The Washington times., 1919-12-27
Copyright. 1919, King Features Syn.
dicate, Incl
CHAPTER CCXVIII.

SGTlVE HUNDRED DOLLARS
r isn't snoush~ ! repeated;
staring back at Phoebe and
beginning to feel as frightened as
she looked.
Her lips parted and shaped them
selves to speak, but l had to read
what they said since l couldn't
hear a syllable. Incredulously.
with a question after them. l re-
peated the words my eyes had read
from her lips:
Its twice that much? You say
you need twice that much?'
Phoebe looked down at her twist
ing hands. Her long lashes lay
fluttering against her cheeks, and
after a moment tear or two crept
down and made a salt track to her
trembling mouth. She got out her
little handkerchief and dabbed fur
lively at her eyes. Then she seized
the glass of ice water and began to
drink feverishly. Finally, with her
shoulders hunched forward, de-
jectedly, she whispered:
what do you think Of me. Anne?
Whatever you think, please stand
by me. I'm so tired-and scared-I
can't 60 through this alone. And 1
Soh JULIET NlIS sohC Hds
enough to make her unhappy. Will
you stand by me, Amer"
Whatever it is, Phoebe will
stand by. And I'll see you through,
too. l PROMISE" 1 said quietly.
Phoebe seemed to realize that I
was making a vow. She smiled at
me mistily, but with some of the
dear simplicity Of the Phoebe who
had come to the city at the close of
my honeymoon days. Because she
looked so like a little girl. the dear
little girl who had loved Neal, /
knew that, no matter what the cost.
l was going to try to save Phoebe
from her debts and her fear.
'If you trust me, Phoebe-and
WIN tell me the story from the be-
ginning. I'm sure well find a way
out" I said.
Phoebe Makes an Appeal.
'Tn tell you" she gasped. "Only
don't hate me-like, like your broth
er does"
/ smiled and reached across to
pat Phoebes hand reassuringly. But
1 wouldn't let myself do any banal
protesting. Only in the midst OF
worrying over what sort of dread
full scrape Phoebe had gotten into
l realized what it meant that Phoebe
in all her trouble still thought
tbout Neal.
DO you remember the jade neck
lace and earrings l got that night
in Chinatown" asked Phoebe. sud
denly and, as l thought, irrelevant
ly.
Eyes, dear. but you never wear
them. Why" l asked humoring
her.
II had them on the day-Neal
came home. 1 never wore them
much-after that" replied Phoebe.
sadly. Then she pulled herself to-
gether and plunged boldly into the
story. You thought Mr.. West
gave me that jade-didn't your"
Eyes, naturally" l replied.
We'll. he didn't"' Phoebe storm
ed. with blazing eyes. 81 never took
a present from any man-except--
except the ring ! couldn't keep. M.
West gave me tip on some oil
stocks, and the hrst money / won
went into that green jade.
thought I'd always keep on win
ming. / thought he knew how the
market was going. But next time
I lost a little"
where did you get the money
to play the market" / asked gent
ly.
"Oh. Mr.. West carried me. You
know what / mean. was buying
on margin-putting up $40 for cv-
cry share ! bought. He said that
was the way to do. And then ia
pay my margin out OF my winnings
1t would have been all right only
began to lose. And he kept saying
ia have better luck next ttme. So