Evening star., 1936-02-23
February 23. 1886

tudes OF hopefuls that the patent lawyers
prospered on the fees
The personnel manager, Mr.. Lowther, J
who interviewed her, liked her little too
well, but Valerie had grown used to that |
Having some money in reserve, she was en-
boldened to stick out for higher price than
he wanted to pay. Perhaps Lowther felt that
it would be worth the few extra dollars week
to have 50 personable lady in his vicinity.
He confided to his chief that she was "a swell
locker, hot dresser" and that LADY, was
written all over her,"
work on the morrow at the plutocratic sum of
twenty five dollars week, and went home to
greet her father with the snootiness of an
heiress. He outsnooted her.
"How money loves money! he said. Look
at what came in the mail for me-
He held out cheque for 81, ,292.3 .35.
She gasped: whats Santa Claus doing
here at this time of the year,"
He explained that it was ten per cent
return of the money the trust company owed
him when it closed its doors. He was so glad
to get it that he felt grateful, forgetting andl
forgiving the ninety per cent he had lost and
might never see again. With the cheque had
come letter stating that the company
planned to pay ten cents on the dollar to clear
its records, and then reopen in the hope of
eventually paying the entire indebtedness.
He was all for spending the entire amount
on Valerie, on silks and satins, jewels, yachts,
banquets, travel, maid servants chefs,
palaces. Valerie loved him for his love of her,
but she said: you've overlooked the decimal
point and put on a few ciphers.'
What's few ciphers between friends9"
Nothing between friends, but bankers are
no friends of ours. Besides, every cent of that
money goes into getting you to California and
back on your feet"
will you come with mel"
She shook her head: 1--WE got a job, and
I've got to hold it till you take up work again
and shame me with your prosperity
They wrangled devotedly. In the debate
Valerie was the stronger of the two and finally
won the field. Her father and Mrs. Virkus
we're to take train West as soon as the neces-
sary kilograms could be exchanged with the
miracle worker. He answered that he could
guarantee nothing except hope for partial
recovery, but anything was better than her
fathers present condition, and she prevailed
on him to go. He yielded sulkily:
THE only reason let you browbeat me is
that III be taking myself out of your sight
and off your shoulders. And now you can
marry your man and get little happiness.
When Neal called that night to take he's
back to their forlorn park bench, she greeted
him with an exultant cry: Darling, darling!
the world has come to an end. Eve got job!
Fathers got cheque for million dollars!
We're rich; we're going to get married!'
Neal-put his hand on her hot forehead.
you've gone crazy, honey. Come along with
me to the madhouse."
mo, you're to come up and meet my
father and ask for my hand and stay to dinner
and help wash the dishes like real prince"
Neal was too much afraid of Valerie's
helpless father to do justice to the sudden
burst of good fortune. There were clouds
enough upon their sky, separation and loneii-
ness for father and daughter, hard work and
plain living for husband and wife, and nothing
very golden ahead of them at best.
The next morning Valerie, though, sang
in the kitchen. She reached the office ahead
of time and found Lowther talking amiably
with other members of the force. When the
4 Ioo ,ak