The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-09-05

The crisp voice was disconnected.
Ernestine put the receiver In place
wonderingly. Well, there was no an
swer to her questions until she was
there.
She left the street car at Ontario
street and walked south. The door
man at the bank greeted her with a
stiff nod, left his place and walked
back through the big downstairs room.
Ernestine followed him. He paused
at the foot of the wide stairs that led
to the balcony.
1.-THE last door, on the left side of
the balcony" he said to her in a low
voice, and Ernestine went up the
stairs, half frightened with this
secrecy, walked forward again, toward
the street, passed Indifferent employees
and opened an unmarked door, en-
tered private Office, and closed the
door behind her.
Ruby Pastano was standing by the
green-curtained windows, looking down
into the street through tiny slit he
held open with his finger. He turned
to her.
"Ernestine!"
"Mr. Pastano!" She did not know
whether she was relieved or more
frightened. At least, here was some
one familiar.
"Will you shake hands with me?"
He came to her, big, sober, non-com-
initial and offered her his hand. Ernes.
tine laid her hand in his big thick
palm and noticed, as she did so, how
extraordinarily long his fingers were.
as he took her hand in both Of his.
"I've been wondering, all the way
over here, who it was that had sent
for me-" she said nervously. II did
not expect to see you'll don't know
what I expected. had dreadful
dream last night, and I've been fright
ened and nervous all day."
"Sit down, won't your" the voice,
silky, soft, as always, had in it note
of gentleness that went to Ernestine's
heart, in spite of her formed and set
prejudices against Ruby Pastano.
He drew up for her chair uphol-
stored in red pigskin, and she sat
down, upright, ready for flight, on the
edge of it. He seated himself before
her on the empty desk.
II didn't want you to come to my
office, and didn't want to go to your
home, but I felt that had to see you.
Ernestine," he said gently, do you
believe that am Wills friend?"
Ernestine felt that the occasion was
momentous. She felt herself thrust
back from the ordinary conventional
judgments Of her class and generation
to something more fundamental. She
answered naturally. honestly:
"Yes," she said, Eyes, do"
"Good," he said. 1--WE not done
many unselfish things in my life, al
though I've done plenty that were dan
gerous-but for my own gain. But
I'm going to do something for you now.
I'm going to give you chance to do
something for somebody else. All last
night I couldn't sleep, knowing that
the plans that are coming forward to-
day would hurt you. I knew that I
must work some change If it were pos
sible. I wanted to take into account
the existence Of little Ernestine, know
ing that l must at least give her her
chance.
"What do you mean, Ruby? she
asked, her thoughts turning to VIII.
How could he be involved with this
man? He had never had any contact
with Pastano except the free contact
of friendship. He had never had
favor from him.
$40" he said, reading her thought,
mot Will-but Loring-your sisters
husband, Loring Hamilton. Did you
know that he is ruined?"
.Loring-ruined? But how"
"He will tell you, If he is fool enough
to talk, that have ruined him. I tell
YOU that he ruined himself. He's in
debt, he's in trouble, and he's under
the shadow of an indictment-for brib-
ing witnesses in federal court-seri-
GUS business, Ernestine."
you mean-the grand jury? But
how did this happen? Tell me,
please"
~ cannot tell you everything. It's
long story. and involved, and, besides,
it is unwise and unnecessary. 1 can
give you few facts. A week ago to-
day your brother-in-law was secure.
His security was dependent on his
obedience. He had placed himself de-
liberately in a position where he had
to do as he was told, in return for all
that he had-and wanted. A week
ago he decided to take step that had
been in his mind for some time. 1
knew that it was there. was ex-
pecting it. Loring decided that he
would break faith with me, cash in on
his knowledge and cut the ties. He
was thirsting for the water that he
carried, but could not drink"
Ha paused, and the red of old anger
burned in his cheeks.
TO BE CONTINUED)