The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-25
CHAPTER XVI

MT. C. K. Titus was quiet man with grave, kindly eyes and pleas ant manner. He arrived at noon the next day after the Great Pierre had returned and, with many Mon Dieus" and "Parbleus," reincar- cerated his snakes. It is a matter of conjecture whether or not MT. Titus would have remained at house that permitted reptiles to wander at large. Since he seemed entirely sane, the probabilities are against 1t. But, happily, he came when all traces of the previous nights disorder had been cleared away. Without ceremony, he en- gagged the last room that Sally had to let.
 The advent of Mir Titus appeared to bring great wave of peace to the Restatorium. The days that fol- lowed were uneventful. MT. Titus himself kept his own company, spending long hours in the grounds and rowing on the river. The other members of the household settled down to their usual pursuits.
 Much to the surprise of Sally and Kinks, the team of Griffin and Spaldini remained at the Restatori- um even though the Little Cheese was no longer gunning for them. Bull explained this phenomenon in his inimitable fashion. It appeared that the organization dominated by the Little Cheese was large and widespread. It's members were under orders to give the works to MT. Griffin on sight. Wherefore he had deemed it advisable to remain where he was until the Little Cheese had had time to round up his cohorts and announce that the feud had been called off. Otherwise, said Bull, some wandering member of the Cheese's gang, unaware of the re- newal of the beautiful friendship, might inadvertently plug him in da head"
 To add to the general serenity that now prevailed, Wilton Ames had been in and out and making himself most agreeable. And to Sally, Wilton was more and agree abin. He was downright apologetic. No; only had the shares of the GruAt Divide Copper Company fail- ed to go up; they had cravenly turned tail and slid toward the mar ketS nadir As day succeeded day they had continued to slide. With the due date for the payment of the mortgage interest and amortization impending alarmingly, Sally found that the stock was worth precisely g cents a share.
 of and on in these last few days she had been tackling Wilton about it. And Wilton never failed to be charningly contrite. He couldn't understand 1t. His tip had come straight from the horses mouth, as it were. He had always found the judgment of Brown, Sherlock. Inc, his brokers, Well-nigh infallible. He added that he had not been un- aware Of the stocks decline. He had been in touch with the brokers. They were still firm in assuring him that the promised rise would come.
 But what good will that do me?" said Sally distractedly. If the rise comes after we've lost this place, 1t just isn't any use. Oh, I know it's not your fault, Wilton. You meant well. But wish I'd hung on to my money"
 I'm terribly sorry" said Wilton. "I-I wish I could get Dad to ex- tend the time for payment. But I've talked myself blue in the face and he simply says dogmatically that 1t can't be done"
 Then one day Kinks brought up the general subject of finances.
 "Hows the cXchequer getting along?" he asked.
 There is," Sally informed him, "just about $400 in the exchequer. Bull Griffin paid for another week in advance and I've hoarded every thing and stalled of the tradesmen. Tn other words, MT. aPrker we need $20O and VIC need 1t in hurry. You may have forgotten it, but the dead line is o'clock tomorrow after noon."
 Kinks Wrinkled his brow. T hadnt [ forgotten. I've been beating my brain to think Of way to raise some dough. But, honestly, I'm sty- mied. Isn't there anybody we could borrow from?"
 Not soul that I know of," said Sally. And I don't sec how we could approach any Of our guests for a loan. Wed have to put up some soma collateral, wouldn't we? And we've nothing but property already mortgaged." Suddenly she bit her lip. "The-the pitiful part is that if hadn't been a darn fool, we might have almost made it."
 What do you mean?" said Kinks quickly.
 Sally was in the mood for true confessions. Yielding to an impulse she told Kinks everything.