Nogales international., 1934-07-28
Fifth Installr1lent

that amount from the bank Where ne Worhs
because woman needed it--and that he
will be jailed if he is found out before he
returns it. So Nancy, in love with the
penniless Page Roemer, decides to borrow
the money from Morgan. and pledges herself
to marry him in return. He agrees to the
1e Raen,er comes to see him. "Oh, Richard,
don't let him come in here" begs Nancy
when ste hears his name And as KiehaId
looks at her the piti1ul little secret ot neF
Nosv go on 9vsth the story.
eff you. stay-if they come to get
YOU before you pay it back-it will
kill them both-I mean father and
mother. You must go, Roddy J. -.
You're trump, Sis + he said
thickly, you've saved mel feel
like brute to let you do it, I'll go,
but I've got to tell them first, l mean
the governor and reother."
"I'll tell themW Aancy shivered.
"You can't stop for it-if you lose
this train they-they might arrest you,
they may be on their way noWr
She kissed him suddenly. "Oh, Rod,
be good now!' she sobbed.
He could not speak, but he wTung
her hand; then the gate slammed and
he was gone.
Nancy rose slowly, steadying her
self an instant with one hand on the
old bench where she had sunk, and
then she went slowly into the house
Her mother was sitting in rocker
by the window, her face hidden in
her hands. Her father sat in the same
chair where he had slept that morn
ing. His gray hair was standing up
on top of his head and he had not
shaved; he looked older than ever.
He stared around at Nancy.
"Where's Roddy7" Ee demanded
hoarsely. where's he hidlngF
haven't seen him this morning-my
God, / can't think where he got his
streak from-my son common
thief"
"You sha'n't say that of Roddy !"
Mrs. Gordon cried for the hundredth
time. "It isn't true, he never meant
to take it, it's sorns mistake. he
meant to pay it backp
Yes" her husband assented harsh
ly, she did. You're right about that.
Sarah, l never knew thief who did
Mt mean to pay it back. They all dol"
'We've got to pay it back then!
his wife sobbed, we've got to save
him-if take the clothes off my
back. If Roddy's sent to Jail l shall
die!'
"Die?" Mr.. Gordon raised his hag-
gard face and stared at her, I'D rath-
er see Rod dead this minute than a
common thief. God knows l wish |
had him in his coffin now-nailed
down tight!
"Papav Nancy's tone startled him,
he raised his eyes again to her face,
his lips twitching with intolerable
pain.
She swayed toward him, her blue
eyes beautiful and soft; she loved him
in his agony. She understood it. He
had lost his pride in his son and he
was too poor to pay; he was thinking
of her and of her mother. Nancy's
lips shook but she commanded her
self.
Papa" she said softly, Mama"
she held her hands out to them ten
derly. "Ive come to tell you-Roddy
Is safe; he's got the money, all OF it,
and he's gone to pay it back. l think
hell get there before they even ind
it out.
Her father merely stared, incredu-
lous, but her mother uttered a choked
cry.
"Oh, Nancy! How did he get itf
Who lent him all that!"
Nancy held her breath. Ii she told
them, she did not know what her ia
ther might do. He loved her, he might
take it hard, he might even go to
Richard about it, and he could not
pay it back, it would ruin him. She
looked from one worn white tace to
the other and her eyes misted; she
was doing it for them, She knew II
now, for all of them-because she
loved them, she loved them so much
it was an anguish to see them suffer.
Il borrowed it, Mama" she an
swered softly, Il got it and--and Rod
dy and l will pay il back"
Mr.. Gordon half rose from his
chair. "Who did YOU get that money
from, Nancy?" he demanded hoarsely.
Nancy backed away from them;
they were both dazed but their eyes
followed her. Il can't tell YOU today,
she gasped, that's part OF it--the
pledge, / mean, but III tell you next
week"
She broke away; she must not tell
them, she dared not-yet! She turned
a little wildly and ran out OF the
room.
Nancy lay quite still, face down
ward on her bed, hands clasped close
over her eyes, shutting out the light.
Her head ached terribly, it ached SO
that the throbs ran down through her
body and shook her with anguish, 1t
was fearful yet it was a blessing,
while it ached like that she could not
think. Ii she tried to think she would