Nogales international., 1934-07-21

Fear winged her feet; she almost
ran down the long street; she was
possessed with horror of being too
late, Of having done it all in vain !
Her imagination, 4 vivid, restless
thing at best, pictured Roddy's arrest
just as she entered-or, worse still,
he'd be on his way TO New York
with the detectives.
She turned the corner, had a glimpse
of the old house and garden, quiet
under the fine old trees, and drew a
breath OF relief. When she opened
the gate she saw Roddy walking UP
and down inside the lilac hedge He
paced reStlessly, but with a dragging,
'dejected gait. He wanted to escape
it all, but there was 10 escape-except
by the road. lie had promised Nancy
not to GO until she came back. And
then it might be too late.
Nancy was thankful that he was
alone. She could tell him so much
more easily than she could tell her
parents. They were her real prob
lens.
"Roddy," she brcathed in catchy
gasps, Il ran all the way-here's the
money-go to New York and pay it
all back!'
Roddy, utterly amazed, stood star
ing blankly as she thrust the bulky
package into his hands. She had never
looked smaller or more childlike; her
pale face a little drawn, tears of ex-
citenlent misting her blue eyes, only
her lips touched with red, moist and
trembling. She must have gone mad,
he thought soberly.
"Take it, take it, Rod! It's all right
bonds and securities as good as gold,
you can cash them, take them and go
quick, quick, before it's too late T.
He took the bundle, glanced at its
contents and stared at her with his
mouth open.
Where in mischief did you get it,
| Nancy"
II got it" she stopped, leaning
against tree, breathless. She was SO
pale that her blue eyes looked dark.
1T doesn't matter-I borrowed it,
you can have it, Roddy."
He was turning the papers over,
bonds and securities and cash. His
amazement deepened as he counted
and assured himself that all were gen.
uine. Fifteen thousand dollars-the
whole sum-from the gods How in
the name of heaven He stared at
his sister, the red glinting in his Wine
brown eyes.
what have you been doing? Where
in the world did you get this, Nancy ~
he demanded hoarsely.
II didn't steal it!" she said in a low
voice.
He turned on her. "Don't rub that
in" he cried almost fercely. There
seemed to be no gratitude, no response
in him. He stared at her as if he
thought her a thief, she had hurt him
cruelty.
Her face crimsoned under his eyes.
ITS 1nine!" she repeated with stiff
lips. Don't stand there. don't stare
at me, go back to New York. Oh,
|Roddy, go before it's too 1ate"
A light broke over his perturbed
face. Relief Oh something akin to it.
"Oh, Lord, I'm thanknAr b
|breathed, folding the envelope up and
staring at her, "I'm going-but-
Nance, where on earth did you get
it? / must know thatl"
Her eyes darkened suddenly, she
choked back sob.
'I'll never tell-unless you trust me
and go-right away"
Roddy stared, his jaw dropping,
he turned white and then red "Nan-
cy Virginia, did you tell-to get it,"
Nancy, who felt his shamed misery,
threw her arms about him.
Il didn't vow / didn't, Rodl I
just borrowed It,"
Borrowed ton no security? Lord,
Nancy, how can we pay 1t back7"
Anger welled up again in Nancy.
She had suffered and he took it this
way-without thought of herl
Well do it somehow, Rod Can't
you trust mel won't tell, won't
truly Oh, Rod, do you want to go
to Jail? Can't you wake up, take Il
and go-go!"
( --s