A Daughter of Delilah — page 134: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

J 54 . F » - ~ * 4 “THINK OF ISABEL !” 125 ‘'We will discuss this when my position is strength- ened,’’ interrupted Alston; ‘‘when Isabel is my wife, and I can show him that Iam independent. As for his affec- tion, he has none, except for himself. Now, then, the next important step is toraise the money, as you suggested yesterday. JI am practically in your hands, and I will be candid with you. Though the son of the reputed keenest financier in New York—a human steel trap I have heard him called—I am a baby in business matters. ’”’ “VYes—yes!’’ assented St. Leonards, indulgently. “T have only had a paltry allowance, every penny of which I have spent, and, in addition, am up to my ears in debt. ’’ ‘‘T quite understand that, dear boy. How much do you owe?’”’ | ‘Oh, damn it! I haven’t the faintest idea. Maybe twenty thousand; and there’s that flat—the furniture, you know—and—and one or two other items.’’ The British peer looked horrified. ‘“‘Surely—surely,’’ he said, ‘‘Miss Russell did not permit you to—er—incur the expense of—of——”’ ‘“‘T insisted upon it! Man! what do you take me for?”’ “Then, bah Jove! it is a love match, and no mistake! I never knew Miss Russell to permit such a thing before!”’ He looked so delighted that Alston flushed with grati- fication. Itappeared that he had achieved that which others had sighed for in vain! “Twenty thousand! Aw! atrifie fora fellow in your position. I owed three times as much when I was twenty! Beastly tradespeople, I suppose? Tailors, jewelers, and that class? No matter—owe it, dear boy—owe it! I sup- Eomichbooks (E()