The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-30
NINETEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN
The senior partner of Hardy,
Hardy and Hardy, Counsellors at
Law, regarded his earliest visitor
with grave interest and approving
eyes He hadn't seen Gertrude Viii
loughby's daughter since her debu'
tante days, but his memory was
clear and he saw a change, and that
Fabienne was developing into a
very different type of person from
her frivolous mother.
He was therefore disappointed
when she opened her conversation
by saying, "Mr. Hardy, I want an
advance of fifteen hundred dollars
on my allowance. And I must have
it at once
my dear child, you should go to
Quentin or Nicolas" Quentin and
Nicolas were the banker trustees OF
Elihu Willoughby's estate.
ct know" she told him. "But you
are also one of the trustees and
hoped you would handle it for me
You see, I don't want to have te
explain why 1 want the money at
once"
Old eyes swept over the graceful
length of her seated in the chair
opposite, over the expensive gown
and furs up to the string of fine
pearls around her slim throat.
Andrew Hardy sighed. The girl
was, after all, like her mother.
sand you wish to - er - meet a
pressing bill?' he queried. "Per-
haps, in that case, I should explain
that certain sacrifices"
She smiled, reading his thoughts,
and shook her blond head. II know
what you're going to say, sir.
You're going to tell me that I must
learn to live within my income be-
cause there isn't any more to be ex-
pected. Right?"
Right" he agreed.
I'm going to do that. Now, I'll
tell you what I'm going to do with
this money. I'm going to build a
theater'"
Hardy's hopes that had risen fell
again. "a theater?" he asked, I'M
believingly.
Eyes. 1t may cost more than fiji.
teen hundred dollars. In which
case" she shrugged her shoulders
and added, "I'u need more.'
"My dear child. I consider 1t the
height of folly! You've always been
able to afford whatever plaything
you desired"
This is not a plaything, Mr..
Hardy" she told him solemnly. do
you think it can be arranged?"
He hesitated. II - might ad-
vance you the sum myself"
THAT might be the right way,
sir. If you would be so kind. "Tu
arrange to give you my entire
monthly check in that case. If you
could let me have it at once, I
should appreciate your giving me a
check made out to Willoughby
house, or rather sending it there"
The lawyer had opened a check
book. With his finger on a blank
sheet, he paused and gave her a
startled glance of inquiry. Did 1
understand you to say Willoughby
house?"
"You did. I'm very much in.
terested in that enterprise, Mr..
Hardy"
He sat back in his chair with
thoughtfully furrowed brows, regard
ing her with new and approving in
terest. whats the story, Fabienne?'
She told him, sparing herself moth
ing, of her motives for going to Will
loughby house in the beginning; OF
the promised gift that was not forth
coming; of Rose Riccio and her own
feeling of responsibility.
Don't look at me that way, Mr.
Hardy" she said when she had fin
ished the story. "There's nothing
noble about me. Some things are
written in black and white and moth.
ing in the world can change them
This is M Of the things. I'd like
to change it, but I can't. I love
living in luxury, and all my com
forts are mighty important to me
Let's call that the white of thar
black and white. The black is"-
she made a funny little face at hin
meant to indicate that she didn'
like the idea at ala" plain duty
Something's been put up to me and
I can't escape it."
well, WELL" the old man was
thinking, $50 there's someone II
the family, after all, with something
of old Elihu's stuff in her. He'd be
pleased and proud"
Aloud he said, Congratulations
Meanwhile, what are you going tt
live on? I understand that you live
at an expensive hotel?"
did," she corrected. I'm NOV
ing out. I've got a little money tt
live on for the next three months
She didn't explain the five hundred
she'd got from Ned and which she
intended to repay into the fund.
Hardy picked up a pen and be.
gan to write. He paused a moment
and said, Suppose I make a little
gift of this money on my own?"
She shook her head, protesting
"This has to be on me, Mr.. Hardy.
Thank you just the same. It we
need more, perhaps I'll call on you. .
HAS to-er-be on you?"
Eyes. I don't think I can explain
II, but I'll try. You see, I've got q