The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1922-06-21
CHAPTER SCI.

Credit at your bank" 1 repeat
| ed Tony's words in an effort to take
| in their full meaning. But how can
L get credit 1 haven't any securities
to offer"
You have your business" Tony
| replied serenely.
1T isn't worth much-ust now"
L said bitterly, at the ebbtide of faith
| in myself and so at the fiood-tide of
| disbursement.
! MY dear child, the good will of
! business run by a capable young wo-
| man with such clients as the zelda
people is worth lot And though I
do say it 1 shouldn't. the sigma
ture of Anthony Norreys won't de-
tract from the value of your note"
"Oh,-I can't 1 said fairly incre-
dulous that my involved affairs could
be Strengthened out by the mere wave
of a wand even if that wand were In
Tonys hands.
You can't?" Tony repeated quizz-
ically. "No-probably alone you
couldn't But with a business man of
standing to act your sponsor
That's just it," / cried, interrupt
ing in a frenzy at the so-near-and-
yet-so-far quality of this rescue L
must refuse. II can't let you act as
my sponsor. L can't! I'm sure you
must see it, Tony"
grimly. Il merely see that a good
friend of mine finds herself in BUSH
ness difficulties owing largely to her
generous desire to keep an old firm
like the Derringforth concern from
going to the wall. 1 see, moreover.
that I'm here to serve. I've believed
in your sane, cool business judgment
and ability, Anne, from our first meet
ing That was a business meeting if
you'll recall it,
81 member" I confessed, sensing
Tony's purpose in reminding me of
the kindly plot in which Terry and
Neal had shared-the plot which
gave Jim a job at the time he needed
it to save his faith in himself from
going to smash.
Your acumen saved your hus-
band then from the after effects of
war and unemployment. You saw
hard situation through magnif1cently-
1 knew at once you were clear grit,
plus brain, plus fneness and intense
honesty and loyalty. I've never had
any reason to swerve from that first |
jud gment, Anne. l said then that
we spoke the same language. It's
true, isn't it?
The strength, the sweetness and the |
honesty which I'd seen as Tony's sa- |
Hent charactericS at our first meet |
ing echoed in every word he SAID |
But somehow the strength predom1n-
ated now. He was living up to the
rugged dominant quality of the chin
which I generally forget looking at
the tender whimsicality of his mouth
or the keen vision of his ice-blue
eyes.
I'VE speak the same language" 1
agreed. But
1 he,sitated. couldn't go on. 1t
was like impossible to tell Tony that
Jim didn't speak the same language,
or to suggest that he didn't under !
stand our sDeak king it. Tony, how |
exer, with the grim determination
he'd shown ever since he came into |
the office and fond me at bay, fac
ing Max Hoadley, finished my SEN
tence after his own fashion.
But you're afraid Mrs. Grundy |
and her tribe won't understand our |
speaking it. File on you, Anne. That's
an unworthy attitude Our frlend-
shin is one of the realest things that
has ever come into the life of a MAIN
ed and worn man who always felt he
had nothing ahead of him on the path
of life if he couldn't have loyal splen-
did friendships. I'm your friend as
simply and surely I'm Tony Win
ston's You know that, don't you
Eyes, I know that" 1 agreed, puz-
zling over another part of Tony's
statement.
Then why can't you permit me to
stand by you and your business pre-
ciseIy as I'd stand by Terry If he
needed me?"
you've seen Terry and Betty?' |
cried. glad to be rid of the pressure
Tony was bringing to bear on my
tired brain
II had a week with them Betty's
getting on famously I think her
1@1I
Bergen house. The door was open