d of
taking the money from the billiard table to buy a worktable, I can buy
tires with that. But here's another thing I want to tell you, Katy. This
afternoon a male biped is coming to this house, and he's not coming to
see Eileen. His name is Donald Whiting, and when he tells you it is, and
stands very straight and takes off his hat, and looks you in the eye
and says, 'Calling on Miss Linda Strong,' walk him into the living room,
Katy, and seat him in the best chair and put a book beside him and the
morning paper; and don't you forget to do it with a flourish. He is
nothing but a high-school kid, but he's the first boy that ever in all
my days asked to come to see me so it's a big event; and I wish to my
soul I had something decent to wear."

"Well, with all the clothes in this house," said Katy; and then she
stopped and shut her lips tight and looked at Linda with belligerent
Irish eyes.

"I know it," nodded Linda in acquiescence; "I know what you think; but
never mind. Eileen has agreed to make me a fair allowance the first of
the month, and if that isn't sufficient, I may possibly figure up some
way to do some extra work that will bring me a few honest pennies, so
I can fuss up enough to look feminine at times, Katy. In the meantime,
farewell, oh, my belovedest. Call me at half-past eight, so I will be
ready for business at nine."

Then Linda went to the garage and began operations. She turned the hose
on the car and washed the dust from it carefully. Then she dried it with
the chamois skins as she often had done before. She carefully examined
the cushioning, and finding it dry and hard, she gave it a bath of olive
oil and wiped and manipulated it. She cleaned the engine with extreme
care. At one minute she was running to Katy for kerosene to pour through
the engine to loosen the carbon. At another she was telephoning for the
delivery of oil, gasoline, and batteries for which she had no money to
pay, so she charged them to Eileen, ordering the bill to be sent on the
first of the month. It seemed to her that she had only a good start when
Katy came after her.

The business of appraising the furniture was short, and Linda was well
satisfied with the price she was offered for it. After the man had gone
she showed Katy the pieces she had marked to dispose of, and told
her when they would be called for. She ate a few bites of lunch while
waiting for the book man, and the results of her business with him quite
deligh