The Washington times., 1922-09-17


and came back again. Fanshawe,
rubbing his hand up and down the
edge Of the table, regarded her
with almost ludicrous distress, and
as she looked across at him she
laughed again.
There was something hard and
drearv in the sound, and shadow
passed across Fanshawe's face. He
opened his lips to speak, but she
stayed him peremptorily.
81 ought to be-" she said.
You've shown tonight every
quality that calls for appreciation
and observation-disclosures, tact, In
amazing, unbelievable generosity!
You've done something that not
one man in thousand would have
done. Knowing the circumstances,
you have ignored the cause, the
root of the trouble In which we
found ourselves. You remembered
only that trouble, and came to our
aid as though you were our dear
est friend instead of the veriest
stranger. We owe you more than
we can ever repay, and it's 80 be-
cause of that that can't be prop
erly grateful"
She flung her arms wide and
let them fall. Billy Fanshawe
eyed her blankly, and rubbed the
edge of the table with yet more
energy. He was nonplussed,
taken aback, and yet some ,'lim-
mering Of what she was feeling
was dawning slowly upon him.
He guessed at what her pride
must be suffering; he could imag-
inc the storm of helpless resent
ment against Fate which had
thrust her present position upon
her, and he made little, half con-
ciliatory gesture.
Her eyes, catching it, flashed
anew: She threw her own hands
wide once more.
'I'm impossible, aren't II" she
demanded rather shakily. 'Tmpos-
sible, hard, heartless. know.
But l can't help it. I've never
been under even the smallest OBJ
legation to anyone, anyone, in all
my life. I've never taken from a
living creature thing that ! could
not repay ten-fold il need be. And
now, and now-oh, you could
never understand! Never"
A little CLEAN of hurt showed in
Billy's round blue eyes. He ceased
massaging the table and drew him
self up unconsciously.
81 do understand he retorted,
and just for a moment something
of her own resentment found its
echo in the pleasant, throaty voice.
81 understand, and l sympathize.
It's a rotten position for 70 both
perhaps more especially for YOU,
As you say, I'm a stranger. I'm
not even q man Of your own class.
You wouldn't be speaking to me
at all If I wasn't Gerry Denning's
friend. You'd refuse to know me
under other circumstances. I'm
nobody and nothing, just rather
ignorant outsider. But / want you
to believe this"
He, went a step closer to her,
and there was a quick appeal in
his unwontedly grave eyes. !
"I've some idea Of decency, and
| shall forget, completely, every
thing that has happened tonight.
And as for repayment, I'm a rich
man, Miss Revell, and it won't
hurt me to wait until you find
yourself in a position to return
the sum which it has been my
good fortune to loan your
brother"
Fancy's mouth twitched. She
was beating one little hand sound -.
lessly into the palm Of tho other,
and now there was hectic spot
of crimson in either cheek. Her
eyes were glowing sombrely; now
and then her breath caught spas
medically.
Fanshawe did not realize It, but
she was nearer to hysteria than
she Lad ever been in her life.
Every nerve was quivering. Her
pride was in shreds, mutilated be-
yond recognition. She owed this
funny little man with his round,
bald head and his jolly smile more