Nogales international., 1934-11-24
Noqv 90 on aVith The story.
Her lips were dry. "Stealing?"

Her lips were CRY. otedlNlS
"Nop he snapped, then his hands
clenched on the edge Of the bed and he
choked back a sob "Sne took that
money-the money stole to save her
old father from jail-and bought a
trousseau - and - got married = and
went to Europe" He staggered to
his feet, shaking his fist at space
"\Vent to Europe!" he shouted, "her
old father was all blooming lie-she
went to Europe with the man she'd
been engaged to for two years!'
Nancy, sitting alone on the edge of
the bed now, gasped with relief. I'm
so glad," she cried, so glad!'
Roddy stopped in his furious out
burst to glare at her.
Money! She wanted money!" he
raved, "a woman who uses mans
love for her-to get money" he
stopped, choking, there's nothing bad
enough for woman like that" he
cried, "nothing!"
"I've got nothing to live for" Rod
dy went on, "the worlds rotten-Pm
twenty-three and I've drained life to
to the dregsl I've thrown up my job,
SIS, couldn't face it any longer-l q
he'd enough ior her. resigned
Rod, you didn't-you didn't owe
anything, did you?"
No! Not a dam cent-what do
want with money? The whole world 5
Ike rotten apple, the inside's ready
to come out went on spree,
Nance, the biggest spree | ever had
i: my life. | drank up all | had.
/" he sank down i'll chair op-
posite and rested his head on his
clenched fsts-"I'nl a darned loafcr
j ought to be shot. I've disgraced
you all. I've stolen. I'm out of work.
Why don't you shoot me, Nance? p
lis sister did not answer him. she
was cholIed with her own misery. 1t
had been no use, no use in the world
silc had not saved Roddy, she mad only
made bin worse
oh, Roddyl' she gasped, "oh, Rod
dy | wish | were dead"
Roddy stared at her, his jaw drop
ping suddenly the selhshness of his
own anguish was penetrated. Nancy
forlorn cry went to his heart.
Nancy, I'm rotterl |" he groaned
Tin 10 good Oh earth !"
Neither am l !" Nancy's voice was
smothcred, "I'm-I'm just as bad It:
my fault-I-I've made everything
worse Lifts all gone for nothing! |!
she cried.
1t hasn't-listen!" he came over
and seized her by the shoulder, almost
shaking her, it hasn't gone for Meth
ing-if you mean that confoundct
money? l paid it all ill--they never
said a word about it; I've thought
sometimes, that old Beaver knew
but he's only watched me, that's all
And now-well, they don't need te
worry about me any more-I quit.
"Roddy, we thought you'd try tc
make good !"
He crimsoned with shame 1t seemed
to take the high tragedy out of it
Nancy, watching him, saw how ne
felt She got up slowly from her seat
Oh his bed and went to him. S"Come
home soon, Roddy," she whispered
"please come home-we all love you
all of us Don't hurt us any more =
Nancy shut the door softly and went
downstairs.
Richard was standing with his back
to his own door when she came down
Thank you for Roddy," she SAID
with stiff lips, please send him
home"
Nancy" said Richard hoarsely,
"you're unhappy, I see it. | won't
hold you against your will. You car
get divorce. I-you want it, don't
you?"
She turned her face away, refusing
to look at him.
"The sooner the better" /" she cried
and ran past him out of the house.
The task of telling Mr.. Gordon
about Roddy fell to Nancy; her moth
er would not face it.
Mr.. Gordon's face worked.
"Give him another chance, Papa
Poor Rod"