my
ignorance that he had acted pretty de-
Gently in letting me miss my payineht
last week. When l got to his once
knew differently. AS soon as ! stepped
I'm the girl said Mr.. Barry wanted to see
me. and she called out to him.
what is it?" I heard him growl
Mr.. Flint is here
4 minute afterward lie came out OF
his office putting furously at cigar
which was stuck at riotous angie at
the corner of his mouth. We'll, l sup
pose you've come to pay up i'll tuli?
I was so surprised that for minute
I couldn't speak. Was this the joNiai
Jim Barry who said he wanted to help
everybody?
Mr.. Barry, I'm much obliged to you
for letting me off last week"
Letting you off" he roared. This
girl nearly lost her job for doing that
In fact, she was so sure you would
come across in full this week that
kept her on"
The girl pulled out a pocket handker-
chief and dabbed her eyes.
"Stop that sniveling,' he snapped, and
then with a thump on the table asked,
where's my money"
i've come to pay you $2-one for
last week and one for this" l took
them out of my pocket and he snatched
them
That's all right for a starter; now
I want the rest"
But that's all l can possibly give
you this week.
I thought he was going to choke for
n minute. His face went purple. Final
" he roared, "All you can pay? Listen
to me-" and he pointed a shubby fore
finger at me; unless / get all my
money by 10 o'clock Monday morning
1 go to Farndale and see your father,
To think a common crook like you would
try 10 rob an honest man like me
Wel?" he snapped as l stood irresolute.
/ cannot repeat what took place. /
pleaded with him to give me a little
time. l promised him double interest
anything if he would only give me a
little time. but, no, unless ! paid him
by 10 o'clock Monday ne was done with
me and would tell my father.
IF father should know about this,
I'd kill myself"
well, your deaths nothing in my
life, and now get out of herew
As l left his office the street was
spinning round me. The more [ struggle
to get out of this morass of debt the
deeper l get into it, ] showed my hands
deJectedly into my pockets and absent
mindedly began TO play with bit of
paper l found there. Just as absently
] pulled it out of my pocket to see what
it was. l knew il couldn't be my last
dollar, for that was safely buttoned in
the inside pocket of my vest. How
precious dollar Is when it is the only
one you've got
l found the paper was the notice from
the Benevolent Loan Association, and
one phrase in it impressed itself upon
me, we make speciality in taking up
loans from professional usurers." Per-
haps that's my way out. hurried
around to their office, but arrived Just
as man was locking the door.
Can IL want-do you?-" I said
breathlessly.
"No, l don't after IL on Saturday"
he said, looking at me.
What time on Monday could ! see
you?"
Ten o'clock"
Couldn't you possibly see me before
that?"
He shut his eyes and said after a
moment, II don't care to break my Of
flee hours"
ITS really very urgent"
1t may be to you" he replied. still.
II you'd Ike to try about may be
here" and with that he walked awav.
Ten o'clock Monday! If don't get
enough money to pay Jim Barry by then
he's going to tell dad. Can you wonder
that with such thoughts as these haunt