The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-06-14
CHAPTER 585

cate, Inc.
left Daisy Condor with the feel
ing that, somehow, I'd just missed
fire in my effort to help her. The
one thing I couldn't say was perhaps
the only thing which would have con-
WINGED her of the futility OF her feel
ing for Tom. But I can't even now
see how I could possibly have found
the courage to say:
my dear, there's no doubt that
Tom is in love with Irn1a Warren and
she with him. You aren't exactly in
his world, after all, and he isn't going
to marry outside that world
Perhaps it wouldn't have made any
difference. Perhaps Daisy knew all
the while precisely who her rival
was and just how much more likely
Tom was 50 think seriously Of Irma
Warren than of her.
At all events I couldn't afford to
give more time to Daisy and her con-
Germs. The need of the moment was to
raise the money to pay the Star for
the Derringforth advertising account.
So shaking my shoulders vigorously
as If to rid myself Of the burden of
worry I'd found myself assuming. L
| turned toward a Loan Office building
which I'd marked out long ago one
other day when my fortunes were at
ebb tide.
Entering, ginger1y, I got directions
| from a sauve and dignif1ed official and
soon found myself in a line on my
way toward a window from which
cards of APPLICATION were issued. L
filed in the minor details readily
enough, even making an unmoved
statemen of the amount of money 1
needed But when it came to name
and address hesitated.
couldn't drag Carlotta into this
sordid business by giving her home
| as my address. I din't wish to tar
and feather my office with the stigma
| of the need to which it was driving
me. To set down my name seemed
| like dragging Jim into a matter which
| didn't combine very we'll with the
| Harrison dignity. With sudden in
spiration I wrote my name, Barbara
A. Lee" and then I added the address
| of the apartment on which I still he'd
lease.
! After this I got into another line
| and approached the appraisers win
dow. There I showed in my slip to-
gether with the ring I wanted to
pawn. I'd been told by the official
at the door that I could have at much
as 80 per cent. of the price Jim once
paid for his gift to me.
Leaving this window I took my
place in another line and approached
! the cashiers window. I'd been in
| formed he would give me the amount
I asked for unless the appraiser
found my request incompatible with
the present value of the Jewel on
which 1 was raising funds.
I tried to still the drumming of my
own heart by reminding myself that
this was almost like a bank-that I
was Offering negotiable securities
and securing loan eact1y as a man
might with stocks or bonds or other
collateral. But felt cheap, frighten-
ed. And giving up this ring which
| was Jim's token to me seemed sac
rilege.
In the line ahead of me was a man
in rumpled. loose clothes. He had an
air of ease and distinction which I'd
never expected to discover in such a
place.
'All I want is a dollar" I heard
him say. left my purse at home
Want lunch and carefare. Thanks for
the loan. Be in tomorrow to get the
old turnip out of hook
He turned away sereneIy, unse1f-
consciously, as if this proceeding
which seemed to be beIittIing to me
was all in the days work as far as
he was concerned. I stepped up tc
the window and was just ready tc
hold out my hand when the cashier
called, Mrs. Alfred Jervyss.'
looked at him in astonishment
I'VE call you in turn, Madam" he
explained politely. The appraise,
may not. have come to your goods as
yet
A little more shamefaced than ever
turned and fairly skunk to a chain
at one side of the room. I found
myself in a motley group, but there
wasn't a soul who had the look OF
being a down-and- outer. Save fol
myself and a sheepish young girl IL
over-elaborate clothes, there was nc
thing has got to be done quiet. There,