The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1919-03-14
CHAPTER VIIAcontinued.

CHAP lex Nti--IOntinucu.
Leila said nothing, but thought hard
Bayard was silent. Later the door-bell
rang and young sewing girl brought
ewo big boxes from Dutilh'S. They
were so big that there was no conceal
sng them. Leila made a tinid effort to
escape with hers, but Bayard was full
of a cheerful curiosity:
whats all that, honey?"
"Oh, it's just "a little thing I
picked UP today at Dutilh's."
what is 1t, scarf or something?
Give a fellow a look at it."
He began to unite the knot. Sealed
across the cord was an envelope, with
statement. Bayard tore it free.
Leila snatched at it. Bayard laughed
and lodged her. Leila pursued. 1t
was a CHASTITY game of tag for her, and
Daphne and her mother looked on in
guilty dread. Bayard. whooping with
laughter, dashed into his room and
closed the door, held it fast while Leila
pounded and pleaded with him.
His laughter was quenched sharply.
door and walked out, sickly pallor at
his lips, the statement in his hand:
''This can't be right, honey: 'Bayard
Kip to Dutilh, debtor. Peach-blow
satin gown-two hundred and seventy
five dollars The price is ridiculous,
and have no account there"
"He--he insisted on my opening
one"
But I don't want to open any &C.
counts. pay my bills in thirty days
or discount them for cash. can't pay
this in thirty days. Every penny
can see ahead of me is laid out"
"I-Tm sorry" Leila faltered. ''You
said the times were getting better"
az thought they were. j hoped they
were. But they've gone bad again. Be
sides, l was trying to cheer you up.
10 give you happy honeymoon. And
L bought you everything you saw
abroad And it wasn't enough! When
will you get enough clothesl"
Leila had stared incredulous at the
caiamitous result of her tender inn
pulse to beautify herself in his eyes, |
Then tears came gushing and she ran !
20 her room and locked the door.
Bayard did not follow her. He |
turned for comfort to his mother and |
Daphne. He noted the other box. |
Daphne had not dared to open it.
Rayard ripped the envelope from its
cord and read:
-'Bayard Kip to Dutilh, DR.. Parch-
mentioned gown, for Miss Daphne
Kip, two hundred and seventy-five dol
lars
He was parchment-toned himself as
he shook the statement at Daphne,
and whispered, huskily, whats this?'
Daphne could not muster any cOur-
age She explained with craven re-
morse, 81 saw gown that IL needed
there, and IL He offered to let it
On your account till l could get the
mooney"
Bayard was choked with wrath and
q terror greater than hers.
II go to my office and work like a
Gend all day, and come home TO find
that my wife and my sister have run
me into debt for-fve hundred and
fifty dollars. And the firm, the big
firm / work for, had to extend a note
for seven hundred and fifty because
we couldn't meet it /
His mother tried to stem the tide of
Bayard's rage, to turn his wrath with
q soft answer: (
II guess it's all my fault, honey. The
dresses looked so pretty on the girls / !
urged them to take them. You ought Z,
TO see how beautiful they are. Go put /
the dress on, Daphne, and let your [
brother see how sweet you look in it. y
Sweet! She looks sweet in 1t It's {
And that justifies, anything. $
Lord, what did you make 'em out Off |
these women y It
Mrs. Kip nudged Daphne and whis
pered, go on, put the dress on; let 4
him see you in it,. II
She spoke with great canniness, but (
Dnpllne stared 1t her with derision. &
~ edged away and spoke In . tone
d biting ~ cold blue vftri0l. In
~Put Il on. mother! Do you think ,
n ever wear the thing7 III send It
pack tomorrow morning at daybreak-
Nh ri never take thing that any +
- = payp for ~ long a. live. : II
t1nynrd roafed 1t her over his abopl- :
-: rs went tnke any<1auI that