South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-05-02


iseething. Under the table her tiny
satin shod foot tapped om.nously on
the thick rug. Jack pulled a chair
qIite close facing her.
IT,"
No answer. only the lncessant tap.
If 1 could afford IL. I'd give you
80 times $500 for your winter
clothes, and you know IT,"
You gave 10 90 me last winter and
the year before
Jack was rather relieved. At any
rate. talking was better than sulk
ling.
so I did. Tootsie; and I'd give It
/ 10 you now II could Last winter
and the winter before We weren't at
war"
oh, war. war, I'm sick Of war,
/ Everythings war Am 1 10 go naked
just because there's a WARP"
Well" dryly, its being done"
Elizabeth had TO answer.
Jack looked AT his watch. To was
time for him 20 leave for the office,
but he couldn't 90 with things this
way. Evidently. it was up 10 him TO
make peace.
"Tootsie. look at me-"
But Elizabeth didn't turn.
Jack considered again. Perhaps
the whole truth would be best He'd
tried every other way. At any rate.
things couldn't be worse. and per-
lhaps her patriotism would save the
situation.
Dear. want to talk 70 you. Just
he a sensible little girl now for a
minute and listen. We are at war
land you're not the only one who is
ssick OF -. as you say War is sick
ien!ng business, but, like every other
tmalady, IL has 10 have a remedy or
IL viii gon on forever. OF course, you
know the business has suffered this
Iyear. That's why we couldn't have
lthe trip we had planned. and lots Of
lOther things. But things did pick up
IL bit lately, after that last order, ana
ii was planning a surprise for you.
But lately-weu, dear, don't
know how TO tell you exactly. You
tsee, so many of the office chaps have
lhad TO go in training, and it's just
lluck that l happened TO be a few
months over age. and I got 10 think
ling that IL l couldn't do my bit in
lone way / ought 70 in another, and
1.-THE thousand dollars 1 had as a sort
lof surplus IL, why TOOts, l bought
Liberty Bonds with it, I'll give them
10 you, Gear. They're good as wheat.
iyou know. and well both feel better
ITO think we've helped a little. Now
twon't we, TOOts?" His tone was
lpleading.
But there was no answering ex-
kpressiOn in his Wife's eyes as she
lsaid coldly. But that isn't anything
ito do with my winter clothes. Pas
lquale won't make me the plainest
lkind OF a suit for less than two hun
tdred. And there are other things
tWhy, even five hundred dollars is
nothing. 1t was stupid 10 buy those
bbonds. There are other people with
more money than We have 20 finance
this war"
Don't look at it that way, Eliza
beth. Surely you can manage little
while without new stuff. Why.
heard you say the other day you'd
have 10 have another dress box,
things had accumulated so"
You've got a good memory. II
You tried hard you might remember
some OF the things 1 haven't got
Well anyway. you said the bonds
were mine. didn't you?'
Yes. dear"
They're negotiable aren't they ?'
He caught her meaning. But, dear.
you wouldn't do that. You couldn't"
Her eyes were hard and defiant.
II need things" was her only reply.
He sprang up. Then, by heaven.
III keep them And he was out of
the room and the house in an in
stant.
Now. had Elizabeth's parents been
In town, she would have gone home
no be patted As they We're away.
she thought instantly OF Betty Pey-
nOn. Betty was her old friend and
AechoO{rnate married prosperous and
always sympathetic.
So. after packing, she dismissed
ithe maids. called a taxi and was
,whirled rapidly 10 Grand Central
station. Her stay depended largely
ION the extent OF Betty's sympathy.
she hoped it would be expansive
enough TO hold her over until her
.mOther returned. At any rate. she
was never going back 10 Jack. If ne
couldn't keep her. he could do with
out her.
IngIebrook vas a wonderful place.
one OF those regions whose broad.
,curved, tree-lined streets. rolling
lawns and beautiful mansions seem
10 have been there forever. and re-
posing behind its barriers OF shelter
bng hills. knew nothing OF the sor-
did, struggling. wOrkaday world be
eond.
It's very atmosphere was restful,
and Elizabeth, stepping from the
Hrain into a waiting cab, felt soothed
and comforted At the same time
she resented others being so for
Runate.
They turned up the drive 20 the
Peyon house, a long. low building OF
brick and stone, new but not new
docking. IL had taken on the spirit
-of the place and settled down with
the air OF solid permanenCy that
ipermeated Inglebrook. But Eliza
beth noticed that the grass needed
clipping, the hedges lacked barber
ing. and when they drew up to the
steps and saw that shades were
drawn. blinds shut. and the lower
windows boarded What had hap
pened Where were the Peytons?
II don't know. Miss" the driver
answered EIizabeth's inquiry. Eek
cept that Randolph PeytOn went 70
war"
War" gasped Elizabeth. Couldn't
she get away from IL? Was Il always
10 be war And Betty and the
ChiIdren-wheIe were thcy2
Then suddenly Betty herself APP
peared. bright welcoming. lovable
Betty, but a plain oue-so plain that
Elizabeth scarcely knew her at first.