The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-28

to manage me. l know that is what
they planned. Mother hates a scene
and she cried and told Dad that
this affair was killing her, and that
she would die if I married Sam-and
all that kind of thing. Then she will
have to die-that's ALI"
"victoris.'
"Yes-I mean that But she won't
die, All she wants is to marry me
into a swell set-like the one your
mother is in. Dad taunts me with
the fact that his father-Sam's,
mean-was black sheep-hung
around race tracks, etc, and was
killed at, last in drunken row.
don't care what his father was!
Sans all right! And 1 mean to
marry himi"
Appeal TO her sense of filial duty
was in vain. Kenneth touched on a
more practical matter.
HAS Travers the money to marry
on?" he asked
That's the devil of it," Victoria
exclaimed. HE has no regular job
and most of the money he had is
gone. But he can make more by
doing out west-or he could get a
job here If his mind was at ease
He says he knows he could. But, as
| have told you before, he is sensi-
tive, and all this row with Dad-and
his fear of losing me-makes him
unfit to settle down to any regular
work.
"Still, last night when I saw him
for few minutes. he told me that
some money that was owing him
would be paid today. 1t is not such a
lot. he said, but enough to run him
and me for a while, If / had money
he should have every cent of it. But
as 1t is" with bitter laugh, "all
the cash 1 have in this world is that
absurd sum Dad gave me a while
ago. As it is, have new hundred
dollar bill"
Something made Kenneth say
Then you have the money now?"
He wondered why he asked the
question. He supposed it was be-
cause he remembered Victoria's care
lessness in endorsing the check made
out to Cash" days before she pre-
sented it at the bank.
CHAPTER ss.
"Yes, l have a nice, new bundled
dollar bill tucked away in my bag
Victoria said But that would not
carry me far if 1 ran away from
home"
you would not do anything sc
absurd as that" Kenneth protested
You don't know me, Ken! I would
do almost anything If I was pushee
too far"
"Oh, no; you wouldn't he affirmed
you and I have been friends too
long for me not to know you pretty
we'll. I trust you.
"And 1 trust YOU" she said eager.
ly. "Ken-hark! Here comes dad
Listen, 1 can count on you to stant
by me, can't ]? You meant wha
you said when you promised to stane
by me, didn't you?"
"Of course 1 meant IT,"
Further speech on his part was in
terrupted by the entrance of the
master of the house. Tonight he hae
not been drinking and looked gravei
than usual. Still he shook hands
cordially with his guest and sug-
gested that he take "a cigar VIII
him.
Kenneth declined with thanks. -
was just thinking that I must be
leaving" he said. Il have full
day tomorrow"
Il have a fun day myself" Walsh
remarked. Il must be at the office
the first thing in the morning. Their
/ plan to take the eleven O'Clock
train down to Middleton Junction and
meet my wife, who is coming on By
the express from New York. She
will have had a long journey, and II
will be a nice surprise for her tt
see me couple Of hours earlier
than she hoped to-" He laughed with
anticipatory pleasure. Her train
don't get in here till around about
eight o'clock I've been worrying
for fear there may be delays on ac-
count of washouts. They tep me
that some of the roads are petty
badly crippled by floods"
"Yes--so l understand. And vhere