Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-10-05


corner of tho refectory table, and
Neal was revelling in raspberries
and eggs and toast and cream fla
Nored with coffee-all of which he
mingled with royal disdain of the
proper order of procedure.
handed Neal sugar for his ber-
ries, salt for his eggs, butter for
his toast-and then took up the
thread of conversation, using 1t as
a clue to lead me precisely where I
wanted to so.
about your coming to New York,
Mr.. Hyland-now, just how did that
happen?' I asked.
Neal waved a piece of toast In a
large gesture and f1ourished
spoonful of raspberries as he re-
piled:
Say, Babbsie, I've got a swell Job
simply swell! Your little old fox
isn't SO slow. Who's the chap said
our town was a good place to come
from? Well, came young-early
-pronto!"
/ 1t seemed to me that Neal was
OVERRIDING things a bit, so 1 decided
. to overdo them a bit also and to in
] sist on reply. Neal, you haven't
| answered me yet. Why did you
Gomez" I demanded.
"Babbsie, you haven't lost the
trick of frying eggs. You Topped
! For thirty dollars a week.! Are you
answered, madam? Maybe you don't
think thirty dollars a week is a
swell salary-maybe you don't!"
| What did Father Andrew think
of your coming?" l demanded.
What would he think of it with
you in town here?" questioned Neal
in turn
Why. of course, Father Andrew
wouldn't mind" 1 said thought
fully. He'd expect you to stay
right here with us and he couldn't
help being proud of your earning so
baby like you"
Neal rose majestically and
frowned:
I'm twenty-five, Anne. They
think boys of twenty-one are mem
old enough to go over and rush the
Germans. And I've been working
lin an accountants office at home
every summer since l was fifteen.
You know that. I've had a good
job at home, too, since 1 got out of
high school three years ago. Eigh-
teen per wasn't so bad"
Eighteen a week out home would
81 oiAiAOSI as ldl dS thirty mere.
1 said, wondering If Neal wouldn't t
be better off at home.
We'll. you know I paid in eight
a week for board Babbsie What
are you going to charge me? I
should think about fifteen, the way
iprices are in New York. Say, this
is swell room-and a swell couch.
I've struck it rich"
Suddenly realized that Neal took
it for granted he was going to stay
with me. What would Jim say?
Listen, dear. l want you to re-
main here just as long as you're
comfortable-but I'm not going to
take money from my own darling
kid brother" I replied firmly.
We'll, l like that! Say, Babbsie,
didn't I pay in eight per at home ?
Don't turn this little old fox loose
in New York with too much cash
he might buy himself a gold brick
Say. sis, let's toss up a penny who
washes. the dishes. The winner
dries them"
AS we finished the work, Neal
looked around with a complete air
of possession-of belonging.
They paid me a week in advance
first fifteen. It's worth it, Babsie.
My, but you know how to flop eggs
and your coffee-yum-yum!
Il can't take it, Neal - money
from my little brother!r
Neal forced the bills into my
hand.
Can the sentiment, sis. It's all
right between us, but I'm not going
TO sponge on that husband OF
yours"
II won't take your money" I said
stubbornly. What did father saw
about your plans to pay me?"
Father said nothing" Neal
loked down at his feet He didn't
know I was coming I got my lob
and lit out-suddenly"
NEAL" / cried in sudden fright
why did you do that?"
Now. Babbsie. I answered YOU
long ago. Why? For thirty dol.
lars! To get mixed up with the
big city and kind of get lost in it
want to live here, with your ex-
Lieutenant and you and all your at.
tractive friends. Don't ask so many
questions, Babbsie-I tell you i've
got my reasons all right. Are YOU
going to be good sport and lei
me stay?"
Meals young face wore a look OF
deadly earnestness. I realized thai
it meant more to him than 1 knew
to make his home with Jim and me
and I realized also, with crue
abruptness, that I must take hi.
money.
| Neal, 1 won't ask you to tell ms