The Washington herald., 1922-01-29
THE MORTGAGE WIFE

Jeanne was aghast 10 fin& how
low her funds were dwindlfn<. Ana
the drawer of the cabinet which
held her bills was stu<xod 10 loves
flowing. In fact. she had a1fonHy
been forced to utiiiDo smother
drawer ~
She realized that she vould have
to work fast to gain h6r a6ahitlon
before her whole elabor6ko ptroc-
ture Of deceit should o&mfo about
her ears. Unless she suo6oo1o6 in
winning the Barstowess con - Is
her marriage to Vie beforo ukny
moons. Jeanne Dare w61a11 q -
forced to pack several ~ 31ud
dollars worth of Paris sorr1@ ikfo
a trunk and vanish from TIE iHak-
ionabie hotel. leaving no forwnrIs,,
Ing address Some time th&von1fSf
. Jane Dare would be presfdfnR ever
Primary Grade A in small lowa
town.
Jeanne clenched her small f1ot a
the thought. and banged ID kerd
on the inlaid desk.
'Never!f; she whispered To 49,
self. before I'd do that Id~IsG
marry Selby North"
She made moue of disgust al til
thought and fell to adding up tn
costs of the dinner which she w61
giving the Barstowes.
She would give 1t at the hotel ao1
merely sign a slip for 1t. of couroe
She had been careful to be good ny
around the hotel, wherever else 80
had let her accounts slide. M
florists bill could go over for a month
or so without difficulty :. Favors
for the guests would amount to >
cody sum. -. She would open
an account for them at Sherry's or
Delmonico's or some other smart
place, using Dick Candy for her ref
erence. She herself must have
new gown and, oh. IL she could
only afford some good Jewels
\ single emerald or a diamond pen
dant of the frst water.
She sighed as she realized the Inn
possibility of such a thing, but she
smiled again when she recalled the
superb diamonds that Mrs. Barstowe
wore on opera nights, the tiara, neck
lace, bracelet and rings like a chain
Of living fire which wrapped her arts
tocratic figure in its shapely brocades
Some day those Jewels would
belong to Vic's wife,
Looking at her reflection in the mir
ror. Jeanne could almost see them
around her forehead and throat and
arms.
She sighed again and went back to
her figuring. Something had to be
done about her bank account. She
MUST have ready money.
Desperate Measures.
gI
You've neglected me shamefully the
last two days" she pouted into the
receiver when his voice answered. $50
I've humbled myself by doing some
thing which I've never done before in
my life-calllng up a mani.
I'm surprised you have the time for
It," replied Candy grimly Where's
little boy Victor this afternoon-you
don't mean to say that he's left you
alone for an hour"
She laughed good humoredly.
You DO like to tease me about
Vic-silly boy! Is it my fault IL he
seems TO like me?'
Hardly" acknowledged Candy Nor
is it your fault il you seem to like
him.
Jeanne laughed softly.
How stupid you are :" she muir
INJURED.
Huh" querled Candy. having no use
for subtlety. what do you mean"
why" said Jeanne in surprise.
IT thought you knew that I dislike
mere boys. I adore older men with
distinction and-er poise But
I could hardly resist a chance to
interest the catch of the season.
could To-
Canby's grunt showed satisfac-
ton. His ill-humor vanished like
the frost before the sun.
you're pretty clever, Jeanne!
Pom my word you aren Only yes
terday I heard your affair with
young Vic being discussed at the
club and the odds were six to one
that you two were already en-
gagged .. 1t made me sore.
really itsdid. that you shouldn't
have confded in me. if it was So
Jeanne laughed merrlly.
And you're the man who has al
ways warned me against listening
to Selby North's gossip! File, Fie"
We'll" said Candy with thought
full hesitation. The last three
times that I've asked you to dine