The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1932-02-05

to ask for today, is loan of a thou
sand or two, to tide him over. He'd
give his note, of course. Oh, well,
wen know by tonight, suppose"
For a while they talked about
Edith's trip and what had been hap
pening at home, but the other subject
was never very far from their thoughts
and finally Edith went back to it.
II suppose Jake German made up
his mind, at last that he wouldn't go
in. Each one Of your letters made it
seem a little more hopeless, but you
never told me that he'd really turned
us down."
"He never did," mother surprised
her by saying. Mot In so many
words, at least. Only Ned made up
his mind, at last, that there wasn't
much use In keeping after him."
(She loved 1t when mother made
that slip; spoke Of dad to her as Ned.
It made her feel sort Of grown up and
free and equally
"Mr. Germans got something else
on his mind, just now" mother went
on. 'It seems he's going to be mar
RED"
The girl felt her mind go perfectly
blank. Married." she echoed. "Who
TOT"
IAN actress, I believe; sort Of
actress. She's in one Of the musical
shows here in town. I've heard her
name, but I've forgotten it."
"Gosh !" Edith exclaimed, and turned
away to conceal the perfectly foolish
grin that she felt breaking out on her
face.
She felt suddenly older-an incred-
ible lot older. She certainly had been
one awful kid when she was working
in dads Office. Well, Roger needn't
worry, after all!
An hour later, while they were sit
ting at their meal, they heard heavy
masculine tread coming up the front
steps and across the porch = then. in
stead of the ring they expected, the
click Of a latchkey. They looked at
each other, startled. ut can't be Ed,
can it?" Edith ventured.
Mother got up quickly. TITS your
father" she said.
There was something simply terrify-
ing about having him come home like
that in the middle Of an ordinary work
ing day. 1t was contrary to nature.
The girls knees felt wabbly as she
rose and followed her mother toward
the front hall, where he had stopped
to hang up his hat and coat.
She was near enough to hear mother
SAY, rather low, There's nothing
wrong, is there, Nedr but she couldn't
hear the first part Of his answer.
IT thought I'd come home and have
a little talk with you," he concluded.
He did look pale and the smile he
gave Edith, when he saw her stand
ing there, brought lump into her
throat. He glanced through into the
dining room and said, 1--WE interrupted
your lunch, haven't II"
"Have you had yoursT mother
asked, and he admitted. as il 1t had
Just occurred to him. that he hadn't.
He'd Join them in minute. They
weren't to bother to get him anything
special, He didn't want much.
II was horrible sort Of lunch to
let q man sit down to. They'd de-
cided to eat up the ice box instead
of going out and getting anything
special, and the table was Uttered
with sauce dishes containing scrap
of this or q tablespoonful Of that.
Mother was distressed about 1t but
Edith didn't mind SO much. She knew
the sort of lunches he had every day.
It turned out not to matter, anyhow,
since he hardly pretended to eat. Per-
haps 1t was rather easier just at first,
as it gave them something to pretend
to make joke about.
But did they mean to 60 on pretend
ing as long as she was there? Couldn't
the talk begin until she'd left them to
themselves? 1t seemed so. At last
dad turned to her and said, "Tell me
about the trip. I had no sort Of a
chance at the station this morning."
Desperately, for minute, she sat
trying to make q beginning, but 1t was
no use. The words wouldn't come.
"Some other time" she said. She
pushed back her chair and rose. II
think I'll go out for while. It's ages
since I've seen any Of the girls"
She was aware, though she'd turned
her face away, of a look between them,
and as she passed dads chair he held
out a hand and stopped her.
"You're welcome to a seat at the
council table. my dear. II you'd like
to stay. I'd like to have you here"
She kissed him when he said that,
and went back to her chair.
He began at once. but you could tell
from the dry brittleness of his voice
that he could hardly get the words out
at all. "The business won't get any
help from Bert Willard. He made
that finally clear this morning. He
washes his hands Of us. as far as
keeping on with the business Is con-
cerned. If want to liquidate it, he
says, he'll be glad to lend me as much
as 1t needs"
Edith didn't know what liQuidate
noant and he went on to explain