Show I 0 Y J Husban wL Ja and aI I IBy f. f By J Jane eP eps ps CHAPTER 91 Peggys Peggy's Departure I should like to get anothEr dress to take home Peggy remarked while we sat talking in her room aft after r Tom had gone to bed U If you yot like we can go down to the shop where you bought the white one Im I'm sure madame will have something to suit you While I talked I determined determined de- de to say nothing to Helen this tim time I believe I shan shall Sue that that thatIs Is if it wont won't be too much trouble for you to togo togo go with me I suppose I could ask Mrs Thurston dr I could go alone No well we'll get up early and get dressed before and just as soon as I attend to the ordering we will go I hastily replied It Was none of my plan to have Helen take her this time Miss Halstead wants to look at an afternoon dress I said to madame who fortunately was able to see us at once Something stylish tut ut dark I have something that will just suit Miss Halstead She ushered us into a fitting room and ordered the gown brought to her Then turning to me she said Will this purchase go o on Mrs I account Thurstons Thurston's Why no no Miss Halstead will pay you for It I said astonished that madame should ask such a question Oh you misunderstand Madame returned quickly I 1 meant should Mrs Thurston get the AN UNPLEASANT DISCOVERY No no indeed Peggy broke In If there is any commission Mrs Randall should have it ft 1 Here was my chance And madame I feel that if you have given anyone a commission for other purchases Miss Halstead has made It should be transferred to my account I brou brought ht her to you she is my guest Mrs Thurston never would have known about the clothes If wo we hadn't asked her to come with us that day I myself proposed coming comIng com com- Ing to you you Why didn't you say so 50 then madame asked bluntly Business Is business you knout I Intended to but Helen Mrs Thurston got ahead ahen of me I said lamely You would make a very poor business business busi- busi ness woman Mrs Randall she replied replied re- re plied with a smile yet I 1 knew she meant It ft I Peggy tried on the dress a dark blue ser serge e with purple facin facings s and bead embroidery It was perfect on her and the price 60 50 no more than she was to pay I was really envious I hoped some day Tom would be able to let me buy a dress wIthout first thinking how much it was going to cost there something I can show Randall madame you now Mrs asked pleased at her quick sale I will give you credit on your bill of 10 per cent of the amount Miss Halstead Halstead Hal Hal- stead paid for her gown That Is the usual commission No thank you not today I 1 replied replied re- re plied to her question Miss lIss Halstead is leaving for home and we have no nomore nomore more time But even before we left the shop I was figuring how much r I could have paid on my bill with the commission on the other things Peg Peggy y had bought while with me If Jf I were in your pour place I should menk to Helen about that commission business She Fhe probably thought yoU didn't carE care I didn't sav aV an II to Pe Peggy but I Intended intended In- In tended to tell Helen what I thought of the way she had acted A FORTUITOUS MEETING I went to the tract with Peg Peggy y and after she left I 1 felt so lonely that Instead of going home I went on down thE avenue for a walk walle I 1 couldn't shop as I had b but t little money In I Imy my pocketbook but that wouldn't prevent my looking at pretty things Now that Toms Tom's salary had bee been raised I fElt I might soon have things I 1 longed for I had gone but a little way down dowd the avenue when I saw a hat I 1 admired ad- ad mired I stopped to look at it It and wish I could afford It wh when n I heard hearda a voice say What are you admiring with that thai I I want it expression on your our face I That hat with the violet and rose trimming Isn't It a dear I replied d das as I turned and shook hands hands' with with I Carol Blacklock It is very smart and would be w o c very becoming to you Why dont don't I you go In and get U it ii Oh I cant I time ton toI to- to n I day I replied c Come little lady tell the truth you werty going to say you couldn't ff afford it ft It If I had my way you'd have everything every thins you want I wish I could buy it for you e Oh no I blurted out moving quickly away from the tho window my Paco faco flaming t It would give me the greatest I pleasure he continued co as he walked beside me Peggy has left lert me and I feel forlorn forlorn for for- lorn I 1 said changing the subject c I CHAPTER 92 An Accepted Invitation We walked slowly down the avenue occasionally stopping to gaze e come ome attractive window As we passed I a tearoom one frequented by the fashionable fash- fash I afternoon shoppers Carol proposed pro proposed pro pro- posed we go in and Lave some tea J was really a little tired and gladly l accepted c cIt I It will give us a chance to chat I he said I After ordering a s salad lid tea and I c cI cs s sweets he turned rn o me I You had ve l l e MM th 1 u 01 uc ty J scope WI un e other night 1 Indeed we I-we all did That Is all but poor Mr Crandell I feel So sorry for him I He Is pre pretty ty badly Injured Im I'm I afraid I called it t the hospital this morning but he is not yet allowed to I see anyone I No Peggy and I called yesterday She was sorry to go home without I seeing hIm She was a bright little thing I dont don't wonder you feel that you are I going gOins to miss her I thought perhaps perhaps' she sho and Crandell might be growing I I fond of each other He has been rather rather attentive has he not I Yes rather I said In a hesitating way The thought that Everett Crandell Cran- Cran I dell cared more for me than for Peggy kept intrUding again as It always didDy did I Dy By the way I 1 hear that Mr Randal Randan Ran Ran- dan dal has been made manager of th thI the business owing to Crandell's accident It is a responsible position for so I young a man lIe is to be congratulated congratulated I I think so too I returned A FOOLISH QUARREL It was nearly 6 o'clock and I felt that I must hurry if I were to reach home before Tom did But it seemed almost impossible to get away The waiter was very slow In bringing the I check then the change It was quite a walk over to the subway and CarolI Carol t I Insisted upon going with me so I II really was not to blame that it was I after 6 o'clock when I reached home t I Dinner was ready and Tom was In InI inno no very good humor I Where in the world have you been Why I went to the train with Peggy Peggy Peg Peg- gy then felt like taking a a. walk so did so I met Mr Blacklock and he asked me to have tea at Ballards Ballard's and I did that also Then I hurried right homeI home home- I thought I asked you OU not to be seen alone with Blacklock Not that he isn't all right but It doesn't look wen well Suddenly I thought of what had happened that night in the restaurant the night Everett was so badly hurt I had almost forgotten It In the rush of the last two or three toree days But now I said It looks about as well as It ft does for you to leave me sitting alOne in a public restaurant and go over oyer to talk to a girl whom you take out without my knowledge I 1 should have be been n warned by the swelling ot of the veins In Toms Tom's forehead forehead fore fore- head a sure sign that he was becoming becoming becom- becom ing angry But I kept on If I put him In the wrong he could say nothing to meI meI me I suppose now that you are the manager of the office you will be with her more than eVEr Why didn't you tell me she worked there I saw no reason to tell you anything about her Tom replied hotly hIs temper rising Then you have no reason to find fault because I 1 have havo tea In the most Innocent way with Mr or Blacklock-or anyone else I added see whether I have or not Tom declared as I 1 went into the bedroom bedroom bed bed- room to lay layoff off my things when Norah told us that dinner was on the table She looked from one to the theother theother other of us In astonishment We had both unconsciously raised our voices and Tom looked red and angry I If I 1 had been older wiser I should have dropped the subject or placated Tom by promising not to be alone with anyone especially Carol Blacklock Blacklock Black Black- lock But I was not old I was not wise so as soon as we were seated at the dinner table I commenced again paying not the slightest attention to Toms Tom's scowling face Why didn't you tell me she worked in the office I asked again In the first place because I 1 didn't think of it and In the next because It was none nono of your business Now I 1 was furious None of my business the girl was for whom Tom left me alone while he sat chatting chat chat- chatI ting with her Hed He'd see whether it It I was or not I thought What were yoU talking about that night nigh t For heavens heaven's sake Sue do keep still and let me eat my dinner And I want my question answered I at least tell teU you what I 1 do I If If it would make yoU keep still to I know Id I'd gladly tell you Try me and see see Some important mall I came after she left which had had to be attended to the fIrst thing the next morning and as I would not be In the office much before noon I 1 told her to take care of It Now are you ou satisfied Tomorrow The Quarrel Quarrel Co- Co Con n |