What's a
story of adventure without a treasure? By Jove, Blix, I wish I
could give my whole time to this stuff! It's ripping good
material, and it ought to be handled as carefully as glass. Ought
to be worked up, you know."
"Condy," said Blix, looking at him intently, "what is it stands in
your way of leaving the 'Times'? Would they take you back if you
left them long enough to write your novel? You could write it in a
month, couldn't you, if you had nothing else to do? Suppose you
left them for a month--would they hold your place for you?"
"Yes--yes, I think they would; but in the meanwhile, Blix--there's
the rub. I've never saved a cent out of my salary. When I stop,
my pay stops, and wherewithal would I be fed? What are you looking
for in that drawer--matches? Here, I've got a match."
Blix faced about at the sideboard, shutting the drawer by leaning
against it. In both hands she held one of the delft sugar-bowls.
She came up to the table, and emptied its contents upon the blue
denim table-cover--two or three gold pieces, some fifteen silver
dollars, and a handful of small change.
Disregarding all Condy's inquiries, she counted it, making little
piles of the gold and silver and nickel pieces.
"Thirty-five and seven is forty-two," she murmured, counting off
on her fingers, "and six is forty-eight, and ten is fifty-eight,
and ten is sixty-eight; and here is ten, twenty, thirty, fifty-
five cents in change." She thrust it all toward him, across the
table.
Pages:
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174