The Washington times., 1930-08-11
CHAPTER I

It wasn't Cathie Pages way
70 hesitate, she was too much
her mothers daughter for that.
All her life Mary Paige had
faced facts and made the best
az them, and Cathie. the least
ike her in the flesh, was the
most like her at heart. II she
had to ask Mr.. Farnsworth
to advance her salary she'd 90
It, no matter how hard 1t was.
Once her mind was made up,
and there was no way out Of It,
she could hardly wait TO get
Il over with. He had not been
IN his office two minutes that
morning before she followed
him in and asked him bluntly
II he would let her draw next
months salary now, because
her mother was sick.
He listened thoughtfully, his
kind, gray eyes fixed steadily
on hers. Once or twice ne
moved the pencils and memo
pads on his desk and once ne
turned over the leaves Of the
desk calendar as II he had
ceased to listen. Cathie stun
bled then, and he raised ms
eyes to hers again and said:
'No. 60 on. I'm listening, my
dear"
"Ngy dear" That made her
feel self.cOngciouS. Her cheeks
oeran TO burn. and she Thought
sue saw the reflection OF her
hl,Ish on his. smooth, florid
face. Hut that was foolish. =.
she fouglt down the awkward
ness. and stumbled on. II you
would /. 1t would help 90
hospitals have TO. pc paid
right away and we =. We
haven't the money
GenerOus Loan
He took out his check book
and pulled his fountain pen
toWard him. suppose I make
a two hundred and fifty TO
start . he said. There are o.
WAYS 20 many things you donV
expect. Illness comes high,
"Rut I couldn't take that
much. I don't know when
could pay 1t back. / think .
hundred"
Don't stint your mothers
comfort" he told her. His voice
was cold, and Cathie's lip
trembled q little. in spite OF
her. A.,
There, there I did
not mean to hurt you," he said
kindly. His hand patted her
shoulder.
Cathie picked up her note
book and pencils, and the check
he had given her, and went out
quickly, blinking back her tears.
All that day while she worked,
the check seemed to be burn
ing g hole In the pocket Of her
sweater, where she had thrust
it. Sometimes it seemed to her
that Marsha Darrow's sharp
eyes were staring at it, through
the thick wool that covered It.
There were days when the
Paiges waited, white checked
and holloW.eyed, in the HOSPITAL
corridors, for news Of their
mother. When they followed
the starched and rustling young
nurses who came out Of her
room "You think she's
better, don't you? You
-. You you don't
think she's going to die?"
Asks for Mere
When the doctor, the busy,
clever young doctor whom old
DOOgan had recommended, Sug-
gested this or that for her
comfort, Ruth looked at Cathie
and Cathie looked at Ruth.
whatever Is best for her."
they said Stiffly, and toward
the end Of her great illness
when he suggested q ward. or
at least Q room with two beds
In 1t, they shook their heads
.Weil, I'll ask Mr.. Farms.
WORTH" Cathie decided. Hes
got 1t, goodness knows, and
I'll pay him back ut interest" !"
But she did not have to ask,
he suggested it this time. and
again Cathie walked out with
the small oblong Of paper
burning q hole in her pocket,
and the consciousness Of Mar
sha Darrow's long, light eyes
borIng into her.. asking. :.
thinking.
And at last the day came
when they took Mary Paige
home and, oh, the delight Of
getting back to her own kitchen!
You'd have thought lt was .
palace, the way she walked
about it, flicking the oilclOth
tahleelOth straight. straighten-
Ing q fold Of window curtain.
Jleeking into the canned goods
On the shelf. II see yOu let
the t0mAtoes Fun down. Il