o or
three days seem to be going to be equally as full. But I took time to
run into the bank and go over things carefully. I find that after the
payment of taxes and insurance and all the household expenses, that by
wearing old clothes I have and making them over I can afford to turn
over at least seventy-five dollars a month to you for your clothing and
personal expenses. As I don't know exactly when I can get home, I am
enclosing a cheque which is considerably larger than I had supposed I
could make it, and I can only do this by skimping myself; but of course
you are getting such a big girl and beginning to attract attention, so
it is only right that you should have the very best that I can afford to
do for you. I am not taking the bill from The Mode into consideration. I
paid that with last month's expenses.

With love,

EILEEN.

Linda held the letter in one hand, the cheque in the other, and stared
questioningly at John Gilman.

"What do you think of that?" she inquired tersely.

"It seems to me," said Gilman, "that a more pertinent question would be,
what do you think of it?"

"Rot!" said Linda tersely. "If I were a stenographer in your office I
would think that I was making a fairly good start; but I happen to be
the daughter of Alexander Strong living in my own home with my
only sister, who can afford to flit like the flittingest of social
butterflies from one party to another as well dressed as, and better
dressed than, the Great General Average. You have known us, John, ever
since Eileen sat in the sun to dry her handmade curls, while I was
leaving a piece of my dress on every busk in Multiflores Canyon. Right
here and now I am going to show you something!"

Linda started upstairs, so John Gilman followed her. She went to the
door of Eileen's suite and opened it.

"Now then," she said, "take a look at what Eileen feels she can afford
for herself. You will observe she has complete and exquisite furnishings
and all sorts of feminine accessories on her dressing table. You will
observe that she has fine rugs in her dressing room and bathroom. Let me
call your attention to the fact that all these drawers are filled with
expensive comforts and conveniences."

Angrily Linda began to open drawers filled with fancy feminine apparel,
daintily and neatly folded, everything in perfect order: gloves, hose,
handkerchiefs, ribbons, laces, all in separate compartments She
pointed to the high chiffonier, the top dec