The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-26
CHAPTER XVII

after a sleepless night, looked out of her window to see what the wea- ther was like on the day that she was to lose her home. Before she saw any weather, she was aware of MT. Kinks Parker MT. Parker was sailing blithely down the driveway with the Great Pierre at his side. And what was more, they were sail ing in Sally Pennington's car.
 Sally gave a gasp of annoyance. Today, of all days, she had ex- pected the companionship and sym pathy of Kinks. She couldn't under stand his going off anywhere. why, he was in this just as much as she. Stood to lose the same thing. But here he was, motoring gaily with a French magician and leaving her to do the worrying.
 She ate quick breakfast and resolutely set out for Winstock on foot. Even if Kinks had turned out to be light-minded in crisis, she would keep her head. It was worth chance to have a last shot at pleading with Spencer Ames for an extension of the payment. And if Wilton should be there well, the things she'd say to Wilton would curl the hair of an iron dog.
 She returned at l o'clock, her cheeks on fire. Wilton had not been there. But she had spent over two hours with his father. In turn, she had pleaded cajoled expostulated and wept. It was no use. She might as well have been talking to the sphinx of Egypt Finally her temper broke from it's moorings. Spencer Ames, his tight mouth obstinately set, heard at length just what Miss Sally Pennington thought of him. And then Sally, defeated but magnifi- cent in defeat, had swept out of his office.
 At the Restatorium she found Mrs. Clipstack in state.
 ''rhis is a crazy house." Mrs. CMpstack said darkly. T cook a nire, hot lunch and four of 'em don't come to eat it."
 "What four?" asked Sally list lessly.
 Mrs. Slipstack enumerated MT. Parker, that French hocus pocus man, and those two hoodlums in shirtsleeves."
 sWhere are they?" said Sally. "I don't know, I heard them shouting outside about an hour ago. But they didn't come in
 well, if they haven't sense enough to eat they can go hungry for all care, said Sally.
 Sit down, dearie,' said Mrs. Clipstack, noting Sally's tired face. And let me give you nice cup of tea"
 Sally shook her head. q don't want anything"
 In truth, the reaction from her outburst at the bank was about to set in. She could feel hot, binding tears gathering beneath her eyelids. At any second now they would pour forth in torrent. She wanted to get off by herself and have good cry. She left the kitchen hurriedly by the back door.
 Her handbag was still on her arm. In it reposed a check for $40O, drawn to the order of the First National Bank of Winstock, which Spencer Ames had refused to accept as partial payment of the mortgage interest and amorti- zation. The thought of it made Sally sick. To lose this house, the only home she had, the place she loved above all others. Oh, it was too rotten. She crossed the lawn swiftly, holding back the tears with a trenmendous effort. And then, suddenly, she came to an abrupt halt.
 The voice of Kinks Parker, raised in a chanty singsong, was proceed ing from the barn.
 "Co'mon, Adar," Kinks was im- ploring. "Adar from Decatur, treat me right. Fights m point an eight's m potion. Swing it., DOIlcS, du ltUo So VO IO"ll' hIS you ready? Then, go! Hot dig gety."
 Postponing her cry for a mo- ment, Sally crept to the barn and peered in at the door.
 Kneeling in a circle were Kinks Parker, the Great Pierre, Bull Griffin and MT. Tony Spaldini. Each had money before him, but the Great Pierre had more than the others. A little mountain of greenbacks rose in front of him. Even as Sally looked the dice were his and he rolled them with a grand Continental flourish. On the running beard of one of the cars not playing but absorbed in the game, sat MT C. K Titus.
 EEM mo noticed Sally And if