Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-02-19

I'VE done something today 7 hope I'll
not regret ! don't think shall, but
I have rather uneasy feeling
didn't win the draw. A girl In the
ribbons. that Billy Murray Is sweet on,
won. felt positively sick when ! found
Id lost.
Cheer up" said Billy. wen have
another next week. You're bound TO
win before long"
That's all right" blurted out, but
I wanted to win this week; I'm hard
up"
"The devil YOU are" he commented
why don't you hit your old man for
some more dough. He's got lots OF IT,,
hasn't he?"
You bet he has" I said Indignantly.
but he's got n mean streak on and
won't part"
Pretty tough. old hoss but cheer up :
Saturdayll soon be- here"
But I've gotta have some coin before
Saturday" 7 said. rive promised to
take II girl out Friday night"
Cant YOU raise tho wind In some
way?" Billy asked why don't you
hook your watch?"
"roo cheap" 7 replied
why don't you 60 soc panicl' llc1l
help you out"
who's panicl?"
"Of course. you're not on 20 the
ropes yet. 7 toll you what I'll do. I'll
tale you around and introduce you to
him So quit worrying. Daniel will
fix YOU up all right"
.N1
IN n dingy little Office about two blocks
from the store. on the door was "panicl
Moss, wool" We went into the office,
woman.
"Helo. kid" said Billy. "how's the
wool business
"S'o. 90" she replied, rrinning. 40
YOU want shcarinC?"
Her eyes narrowed as she looked at
mc. I never had a girl look 50 hard and
straight at me before She was sure
sizing me up.
Say" said Bily TO her, heres a
friend of mine. hard M and wants
some cash. Can the old man help him
ou,?"
Moss is out now" she replied, "bu'
who's your friend?'
Tell her about yourself" said Billy
to me. And so did.
When had finished she said: sc
your dad won't help you--well, that's
too bad for a fine young chap like
you to be kept short just at the time
of life when you ought to have some
spare money to enjoy yourself with
How much do you want to get?'
"Why." | answered. "if 7 only had :
couple Of dollars It would help me out
"Poof," she said. that's nothing foI
young fellow like you. You want ten
anyhow. Here, I'll take chance OF
| Mr.. Moss letting you have ten"
! "That will take me ten weeks to pay
| it back"
YES" she said.
That's two and a half months AnC
! it's two-flfty interest. isn't it?"
! "Why. what do you care about th
! INTEREST,"" she laughed Its wort
that 10 make ont the form and looi
after the bookkeeping.
GO on. sign it," said Billy nudg
ing me. did.
The girl then gave me eight seventy
FIVE. whats this for?" / said. There
a dollar and quarter short"
you have to pay twenty-five cent
/ for investigation. for I've got to lool
YOU up, and then we always take til
first weeks money right away"
So left the Office with eight seventy
! five In my pocket, but tonight 1 have
sort of sinking feeling in my heart.
used TO be good at percentages at schoo
and I've worked out the rate OF iuteres
that I'm to pay for this loan Of eigh
seyenty-nve -- for that Is really all
got. It amounts to about so per cen
per annum I am going 10 pay thl
money back right away. | guess ! car
manage dollar a week somehow,
cant help recalling saying of dads
! "Ouly a fool borrows money for fun"