The Washington times., 1937-07-20

your father has something to
tell you. Anthony, please, as
gently as you can. Poor Toni"
TOMS dark eyes widened as she
looked from one to the other.
Brock? Had anything happened
to Brock? The day before, he'd
flown to Santa Barbara, and
had the plane crashed? Or his
polo pony, the new gelding of un-
certain temper? Oh, she couldn't
bear it if anything had happened
to Brock! Why, it would kill her!
The whole room seemed to be
whirling.
From far away she heard her
fathers voice. So far away that
only the one word: Crash"
reached her.
It was the plane, then! He was
dead! Dying! Her hands gripped
the edge of her chair to keep her
self from falling.
Brock" It came in a breath
less gasp, family, half smothered.
Then her mothers voice, note
of triumph, of reinsurance in it:
You still have Brock, my dar-
ling!"
Her own voice was so queer that
it seemed like some one elSe's. HE
isn't hurt? You saba crash?"
"Our money, Toni-the mills
the bank foreclosed on dads mills"
Often afterward, she was to re-
member how the relief had been so
sudden, so overwhelming, that it
was all she could do to keep from
laughing Historically in sheer re-
action.
What was money in comparison
with love? Why, when Brock and
she were married, they would, if
necessary, help out her mother
and dad! What matter which of
them had the money so long as
they had each other? Brock was
generous, an easy Spender. Anyway,
besides, the old mills there was an
overlooking stream of cash in the
family bank. Ever since her COM
ing of age, four years ago, instead
of a stuffy allowance, she'd had
her own checkbook. They had
trusted her not to be too extrava-
CANT.
CHAPTER III
"But you'll get the mills back
again. Or you'll build other ones,
won't you?" she said quickly to
her father.
He smiled wanly at her. Shook
his head.
But you don't mean you've
lost everything? I mean, as peo-
pie did in the earthquake? That
would be too fantastic!"
"AS far as we're concerned.
daughter, there has been an earth
quake-a financial cataclysm. New
laws, new heavy taxation, plus the
long-draWn depression have taken
their toll"
He spoke with resignation.
But you've thousands and
thousands of acres of wonderful
timber" she protested. why, at
my contingent party remember
lumber man telling me it was
worth all of ten million dollars,
darling! There hasn't been an
earthquake! You're just being
funny! The property's still
there!"
"And no longer mine. I tell you,
the banks have taken it over. And
the mills, too. Antoinette. Finan-
cially, we're through"
Across the table, her mother
put her handkerchief to her eyes.
Toni rose impulsively, ran round
to her, and put her arms about
her. Cheer up, darling. You
still have this lovely old house
and the ranch"
mot the house, Antoinette.
That, and everything of value in
1t, Is to be taken from us as we'll"
Her father spoke with a kind of
tired patience, as though he had
rehearsed what he would say to
her, as doubtless he had been say.
ing 1t to her mother during the
long, wakeful hours of the past
night.
And she had slept so happily.
ignorant Of the tragedy that was
occurring under her own roof.
Dreaming Of Brock and her mar
r1age and her own selfish hap
pineSS. Well, she wouldn't be
selfish in the future. This shook
one out Of SelfiShneSs. Tears ran
down her cheeks as she assured
her parents that she would do
everything and anything possible
to help them.
"You have your own life to
lead, Antoinette. your future all
before you. 1t is a comfort to us
to know that you will be well
taken care of. AS for your mother
and me, the ranch will be our
future home. I'm thankful that
1t is still left us. I'm not as young
Is was, you know" His smile