to prove it to you that whatever your
doubts of me I haven't changed my purposes. You didn't believe me
when I said I'd been hunting for you. You don't have to, if you don't
want to, but you'll have to believe me now when I tell you that I want
to set aside a fund for you to use--to administer yourself. Oh, you
needn't be surprised. I've got more money than I know what to do with.
It's rotting in a bank--piling up. I don't want it. I don't need it,
and I want you to take some of it right away and put it where it will
do the most good. You've got to take it--you've got to, if only to
prove that you don't believe me insincere. I'm going to start giving
money now and if you don't help me I'll have to ask somebody else. I'd
rather have you do it, personally, than work through some big charity
organization, that would spend seven or eight dollars, in overhead
charges, before they could distribute one. That kind of charity is all
very well and does fine work, I suppose, but I want to feel that I'm
helping personally--directly. I'll want to pitch in down here some day
and do what I can myself. You've got to do it, Una--let me give you
some money to start with right away, won't you?"

He paused breathless awaiting her reply. Her face was turned toward me
during the whole of Jerry's rather long speech and I watched the play
of emotion upon her features. She had been prepared, I suppose, from
the appearance of Jerry's companions at Finnegan's, to find her
woodland idyl shattered, and she followed Jerry word by word through
his boyish outburst, incredulously at first, then earnestly and then
eagerly. She had an unusually expressive countenance and the
transition I observed was the more illuminating in the light of my
previous knowledge of their acquaintance. Jerry was enthroned again,
panoplied in virtues.

"You almost take my breath way," she said at last. "It's very
bewildering," she smiled. "But are you sure you're--" she paused. "I
mean, isn't there someone else to be consulted?"

"No," he cried, I think a little triumphantly. "No one, I'm my own
master. I can do as I please. How much do you want, Una? Would five
thousand help? Five thousand right away? And then five thousand more
the first of each month?"

She started back in her chair and gazed at him in an expression of
mingled incredulity and dismay.

"Five thou--!"

"And five thousand a month," Jerry repeated firmly.

"You can't mean--"

"I do. See here. I'll