The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-04-14

II had to-"
Something in the conviction Of his
voice reached her and she held out
her hand.
Il understand. Thank you"
With Tenny tagging forlornly in her
wake, Cynthia left the dining room
and ran up the stairs. Geoff had an
uncomfortable conviction that she had
gone to her room to cry.
Cynthia was driving Geoff down
town. Why she had proposed herself
as his chauffeur Geoff did not know.
She had come into the old parlor, en-
tirely calm and composed, no traces
whatever of tears in her face and
asked quietly if she might take the
guest down for his luggage.
Geoff had been a little astonished
at the effect this simple request had
upon her family. Miss Mona looked
distressed. the Captain cleared his
throat, Cary shifted his feet uneasily.
What, Geoff demanded of himself, was
the matter with this girl that every
thing she said or did appeared to
paralyze her relatives? Was she q
lady bully, girlish tyrant who traded
on their love to keep them in state
of subsection to her whims? He set
his jaw-Geoff had a nice firm jaw of
his own-and rather looked forward to
a brush between this Cynthia person
and himself.
"Pretty sight," he commented as the
car made its swift if unimpressive way
down the broad streets. The city was
asparkle with lights, blazing against
the soft darkness of the summer sky.
Eyes. Denver's pretty" Cynthia as
scented absently. They drove for a
block or two more in silence which
she broke abruptly. "You say you're
going to stay with us for a year?"
'Your mother has asked me to-" he
replied with cool defensiveness.
"That's all right can see Miss
Mona will love having you. The only
thing-you'l want to pay boardT
The shock of it took his breath away.
He felt himself turning scarlet in the
darkness.
Naturally" he began stiffly. "a
fellows self-respect requires 1t. Of
fered to- insisted, but Mrs. Ayles-
bury
II know" she answered. "You can
pay it to me and not mention 1t to
her."
ITO you"
YES"
He remembered the Captains COM
ment on her gift shop. IAN expensive
toy!" So that was it.! The greedy
young grabber needed more money
and saw way to get it without asking
her family.
81 think I'd rather-I think it would
be better for me to pay it to your
mother"
"She wouldn't take it."
'But if 1 paid it to you and she
didn't know"
She smiled, faint, rather weary
smile that held something of scorn
and something of tolerance. $50 it's
the effect on Miss Mona you have an
eye to, not the preservation of a fell
lows self-respect!"
He was silent through sheer annoy
ance. This was the most unpleasant
girl he had ever met.
"No use getting angry" she admon-
ished him. I'm just trying to make
it easy for you, that's all. l realize
that you've been put in a difficult posi-
ton; that you really would hate it,
staying with us for year as a nom
paying guest. So Pm suggesting that
you pay your board to me-"
$50 you can put it into your gift
shop!"
She Slowed around in her seat to
give him cryptic glance.
what d'you know about my gift
shop?"
Nothing" he said CURLY. "Only
that you have one"
She nodded. "Oh, yes, l have enc,
all right. And l can use Whatever
sum you decide on as financial
recompense for the home life we offer
you-don't put it nicely?-I can use
it in my shop" She laughed, a mystic
rious, mirthful little laugh which in
creased Geoff's irritation. She was
finding him funny, was she? ITS the
Odds and Ends, you know"
II beg your pardon?"
'The name of my shop-Odds and
Ends"
Il can imagine that describes it very
aptly."
To his amazement she pulled the car
to the curb, stopped it and offered
him her hand.
But why?" asked the dazed young
man.
"I'm saluting you as a foeman
worthy of my steel. l was so afraid
you were going to be a polite supine
sort of chap, Mortified to death of me
but covering your CONSERVATION with
courteous murmurs."
The description amused him. Taken
from life2"