The Washington times., 1922-12-16
BY Fannie Barnett
. Linsky

~ sheila Vests high
Il pitched voice. and the
muscles about her mouth became
suddenly tense. She knew she
had no business to be playing
bridge again. Geoffrey had
warned her only that morning
that they simply must cut down
expenses.
1.-TWO no trump" Eileen
O'Hare's voice sounded almost
triumphant ~ she took the bid
away. Yours" said the other
three, ana once more the game
was on.
But 1t was a very chastened
Sheila who left the Davenants
beautiful home later that after
noon. Refusing all offers Of a
lift" in any of the luxurious
cars that called for the -n&her
members Of the Thursday Bridge
Club, she set out for the modest
kitchenette apartment where she
kept house for her brother. Geof-
frey.
A sudden bump sent her reel
ing against the side of q nearby
building. For Q moment the girl
did not know what had struck
her. and. gasping for breath. she
leaned weakly against the wall.
As she did %. there loomed be-
fore her eyes large masculine
figure. running a. though for
dear life, and fast disappearing
down the street. sheila watched
him resentfully.
Directly at her feet lay q mans
wallet. the black leather scratched
and mud-stsined where she had
stepped on It in her unceremoni-
Gus stumble against the building.
She stopped. picked It up, and
hurried on her way to. the little
apartment. fearful lest her
brother reach home before her.
She bent eagerly to the con.
tents Of her find. Three brand
new tsn-dcllar bills cracked in her
fingers. Her bridge debt! The
thought flashed across her mind
instantly. Now she could pay
that detestable Eileen o'Hare
without going to Godfrey.
She smoothed out the last sheet
Of paper. Nothing 20 far" she
thought, and then her eye caught
sight Of some writing on the paper
she held in her hand. She scanned
the delicate. rather feminine-look.
ing characters.
Dear boy" 1t read. IT think
you ought to come at once. I
hate to bother you just now when
you are 20 busy. but ! am afraid
there isn't much time to spare.
.THEo."
However. one glance at her
brothers face when he came inca
little later. drove all thought of
her recent adventure from her
mind. She went quickly toward
him. whats wrong. Geofr' she
cried, "You look worried to death.
Tell me, has anything happenedr'
20, poor Luke Hawley had bad
news from homo this afternoon.
and what with all Of us trying to
help him we only made matters
worsS."
That nice Mr.. Hawiey that was
up here to dinner one night?''
asked sheiia. oeoff nodded.
Yes, 1.-The same one. You know
his wife II very iil--she,s away.
20. hsw sadr' exclaimed Shsila,
''he seemed such . nice man."
He is." agreed Geoffrsy. ''ths
best ever. Well. sf course all ths
beys wanted to DO something "a
help him-By the way. Sheila. ~
of your kitchen apron. dear: ex
pect 4 fellow up here almost any
minute--A"
20, don't worry, II isn't real com
pany." her brother treasured her
"ft's just our Western Representa-,
tive. He's coming here to let me
know II he has had any luck with
Hawiey's AFFAIR"
'HAwiey's affair! But I don't
understand. Geoff. do tell me the
whole story.
"well, Hawley doesn't get Z very
big salary. and. OF course. II has
cost him . lot to take care Of his
witi; % the boys In the Office 60,
together and collected some money
for him. He had only sbsu,
twenty minutes to make the train
20 they didn't say q word to him
but took his wallet out Of his
coat pocket when he wasn't look
ing, and We slipped three brand
new tsn-dcilar bills into H."
'Thrss tsn-dollar billsr' sheils
sat up with = jerk.
"well, to make . long stcrJ
short, in the general hubbub ol
getting OF, we forgot 20 put ths