The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-02-21
When 4 Girl
 Murries
N1STI NNV ka
CHAPTER 491

vance?" I asked, annoyed by Carl Booths steady gaze. Its just a lit tie matter of business. If you'll sign the voucher I'll be able to get the cash I happen to need"-
 TO needt' he repeated, in strange voice. That's why you came back here to Haldane's-because you need the money. And I-your oldest friend in this town, the chap you've always called big brother the pal | through whom you got your first glimpse of your husband-I didn't see the facts. And they were clear as daylight, Anne, why didn't you say som ething? I ought to have doubled your old salary. I'll do it now, can't have you needing cash like this you poor Ettle kid-and asking for it in such a shy, frightened voice. We'll fix thati"
 His emotion steadied me. re- hected that if Carl forgot this was a business organization and I no more than on spoke in the wheel. there was all the more reason for me to be completely calm and impersonal.
 There's nothing for you to f1x-be- yond signing this voucher I said, crisp1y. "I need the cash today. But my salary's adequate, and don't want more till I prove I'm worth it."
 Would you march into this office and ask for an advance on your sal ary the very first morning if you didn't need it?' asked Carl almost bitterly.
 It startled me to have the ordin- arily easy-going, steady old slow coach so moved by pity for a woman who was up against it. I saw that before I got down to the business ba- sis for which I was so anxious I'd ti1a-ve to do a little explaining to the old friend who could not adjust him self to a cold-bfooded efficiency basis with me all in a minute.
 i've plenty of money coming in at the end of the week, just as my salary check would do if I didn't re- quisition it in advance" I explained quietly. And I'm living at a fine ho- tel wh here-thanks to the fact that my husband has established credit-I can sign checks for everything. But happen to be out of ready cash. Real ly, the whole matter is very simple and not situation at all. Carl, except as your protective masculine instincts insist on making it one.''
 You can't put it off like that!'' cried Carl You're living at a hotel you say, not with one of your hus- bands famf1y-not with Neal Bar bara Anne, in the name of sanity, don't try to see this thing through
 
 age standing between you and the help someone ought to have a right to give you"
 'Tm an independent sort'' I re- turned patiently. "That's the whole exploration. I don't want to offend you, Carl-but do you think your po- sitfon here gives you a right to cross question me?''
 'No." thundered Carl. "But our old friendship does. You're up against it, Barbara Anne. I know that! How? We'll, you just answer me one question. Did you ever ask for ten cents advance in the o1den days when you were working here? Did you?"
 felt the tel1ta1e crimson flood my face. No use now to try to put Carl off. I'd have to give him a certain amount of information in order to protcct-not n1yse1f-brt Jim. I felt owed this to my husband, just as I'd refused for his sake to let Pat or Jeande realize my poverty. While was refecting. Carl burst out again.
 You bet you never asked for cert advance in the old days. So it's only having you up against 1t like this-dn view of the fact that you-met your husband through me-
 '+Car1.' I cried indignantly But one glance at his honest, puzzled and gravely-concerned face made me realize that I'd no right to resent his dogged devotion and the friendship that asked only to serve and was ready to risk giving offense if it could be most effective that way. So went on in a manner differing conn- plete1y from the one in which I'd be- bun:
 Carl, what I'm going to tell you is strictly confidential. I know I can trust you. But will you give me your sacred word of honor never again to refer to tI1is-even to me?"
 Anything you tell me stops here," replied Carl "I swear it. I swear
 q believe you" interrupted, dry ly, determined to get the tense emo tfonal note out of this conversation Now. I'll give you a few facts. Il get an enormous rental from sub | letting my apartment. But I laid it | out the minute it came in Last month | A relative of mine turned up, and | there were grave reasons why he had | to eat into my funds Father Andrew | Hyland know~but noae of the fam fly here does. I can't have them wcrrying over all my troubles To would have put me in a bad light, and Jim in a worse one"
 You mean if you fessed up you needed cash. you'd have been com | pelled to tell them about this rela- live CT to let 'en think Jim was talk ing the rent of the apartment? Carl flung at me <briskly.
 'sSom ething like that" I agreed. For they do know about the rental | of my partment and that it gives me plenty to live in luxury.''
 "So you're keeping a lot from | Jim's folks" reflected Carl with an evident lack of realization that he might be giving offense-
 .sYes and from Neal because he's oeen dangerously Sck,'' replied .ersely. saThis ought to make it clear that I'm playing a lone hand-and can't let you''--- L
 Wait rninuteI" Carl blurted out you're too polite to tel me that the whole things none of my darr business. But sec that I've |