woman has to cringe for the scraps. It may seem unchivalrous, but true
nevertheless.

Only Sue knew how she compelled one dollar to bravely do the duty of
two. Appearances are never so deceitful as in the household where want
is apparently scorned. Sue was of the breed who, if necessary, could
raise absolute pauperism to the peerage. And if ever a month came in
which she would lie awake nights, developing the further elasticity of
currency, certainly her neighbors knew aught of it, and her father least
of all.

The colonel recommenced his pacing. Sue, hands clasped around knees,
watched him with steady, unwinking eyes.

"It's not the deviled crab, daddy," she said quietly, at length. "It's
something else. 'Fess up. You're in trouble. I feel it. Sit down there
and let me go halves on it. Sit down."

Colonel Desha vaguely passed a hand through his hair, then, mechanically
yielding to the superior strength and self-control of his daughter,
eased himself into an opposite armchair.

"Oh, no, you're quite wrong, quite wrong," he reiterated absently. "I'm
only tired. Only tired, girlie. That's all. Been very busy, you know."
And he ran on feverishly, talking about Waterbury, weights, jockeys,
mounts--all the jargon of the turf. The dam of his mind had given way,
and a flood of thoughts, hopes, fears came rioting forth unchecked,
unthinkingly.

His eyes were vacant, a frown dividing his white brows, the thin hand on