The Washington times., 1923-01-28

paratively rich woman without too
serious consequences to your, own
reserves"
He had said that on the occa-
sion when Lissmere had sent Hood
less the first remittance-but he
had not repeated it. Instead, when
a fortnight later a second very
heavy sum had been sent the law
yer suggested, tentatively that it
might be more satisfactory both to
Sais and to Lissmere if he were to
arrange fixed allowance for her.
Dick had promised to consult
Hoodless. He had written at once
and received an answer-frorn
Marseilles. Hoodless wrote:
II am a little worried about this
business of Sais's finances, and /
am going to be frank with you.
I'll begin by telling you that sails
has changed extraordinarily since
you left Egypt. She is not the
girl who lived so simply at Luxor.
There, / suppose, a couple of
thousand pounds a year would
have more than covered your
mutual expenses. But that's alto
gether changed now. She may be
possessed with some idea of
Furnishing you for breaking off,
or it may be a kind of reaction
after the comparatively simple life
at Luxor, or perhaps it is just
sheer wanton waste, l don't pre-
tend to know. She was always
extravaganza the days before
our trip. But now the thing is
serious, Dick. She wastes like a
woman possessed. / won't call it
carelessness for 'carelessness' isn't
the word I want-absolute indif-
ference to money comes nearer to
what | want to explain.
Nowadays she seems to regard
you as kind of perpetual ,foun-
tain of gold. You have sent her
fifteen thousand pounds in the last
two months. / question if she has
a hundred left! She has bought
some amazing jewels, she and
Olympic have been to Paris, where
I fancy they opened the eyes of
the shop keepers. They are now
at Monte Carlo. / have business
here at Marseilles and this morn
ing brings a fresh telegraphed re-
quest for funds.
~ think you should give me a1-
thority TO talk frankly to her. She
should be shown that there is a
limit to even the resources Of a
wealthy English peer. I'm afraid
your suggestion of a settled i'm
come does not solve the difficulty
unless you state a figure beyond
which you are resolved not to
go''
That was all of Sais in the letter
except for a postscript.
II anticipate that among her
pending requests will be one for a
villa on the Riviera, or a big place
at Cairo, or possibly an establish
ment in Paris. / advise firmness
even though ] recognize that /
look at the business from a view
point that is very different from
yours"
Lissmere had frowned a little
over that letter. But though
Hoodless had made his uneasiness
very apparent, it was not in
fictitious. He scrubbed, short
letter of reinsurance.
Roger Marchurst, drifting into
Lissmere's den with a tempting
account of the way in which the
trout were rising, was shown the
letter from Hoodless.
He read it attentively, and re-
tur-led it, struggling his shoulders.
"That's at the rate of ninety
thousand a year, Dick! This
young lady has a gorgeous notion
of the value of her services. Do
you propose to let Hoodless talk
frankly to herr"
No. l prefer to pay-while |
can. l suppose it's only human
to feel irritated at this senseless
waste-but ! haven't reached the
stage where can say that / am