The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-06-23

into that! muttered Daisy NOnly know what know. He's changed since you came back into his life. Don't make me humble myself and torture myself any longer I want MT. Mason He'll give me my way out and S10 more a week than Pm getting at Haldane's- It only de- bends on you. You've only to say job?"
 .It depends on me-" I repeated
 "on you. It's my chance. Do l
 CHAPTER CCCvIII
 'I want to work for Mir. Mason. It only depends on you You've only chance. Do I get it ?''
 Stray words, broken sentences, pas s1onate and intense---they darted in and out of my mind as I sat facing Daisy Condon across the smooth white linen of our table.
 How could I come to a decision :? On the one hand, my old friend Rates {: little sister felt that through me she 2 was losing Carl Booth, the man she loved In her unhappiness she wanted to get away from Haldane'S and the bitterness of seeing him daily. She wanted to cut herseI off and forget--- any wofnan'S right. Whatever caused ferent to the girl So any woman must want to help her-most of all I who owed Kate so great debt.
 But---and such a "but'--I had al most certain evidence that Daisy was thief. With my own eyes I had seen that this little grain of dust was fond of gambling. How. then, in fairness to Tom Mason or to her own easily tempted self could stand spon- sor for her? How could l say the word that would put her to work among rare and precious things, and gTve her a great money responsibility?
 What was right?
 ''Daisy--think carefully--do you want to live each day with the fempta- ton of beauty? Are you willing to handle things more precious than my pearl ring was?'' I asked In slow, measured voice. Have you any right to ask me to be responsible for you %
 Daisy lifted her tawny eyes, not dull and pale now, nor deep and black, but clear, sharp, eagerly shin
 s@why not2" she said. Don't you trust me? Have you heard some thing?"
 And then I saw what I must do.
 eff I were to trust you," I said, would you do everything in your power to be worthy of it-every- thing?'
 "Of course" replied Daisy. '@Why not Do you doubt ne?''
 'SCan you ask that?' I said quietly. Oh, Daisy, isn't there something you want to tell me-Something you want to talk over with me first?'
 Daisy stared at me almost belli- lips twisting for a second, her eyes wild. Then she dropped her chin, gulped once or twice and sat silent staring at 'the tablecloth. Finally she raised her eyes to mine and ask ed in a strange little, breathless voice:
 You won't take a chance on me, then? You don't believe in me? You fI,o olrT1,a in TTOza2 nd think MT. Mason and all his. beauti- full things would prove too much for me in the end Oh, want to go want to get away and start over. Anne, Anne, you have so much! Let me have this. Help me. please help me. I'll do the right thing by you. I will! I will! I'll repay you! For Rates sake''-
 As she rushed from plea, to plea. ,Daisy's voice gained in strength, un- til at last it had the clear, ringing quality of bronze chimes. With every word the child seemed to take on new power and dignity.
 T made my decision.
 'Pn call up Tom Mason and tell 6im I hope he will put you in charge of | new shop" I said. ''Pn tell him I know he can trust you abso- 1utely to look out for his best inter- ests, and to take care of all his valua- ble property. I've no cause so far to believe in you, Daisy. But now you owe it to me-to be worthy of Kate"
 Daisy whirled up from the table. clapping her hands. She hurried me to a. telephone booth, and, stand ing with her hand squeezing mine as we waited for the operator to get aglow. The little grain of dust ap- peared suddenly to be a shining cut stone.
 booth and rejoined her she took my hands in hers and spoke ardently in a low, intense voice:
 You'll never regret this. I'll a1- ways remember, and no matter how much you hurt me in the way you can hurt me so terribly, I'll never again try to retaiate. And when you find out-when you learn what I've .~ done you won't hate me, will you? I didn't know. If I had I'd never have tried to get away with this But couldn't take what was yours: saw your husband today. I went to his office. When you find out. forgive me-
 -.s-Another pressure on my two hands and Daisy fled to keep her appoint ment with Tom Mason This ap- pointment would give her the posi- ton Tom had half laughingly offered her the day I took her into his an tique shop. She was, as I very well knew, assured the position the very moment I asked Tom to give it to her. He liked her, liked her feeling for his objects dart. and with the recommendation that committed me as the sponsor for Daisy's honesty, his haf-joling offer became a bona fide one
 Daisy would escape the daily con tact with Carl Booth that hurt her, so now she was convinced his friend ship for her was that and no more. She would get oIIe of the world of presses and be among the things that gave her such joy. She'd meet peo- pie of culture and position. And had given her this chance
 CTo Be Continued-)