The Yale expositor., 1919-06-05
Copyright by DOdd, Mead and Company, Inc.

| ONBnL 10 leuNe lHe btuSe, tHe utui
child. No more fitted to it than an
Easter lily. Her place is in the home,
| the"
"Good Lord, am not thinking Of"
And Barnes, aghast stopped before
hurting out the words that leaped to
his lips. "I mean to say this is a prop
osition that may also affect your ex-
cellent companions, Bacon and Dilling-
ford, as we'll as yourself"
At twelve-thirty sharp Barnes came
down from his room freshly shaved
and brushed. to find not only Mr.. Rush
croft and Miss Thackeray awaiting
him In the office, but the Messrs. Dill
lingford and Bacon as well.
81 took the liberty. old fellow" said
Rushcroft, addressing Barnes, "of ask
ing my excellent cO-wOrkers to join us
in our repast."
"Dellghted to have you with us, gen.
tlemen," said Barnes affably.
The sole topic of conversation for
the first half hour was the myst eriOus
Staying of their fellow dodgers. Mr..
Rushcroft complained bitterly of the
outrageous, high-handed action of the
coroner and sheriff in imposing upon
him and his company the same re-
| strictions that had been applied to
| Barnes. They were not to leave the
county until the authorities gave the
word. One would have thought, to
hear the stars Indignant lamentations,
that he and his party were in posi-
ton to depart wien they pleased. 1t
would have been difficult to imagine
that he was not actually rolling in
money instead Of being absolutely
pennlless.
Barnes had been Immersed in his
own thoughts for soAe time. A slight
frown, as Of reflection, darkened his
eyes. uddenly-perhaps impolitely-
he interrupted Mr.. Rushcroft's flow Of
| eloquenoe.
"Have you any objection, Mr.. Rush
croft, to n more or less personal ques-
ton concerning your own prlvate-er-
misfortunes?" he asked. leaning for
ward
For moment one could have heard
a pin drop. Mr.. Rushcroft evidently
held his breath. There could be no
mistake about that.
TITS rather delicate, but would you
mind telling me just how much You
were stuck up for by the-er-was 1t
Il writ Of attachment"
ut was" said the star. "a writ
of inquisition, you might as well sub
stitute. The act Of polluted, impe-
cUnious, OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES shall l
say? Well, will be as simple as pos
sible-hotel keeper. Ninety-seven dol
lars and forty cents. For that pitiful
amount he subjected me to"
swell, that isn't so bad" said
Barnes, vastly relieved. He was COW
ertly watching Miss Thackeray's half
averted face as he ventured upon the
proposition he had decided to put be-
fore them. II am prepared and will
ling to advance this amount, Mr.. Rush
croft, and to take your personal note
as security"
Rushcroft leaned back In his chair
and stuck his thumbs In the armholes
of his vest. He displayed no undue
elation. Instead he affected profound
calculations. His daughter shot a
swift, searching look at the would-be
Samaritan. There was q heightened
color In her cheeks.
Moreover, I shall be happy to in
crease the amount of the loan suffi-
GENTLY TO cover your return at once
to New York, IL you so deslre--by
train" Barnes smiled as he added the
last two words.
Extremely kind OF you, my dear
Barnes" said the actor, running his
fingers through his hair. "Your faith
in me is most gratifying. II really
don't know what to say to you, sir"
"May I inquire just how you ex-
pect to profit by this transaction, Mr..
BarnesP" Miss Thackeray asked
steadily.
He started. catching her meaning.
my dear Miss Thackeray," he ex-
claimed. 'this transaction Is solely be-
tween your father and me. / shall
have no other claim to press"
| WISH Il NOuiu DtitcNC luuty she
said.
"You may believe it," he assured
her.
ut isn't the usual course" she said
quietly, and her face frightened. "You
are not like most men, Mr.. Barnes"
my dear child" said Rushcroft,
'you must leave this matter to our
friend and me. / fancy know on
honest man when 1 sec him. My dear
fellow. fortune Is but temporarily
frowning upon me. In few weeks
1 shall be on my feet again, Tipping
along on the crest of the wave. dare
say I can return the money to you in
month or six weeks. If"
ooh, father" cried Miss Thackeray.
"We'll make IL SIX months. and I'll
pay any rate of interest you desire.
Six per cent, eight per cent, ten per-
"Six per cent, sir. and we will make
II year from date"
agreed. Get up and dance for US,
Dilyl We shall be In New York to-
morrow"