New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-07-18


sound of his latchkey in the door OF
the fiat she changed her mind.
NO, l won't say word to him
about it right now" she decided
1T wouldn't do any good because
he probably wouldn't tell me any
thing, anyway. And II he
thought l was accusing him of hav-
ing taken it from the bank, he'd
hate me all the rest of his life, no
matter whether he was innocent or
guilty"
She lay listening to the sound Of
his voice calling a cheerful Good
night" to Mabel, who was to sleep
in Sally's bed as usual. 1t did
not sound like the voice Of man
who had anything depressing on
his mind.
Then she heard him coming
across the living room carpet and
push open the screen door He
leaned over the hammock couch
and laid his hand on her shoulder.
Asleep. Sally?" he asked quietly.
NO" She sat bolt upright and
looked at him. Whats the mat
ter?"
Instead of answering her question
he pulled up chair and sat down
in it. Then he lit a cigaret.
9TH keep the mosquitoes away"
he said. Gosh. they're flying
around like canaries out here, aren't
they?'
He pulled his chair close to the
couch. Say. listen. old dear" To
Sally's quick ear his voice did not
sound so light and cheerful as It
had been a second before. Say,
listen, if ! had to have some money
suddenly, could you lend me some?"
Lend YOU some?" Sally repeated,
duly. Lend you some Why,
no, Beau you know haven't
any"
She scarcely knew what she said.
Il was right she kept thinking. az
was right. He's taken some money
from the bank" The thought was
terror, pure and simple.
Beau" She spoke sharply.
What do you want money for? Are
you in any kind of trouble?
If You are, please do tell me. !
ought to know"
She laid hci hand on his Shout
der, but he shook it off and jumped
up. walking up and down the little
porch like Gagged fox.
Holy cats, What's the matter
with you?" he asked irritably. II
ask you if you can lend me some
money, and You proceed to throw 5
fits! . If You can't lend me any,
say so, but don't put me in the wit
ness box about it,
He swung around upon her sud
denly. Have you got any? That's
all ! want to know" he said.
Have YOU"
Sally shook her head In the
moonlight her face was dead white
and her eyes were pools of shadow.
Beau" she said, IF you're so
hard pressed for money, why did
you buy all those clothes today and
land Mile the money for her blue
dress? . Beau, where did you
get the money for those necktics
and things? Tell mo!'
tell you what?"
Where you got all that money"
Sally repeated patiently.
ooh, for the love of little green
apples. Where d'you suppose 7 got
>" Beau answered sullily. You
don't notice anybody handing me
out any greenbaclis very often. do
you? earned it, of course"
Then, without another word. he
went into the house. slamming the
screen door behind him, and left
Sally to her mosquitoes and her
slecpless night.
It was almost 3 o'clock, and the
birds had begun TO twitter softly in
a lilac bush below the porch, before
she finally fell asleep.
She woke. heavy and depressed,
to the sound of the telephone ring
ing furiously in the hall of the flat.
AS SIlt ran ~ answer II me olu
clock on the kitchen wall struck 5
O'Clock.
Mrs. Jeromc's bedroom door was
open ana sh" called: IF that's for
me, be sure 20 ask who it is" She
hardly ever had a phone call from
anybody, but she was always wait
ing for one with pathetic eagerness.
This morning the call was not for
her. Il was only Mr.. Pcevey want
ing Sally.
YES, Mr.. Pccvey." Mrs. Jerome
heard hcr say, and then. "All right
I'll be there at 10 sharp"
1T was only Mr., Pccvcy, Mother"