Show I I I I I r I I and andl I Ate iii l Jay Jane JP s a I I I CHAPTER Toms Tom's Position Assured T m had saved my ChrIstmas present present pres- pres ent until T 1 got home A dainty wrist wristwatch watch on a linked bracelet I had admired admired ad- ad mired one Vivian Morton had so he gave me one I I was wa delighted and yet I pretended to to scold him for being extravagant He had spent a good deal for toys for I the and I had also given a great But ho he just kissed me when I told hIm he shouldn't have bought me such an expensIve watch and absolutely refused to ten tell me what ae le had paid for It Tom was no longer worried for fear fearlie lie he would lose hIs positIon Everett Crandell had written him that he should never attempt t to tale take hold of the detail work again and that if Tom did as well as he evidently was doing I now he would soon be advanced The directors all spoke well of him and were pleased with his work As usual when Tom Tam told me or of Everetts Everett's letter I 1 at onCe commenced to discount he might have I eagerly planned what we should be beable beable able to do and have I had long wanted wanted want want- ed a car but never had seriously talked l to Tom or of getting g one Now I talked or of it constantly Tom loved motoring he always said It rested hIm so I knew it world not be hard to get hIm enthused on the subject as soon as h he felt there was a chance that he might be able to afford it AN UNHEEDED SIGNAL After my return I saw more or of Carol I Blacklock than ever It seemed that he was always planning something by I I which we could be together Dances dinners motoring parties to some someI I country Inn where we would dine In Ina Ina a big room with softly shaded lIghts I and made cheery by big log fires and I Ithen then dance to the musIc of the negro I orchestra until the wee sma hours Or I he would give a theatre party at whIch we Vivian Morton Claire Henderson and I took turns at pla playing ing hostess at atthe the supper he would give in his bache- bache i for lor apartment afterward i iTom Tom grumbled at so much gayety yet he went along whenever I did It seemed to me I had no tIme for anythIng anything any any- thIng save dressing and doing my part partin in the entertaIning We had given two I or three dinners a card party and one theatre party I was amazed at what I even that little bit of entertaining cost me And of course going so much I I had to have clothes clothe plenty of them I Not ot only dresses but but shoes gloves and hats swelled my bill at both Callman's CaBman's II and Heloise out of all proportion to Toms Tom's salary But It was not only at parties where we were with others that I saw Carol I Blacklock I often ran Into him when I shopping and would lunch with him And always he he- dropped in unexpectedly unexpected unexpected- ly three or four times a week weel In the afternoon One day he found me cry cry- Ing I had quarreled with Tom over an unpaId hill bill that morning and was worrying over a dozen others which ne knew nothing bout about I It If finances are your trouble why I dont don't you let me help you he asked but I didn't tell him that he had I guessed at my trouble I felt ashamed to speak of It to him again Then too his manner toward me had changed or else I Imagined It He said things I which sounded very much as If he were trying to male make love to me and took look many things for granted about which he- he formerly consulted me DELICATE BORROWING But that night Tom and I had another er quarrel This time a terrible one Tom accused me of trying to run ruin him lm told me all I c re was dress and show That he was tired of this tryIng to keep kep up with people who were worth fifty times as much as we were and a alot alot lot of bItter things which hurt I was nearly nearl desp desperate rate I really loved loved Tom and he had hinted that If he hel e found any more bills he would surely rely l advertise that he would not a pay them I told him I would not b be so insulted ted and we over that I The next morning I dressed carefully and for the first time I sought Carol Blacklock in his office ottice I was first hot then cold with fright at what hat I was doing yet et something had ht t to o be done one or Tom would do as he h had threat threat- ened ThIs is Indeed a surprise and a pleasure C Carol said as sendIng In my card I was ushered Into his private office What hat can I do for you You said you ou would help me and I need some money Will you lend It to tome tome me r CertainlY my dear he replied and he drew a bIg check book toward him How much this time I 1 need six hundred dollars I said desperately I will pay It back just justas justas as Soon its as I can Dont let that worry you he said pleasantly then pushed a button and when a boy answered said Get the cash for this I 1 dont don't know how to thank you I 1 commenced just as the boy came back with sIx one hundred pills CHAPTER A New Lease on Life Dont try try-In words he saId as the boy left the office Oh but I must thank hank you ou I ex- ex claimed The touch of the crisp notes in my hand made me feel that I had hada a new lease on life that now I should get everything straIghtened out and Tom would not be cross with me any imore more You shall some day he said with witha a meanIng utterly lost on me at the time Then he opened the door and bowed me out after saying that he would come up for a cup of tea the next afternoon How light and gay I felt as I hurried hur hur- rued ried from one place to another and paid the bills which could not be put off longer without Tom finding out about them Heloise's bill was considerably considerably con con- lessened by the commissions coming to me because of Vivian Mortons Morton's Mortons Morton's Mor- Mor tons ton's extravagant orders But much to my disgust Madame informed me that she was going to discontinue her habit of givIng commissions That the times were such she cO afford to todo todo do so longer My was nearly gone and I had hadnot not paid Call Callman man He wont won't dun me I thought so Ill I'll not try to give him anything but will buy and pay for forI some things I had wanted but had not I dared to purchase as they were luxuries lux- lux uries I could do without An elaborate I pale pink silk tea gown and silk un en- unI I daintily trimmed with lace I I never thought that the tea gown was inappropriate to wear in our sImple I surroundings nor that It was so perI perishable per per- I hl t that t a f few times I. I wearing would I 1 I I I I hl t that t a f few times I. I wearing would I 1 finish It It was lovely and becoming That was all I thought of OLD LD FRIENDS FOR NEW For tIye first time since I came homeI home I went to 0 sleep without worrying about what I should do If Tom found out how v badly in debt I was That 1 owed lowed Carol Blacklock with no way to pay It never troubled me He had said 1 l' l could have aU all the time I wanted to pay It In and 1 had taken him at his word I still believed that It was only a matter of a short time when Tom would be wealthy and I could haVe anything I wanted as did Claire Henderson and Vivian Morton When that time came I would pay my debt to Carol and I planned too how I would give him the interest The same as the bank paid Then he would lose nothIng because of his kindness to me I saw very little of Helen and Walter We Ve had been up there once since I returned and had had them down to cards and a chafing dish party But our friends now were an all so wealthy I they entertained so elaborately ely that I II salved my conscience for neglecting Helen by saying to myself she could I not afford to l keep up Yet I knew very WEll WE'll Walter Valter could afford as much I as could Tom For even If his salary I was not so large they had no children I and Helen did all her own work except j I the laundry while Tom had five to feed and four to dress beside Norah's wages But Helen and Walter Valter were i plain practically uneducated people I while all of Toms Tom's friends were college men and society women That I 1 was In the same class as Helen made no difference I was ambItious and andI I Toms Tom's friends were mine CAROL BLACKLOCK PRESUMES I Now that there were no bills to worry me I could be my natural self with vilh Tom We Ve were very happy at atI this time at least I 1 was and Tom I appeared to to be The children children were well and I had no trouble with them 1 My 13 allowance covered my expenses now that I was caught lip up though how howlong long It would do so was a question so j there was nothing for Tom to find fault about or to cause us to quarrel i I There was one thing which annoyed an an- I noyed me as spring drew near and andi I i that was Carol actions I Several times he had said sard things I II I neithEr und understood nor liked and once he had tak taken n me In his arms and andI kissed me but I had t forgiven him himI I I when he promised not to do It again i fo and looked te tea had a so o flattered f sweet ge he me couldn't by t tr r resist saying rr it t. t I j Vacation Tomorrow Days |