The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-10-05
CHAPTER Tx.
Financial Discrepancies.

EInanClal DlSCFepsincISS. He felt rather than saw that she glanced at him doubtful1y and re- morse seized him.. Truly, she must deem him a hard and inconsedirate adviser!
 make it easy for you,'' he said con triteIy. But if I lack tact, I hope you'll credit me with good tnten- tion.''
 1T saw the bills; the estimate is fair" Plainly, having conf1ded so much to him. she had decided to go on.
 '"Then there were your music masters. painting masters and the rest of them. Mrs. Dunton was a bir more revelation'al on that score than possibly she realized. You don't think of any other items, do you big, sizab1e items. nean?'
 She considered for a momenr. ''Why, no; none that I can recall. There'd me minor matters of expense now and then -"
 tI1l make an allowance for that sort of thing-incidenta1s, you know. There'd be minor matters or expense I'm going to attempt a problem in mental arithmetic.
 Why, should you?'' She spoke a l1IIle hurTleutys W1Ln "IdL ne TecOS- nized as a trace of resentment.
 There's no question of my debts of my obligatdons.''
 But @ very grave question as to it's amount
 "How can there be? How can I dispute what -"
 He stopped her with more kindness than courtesy.
 I'm going to talk plainly. Disre- garding everything else, you owe Mrs. Dunton money, but you don't owe her twenty thousand dollars. She used to pay you for your services as her com panion, and part of that pay was food and sheIter.''
 Under the arrangement you've had for the last three years she has con- tinued to enjoy your companship; so am going to count that as meeting the items of board and room, to put it in a plain manner. The lapsing pin money offsets your minor ex- penses. So we have left the princi- pal accounts-clothes and travel and instruction.
 Now, figuring these as accurately as I can. I make it out that you are chargeable with not much more than a couple of thousand a year, certainly not more than twenty-five hundred dollars, or seventy-f1ve hundred for three years.''
 'fI don't understand you. They must know, Mrs. Dunton and Roy Tracht- man, and they -
 Again he interrupted her.
 "I doubt if Mrs. Dunton has as clear an idea as you have. And as for Trachtman-why. he's thoroughly un- trustworthy. And there's difference between twenty thousand and seventy five hundred"
 "A difference?" she said bitterly. f'Not to me-one sum is as remote as the other.''
 There's the biggest of differences within the limit; the other's' He checked himself. hesitated, and continued with a marked change or tone. There's the interest, for one thing, you know-oh, yes; the inter- est. It's a thousand a year in one case and less than four hundred in the other you see.''
 ''I-I hadn't thought of that she said hesitatingly. She put a hand wearily to her forehead But even four hundred-and you may be wrong, after aH-''
 ''rm right" said Penney curtly.
 She rose from the bench and moved slowly toward the house, the young man springing up and follow Ing her. Neither spoke until they. came to the steps, where the girl halted and faced Penney.
 T must bid you good night" she said. "I haven't thanked. you for your. your concern for my troubles, but. believe me. I'm not ungrateful' Impulsively she extended her hand
 I've conhded in you, and I trust you!"
 And then she had torn her hand from his grasp. and was darting up the steps before he could frame an answer.
 Penney stood where he was, con- scious anew of that magic quickening of his pulse Then a cynical voice spoke, and Trachtman 1oomed in the doorway through which the slender figure had vanished but a moment be- fore.
 Being deserted by the fair, you and I can have smoke and confidential chat. Come into the library Too early yet to turn in.''
 Penney accepted the invitation As he entered the brightly lighted room Trachtman was taking pox of cigars from a cupboard.